Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-12-05

gain OF five. The old wooden ships are dis
appearing almost as fast as the new ones are
added. The facts carry their own argument.
One of the new ships may in fighting
strength be equal to two of the old, but it
can not do the cruising duties of two.
1t is important, therefore, that we should
have more rapid increase in the number Of
serviceable ships. 1 concur in the recon-
mendation of the Secretary that the con-
struction of eight armored ships, three gun
boats and five torpedo boats be authorized.
THE INDIAN QUESTION.
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 chill
dren 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 re-
lation and of dealing with the Indian as an
individual did not appear earlier in our leg
Islation. Large reservations used in COM
mon and the maintenance of the authority
of the chiefs and beadmen have deprived the
individual of every incentive to the exercise
Of thrift and the annuity has contributec an
affirmative impulse towards state OF con-
frmed pauperism.
The last Congress enacted two distinct
laws relating to negotiations with the Sioux
Indians of Dakota for a relinquishment of
portion OF their lands to the United States
and for dividing the remainder into separate
reservations. Both were approved on the
same day, March 2. The one submitted to
the Indians was a specific proposition. The
other (Sec. of the Indian Appropriation
act) authorized the President to appoint
three Commissioners to negotiate with these
Indians for the accomplishment of some gen.
eral purpose and required that
any agreement made should be
submitted to Congress for ratification.
On the 10th day of April last 1 appointed
Hon. Charles Foster, of Ohio, Hon. William
Warner, of Missouri, and Major-General
George Cook, of the United States army,
Commissioners under the last named law.
They were, however, authd9u.ed and direct
ed first to submit to the Indians the definite
proposition made to them by the act first
mentioned and only in the event of failure
to secure the assent of 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 num-
Der was, it is understood finally obtained to
the proposition made by Congress.
The Commission provided for by section IA
of the Indian Appropriation bill to negotiate
with the Cherokee Indians and all other In
dams owning or claiming lands lying west
of the ninety sixth degree of longitude, for
the cession to the United States of all such
last. Two conferences have been
held, but no definite results have appeared.
The cattle syndicate now occupying the
lands for grazing purposes is clearly one of
the agencies responsible for the obstruction
of our negotiations with the CherOkees. The
large body of agricultural lands constituting
what is known as THE Cherokee Outlet"
ought not to be, and indeed can not long be,
held for grazing and for the advantage OF u
few against the public interests and the best
advantages of the Indians themselves. The
United States has under the treaties certain
rights in these lands. These will not be used
oppressvely, but it can not be allowed that
those who by suffcrance occupy these lands
shall interpoSe to defeat the wise and bene-
ticent purposes of the Government.
livery urgently recommend that Congress
at once provide territorial government for
the people Of Oklahoma. Serious questions,
which may at any time lead to violent out
breaks are awaiting the institution OF
courts for their peaceful adjustment. The
American genius for self government has
been Illustrated in Oklahoma, but it is
neither safe nor wise to leave these people
longer to the expedicntS which have tenn
porarily served them.
THE LAND LAWS.
In the administration of the land laws the
policy of facilitating, in every proper way the
adjustment of the honest claims of individual
settlers upon the public lands has been pur-
sued. The number OF pending cases had, dur
ing the preceding Administration been
greatly increased under the operation OF
orders for Il time suspendinG final action in
a large part of the cases originating in the
West and Northwest, and by the subsequent
use of unusual methods of examination.
Only those who are familiar with the con-
ditions under which our agricultural lands
have been settled can appreciate the serious
and often fatal consequences to the settler OF
policy that puts his title under suspicion,
or delays the issuance of his patents.
While care is taken to prevent and expose
fraud it should not be imputed without
reason. The manifest purpose of the Homc-
stead and Pre- cmption laws was to promote
the settlement of the public domain by per
sons havinga bonatide intent to make homes
upon tGe selected lands. Where this intent
is well established and the requirements oil
the law have been substantially complied
with, the claimant is entitled to prompt
and friendly consideration oi hiS case.
But where there Is reason 10 believe that
the claimant is the mere agent of another
who is seeking to evIdr i Law intended to
promote small holdings and to secure,
by fraudulent methods, large tracts
of timber and other lands, both
principal and agent should not only be
thwartcd in their fraudulent purpose but
should be made to feel the fail penalties OF
our criminal statutes. The laws should he 50
administered as not to cOnfOund these two
classes and to visit penalties only npon the
latter,
The unsettled state Of the titles to large
bodies Of lands in the territories of Sew
Mexico and Arizona has greatly retarded the
development of these Territories. Pro
vision should be made by law for the
prompt trial and final adjustment, before
a judicial tribunal or commission, of all
claims based upon Mexican grants. 1t
is not just to an intelligent and enter
priSjng people that their peace should be
disturbed and their prosperity retarded by
these old contentious. / express the hope
that differences OF opinion rs to methods
may yield TO the urgency of the case.
PENSIONS.
The law now prOFidcS pension for every
soldier and sailor Who was mustered into the
service of the Unite q states during the civil
war and is now suffering from wounds or
disease having an origin in the service and
the line of duty. Two of three necessary
facts-mustcr and disabilty-are usually
susceptible of easy proof, but the third
origin in the SERVICES often difficult and,
in many deserving cases, impossible to
establish.
That very many of those who endured the
hardships of our most bloody and arduOus
campaigns are now disabled from diseases
that had Il real, if not a traccable, origin in
service we do not doubt. Besides, there is
another class, composed of men, many Of