Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-03


quarters for part of its force, but it il again
! over-crowded. The building used by the city
office never was ft for the purpose and is now
| inadequate and unwholesome
Inc unsatisfactory condition Of the law re-
| lating to the transmission through the mails
Of lottery advertisements and remittances is
clearly stated by the Postmaster General and
ms suggestion as to amendments should have
your favorable consideration.
| THE NEW NAVY.
| The report Of the Secretary Of the Navy
shows a reorganization of the Bureaus of the
| Department that will, do not doubt, promote
the efficiency of each.
In general. satisfactory progress has been
made In the construction Of the new ships of
OF the new Navy, the Dolphin, was subjected to
very severe trial tests and to very much adverse
| criticism. But 1t is gratifying to be able to
| state that cruise around the world, from
which she has recently returned, has demon
strated that she is frst-class vessel of her
rate.
The report of the Secretary shows that while
the effective force of the Navy is rapidly in
creasing, by reason Of the improved build and
armament Of the new ships, the number Of our
had, on the 4th Of March last, thirty.seven
| serviceable ships, and though four have since
been added to the list the total has not been in
creased, because in the moan time four have been
| lost or condemned. Twenty-six additional vessels
nave been authorized and appropriated for,
| but it is probable that when they are COM
| peted our list will only be increased to forty
| two, gain Of five. The old wooden ships are
disappearing almost as fast as the new vessels
are added. These facts carry their own argu-
ment One Of the new ships may. in fighting
| strength, BIO equal to two of the DID, but it can
| not do the cruising duty of two. 1t is import
| ant, therefore, that we should have a more
rapid increase In the number Of serviceable
ships concur in the recommendation of the
| Secretary that the Construction of eight arm
ored chips, three gun boats, and five torpedo
boats be authorized.
THE DISASTER AT APIA.
An appalling calamity befell three Of our
naval vessels on duty at the Samoan Island, in
the harbor of Apia, in March last, involving
the loss of four officers and forty-seven seamen,
OF two vessels. the Trenton and the Vdndal,d,
and the disabling ola third, the Nipsic. Three
vessels of the German Navy. also in the harbor,
| shared with our ships the force of the hurri-
cane and suffered even more heavily. While
mourning the brave officers and men who died,
facing with high resolve perils greater than
those of battle. it is most gratifying to state
that the credit of the American Navy for sea-
manshlp, courage and generosity was magnii-
Gently sustained in the storm-beaten harbor of
Apia.
THE INDIAN POLICY.
The report of the Secretary Of the Interior
exhibits the transactions of the Government
with the Indian tribes. Substantial progress
has been made in the education of the children
OF school age and in the allotment of lands to
adult Indians. 1t is to be regretted that the
policy Of breaking up the tribal relation and of
dealing with the Indian as an individual did
not appear earlier in our legislation. Large
reservations, held in common. and the MAIN
tenance Of the authority of the chiefs and
head-men have deprived the individual of every
incentive to the exercise of thrift, and the an
nuity has contributed an affirmative impulse
towards state of confirmed pauperism.
Our treaty stlpulations should be observed
with fidelity, and our legislation should be
highly considerate of the best interests Of an
Ignorant and helpless people. The reserva-
lions are now generally surrounded by white
settlements. We can no longer push the In
only, by every suitable agency, to push him
upward into the estate of self-supportng and
responsible citizen. For the adult, the first
step Is to locate him upon farm, and for the
child, to place him in a school.
School attendance should be promoted by
every moral agency, and those failing, should
be compelled. The national schools for Indians
have been very successful, and should be null
tiplled. and, as far possible, should be SO or
gained and conducted as to facilitate the
transfer OF the schools to the States and Terri
tories in which they are located, when the In
dams in the neighborhood have accepted citi-
zenship, and have become otherwise fitted for
such transfer. This condition Of things will
be attained slowly, but it will be fastened by
keeping it in mind. And in the mean time that
cooperation between the Government and the
mission schools, which has wrought much good
should be cordially and impartally maintained
THE SIOUX LANDS.
The last Congress enacted two distinct laws
relating to negotiations with the Sioux Indians
of Dakota for REIMBURSEMENT of portion of
their lands to the United States and for divid-
ing the remainder into separate reservations
Both were approved on the same day--March
2. The one submitted to the Indians specific
proposition; the other (section 3 of the Indian
appropriation act) authorized the President to
appoint three commissioners to negotiate with
these Indians for the accomplishment of the
same general purpose, and required that any
agreements made should be submitted to Con-
gress for ratification
On the 10th day of April last 1 appointed
Hon. Charles Foster of Ohio, Hon. William
Warner, of Missouri, and Majo General George
Crook of the United States Army, commission
ers under the last-named law. They were, how
ever. authorized and directed, first, to submit
to the Indians the definite proposition made to
them by the act first mentioned, and only in the
event OF a failure to secure the assent of the
the requisite number to that proposition to
open negotiations for modified terms under the
other act. The work of the Commission was
prolonged and arduous. but the assent OF the
requisite number was. it is understood, finally
obtained to the proposition made by Congress,
though the report of the Commission has not
yet been submitted. In view of these facts l
shall not, as at present advised, deem it neces-
sary to submit the agreement to Congress for
ratification, but it will in due course be sub
mitted for information. This agreement re-
leases to the United States about nine million
acres of land
THE CHEROKEE CONFERENCE.
The Commission provided for by section IA
Of the Indian appropriation bill to negotiate
with the Cherokee Indians and all other In
dians owning or claiming lands lying west of
the ninety-sixth degree of longitude. for the
constituted by the appointment of Hon
Lucius Fairchild. of Wisconsin, Hon. John +.
Hartranft, of Pennsylvania, and Hon. Alfred
30 last Their fl st conference with the repre-
sentatives of the Cherokees was held at Table
quah July 20, with no definite results General
John F. Hartranft, of Pennsylvania was pre-
vented by ill-health from taking part in the
conference. His death, which occurred re-
Gently, is justly and generally lamented by a
people nc had served with conspicuous gal
lantry in war and with great fidelity in peace
The vacancy thus created was filled by the APP
pointment of Hon. Warren G. Sayre, of Indiana
A second conference between the Commission
and the Cherokees was begun November 6, but
no results have yet been obtained. nor is it be-
lieved that a conclusion can be immediately
expected The cattle syndicate now occupying
the lands for grazing purposes is clearly one OF
he rasnonaihla for tho nhatr alto Of