New-York tribune., 1889-12-22
REPORT OF THE SIOUX COMMISSIONERS
RADICAL SUGGESTIONS AS To THE EDUCATION
OF THE INDIAN YOUTHS


Washington, Dec 81 (speciaD.-The Commission
crs to negotiate treaty with the Sioux Indians for
The sale and opening of tie great Sioux Reservation
in South Dakota handed in their report to-day 10
the Secretary of the Interior but it not trans
mtted to Congress and it cannot be sent until after
the The terms of the agreement as to the
purchase of the sioux lands already well known.
having been fully discussed last summer at the tine
the treaty obtained. The Commissioners viii
make a number Of recommendations, however, apart
from the question of purchase which of radical
nature. They will for instance, advise the discon-
tinuance Of Indian schools in the East and the
establishment of primary schools on the reservations
instead. The results Of education IN the East, tle
Commissioners report, have been in almost all cases
fatal to the Indian boys on their return home Most
of them have sunk again into savagery, and large
proportion have died on attempting TO resume life In
Indian camps and villages. Eastern training un'
fitted them for any of the occupations practsed among
their tribes and the benefits of such training were
i'm consequence a dead loss, both TO them and to the
Government. The Commissions plan is TO have local
schools at the agencies where pupils VIII not oss
touch with their tribe and can grow gradually
into such conditions OF civilized life as are practcabe
at present for them. Their influence on the rest d
the tribe will thus be constant stimulus TO genera
advancement, and they will not themselves be dis
couraged in well doing by abrupt change OF ne
as that from an Eastern Indian school to semibarbar
ism. Indians that wish advanced education are sf
vised to go to schools and colleges with the whites
The Commissioners say that the Sioux Indians have
shown great intelligence I'm oil matters connected VIII
the discussion OF the treaty and are now generally
convinced of the desrabllity of adopting. in part a.
least the methods OF life of the white man. ne
leading chefs-Oall and John GrasS-now favor lana
holding in severaty, local schools. and ullman
adoption of citizenship John Grass is now in Nssh
ington, and was the spokesman OF the chiefs ve
called on the President this week OF him and B
companions, Ex-Governor Foster Of Ohio, SAID "
introducing them To President Harrison: .
"They represent the advanced Indians of the 90.
Sioux Reservation. They desire TO be aidef Wv
guided in the way TO civilization They want Wl
children 10 be educated. They want 10 reach cn,
dition OF self support and become selfrespeetns
citizens OF the country -.
Grass has been much miSrpreSentcd. MT tV'sS
Foster says, In the Eastern newspapers, ana III
visit TO Washington has been explained In way p% %
does him little Justice. The Commissioners are us~ u
fore anxious that his real ideas the Indian proo
which coincide largely with their own may nosn AZ
further misunderstood. Mr.. Grass made Sels,ss,.s
and modest address at the White House. ana ~, -
Foster vouches for the sincerity Of his desire iOi %
speedy improvement of the condition Oh MS V''
and all other Indian tribes.