The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-06
The Commissioner Thinks He Can
Achieve That End Without
Shooting Them.
Lands In Severalty, Compulsory
Schooling, the Breaking UP
of Reservations.
Appropriations for Contract Schools Wig
orOusIy OppOsed-W Work OF Mission
aries Commended. z

WAsHrNdToN. Oct. 5.-The commissioners
of Indian affairs, in his annual re-
port, says he thinks the great forces
now ut work alloting land In sever
atty, with it's accompanying dissolution Of
the tribal relation, and the breaking mp Of
reservations, the destruction of the agency
system. the comforting Of citizenship and
all that belongs thereto, Independence,
privileges and duties. and education, which
seeks to bring the rising generation Of In
dians into right relationship, and put into
their hands tools by which they may gain
for themselves food and clothing and build
for themselves homes, will, il allowed to
continue undisturbed reasonable length
Of time, accomplish their benefcsnt ends.
The report discusses at length the political
status of Indians, tracing the evolution of
the present policy Of dealing with Indians
as wards. After a careful historical survey
the commissioner draws number of con-
clusions. He thinks the time has come for
a declaration by congress to the effect that
hereafter it will not recognize Indians as
competent to make war; that they shall be
treated, not as belligerents, but as subjects;
that the general government has the right
both for it's own protection, for the promo
ton of public welfare, and for the good Of
the Indians, not only to establish
schools in which their children may be pre-
pared for citizenship, but also to use what,
ever force may be necessary to secure to
Indian children the benefits of these insti-
tutions.
| The commissioner submits that the time
| is at hand for the extension over the In.
Il ha iui1 -
our courts. Meanwhile. the development
on Indian reservations of courts for the
trial of Indian offenses, the perfecting Of
their modes of procedure and enlargement
of their jurisdiction, will be helpful a. .
preparation for complete participation in
our common life. II venture also to suggest
whether the time is not hand for the pas
sage of an enabling act whereby the five
civilized tribes may form either territorial
or state government and be represented on
the floors of congress. The time has come
when public Indians should be admitted by
special act of congress to the enjoyment Of
States, according to the principles OF the
constitution as contemplated by the treaty
of Guadeloupe Hidalgo. The definite de-
termination by the highest authority of the
actual political status of the Indians is
necessary as a basis of wise legislation and
affairs" After giving an account of the
progress made in the allotment OF lands to
Indians during the past year, the commits
sioner savs This radical and far-reach-
ing revolution in the social status of the
Indians is making satisfactory progress.
potency of great things, but not only that.
In many cases it brings unutterable woe.
and is liable to leave the Indians worse off
than before" He further says: lam not
in receipt Of enough information, nor in
deed has sufficient time elapsed, to enable
allotment policy. have seen nothing dur
ing the year, however, to lead me to change
nv views as to its ultimate success
Regarding the reduction of reservations,
which has proceeded with great rapidity
during the year, the report says: while
it is possible to push this work with more
rapidity, perhaps. l do not hesitate to say
that the ultimate destruction of the entire
system of reservations is inevitable. There
is no place for it in our present condition
Of life. Millions of acres of Indian lands
now lying absolutely unused are needed a.
tion, and must be 80 utilized. Whatever
right and title the Indians have in them is
subject to- and must yield to, the demands
of civilization. They should be protected
in the permanent possession OF all this
land that ia necessary for their own self
support, anu Whatever III Cbu6u Oy tAoAH
should be paid for at its full market value.
But it cannot be expected, under any cir
cumstances, that these reservations can re-
main intact, hindering the progress of civ
ilization, requiring IN army to protect
them from the encroachments of home
seekers, and maintaining perpetual abode
of savagery and anlmalism."
The report discusses at length the subject
OF Indian education. The enrolment Of
Indian pupils for the year ending June 3D.
was 1926, all increase over last year OF
1,5i9 The amount of congressional appro-
priation for Indian education available fol
the year to come is nearly two and one
quarter millions of dollars. The commits
sioner regards the education Of Indians az
the only solution of the Indian problem
Regarding the contract schools, the com
missioner recommends the maintenance OF
the status quo for the present but says
that the appropriation of public funds fol
scctarian education is contrary to the spirit
of tho constitution, opposed to public
policy. and ought at an early day be discon-
timed. He expresses strong appreciation
of the missionary work done among Indi.
ans by the churches, and thinks the present
time is peculiarly favorable for the increase
of such work. -
~rx, prrSsrAN IsurncTyAEN