Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-01-24
WASHINGTON.


tainly in mixed condition. Congress
sional affairs are progressing slowly,
considering that the session has only
one month and a half of life left, and
things bear the complexion of an eX-
ira session in event that apprOpria-
ton bills, either one or more, shall
fall. No private legislation worth
the mention has been accomplished,
and the chances are that the mass of
bills, reported from the various COM
mittees having such matters in
charge, will fail of consideration for
want of time. The efforts so far
made to secure consideration of the
French Spoliations Bill, which en-
braces such cases as have been exam.
ined and reported by the Court of
Claims, and carries several millions,
have not been attended with success,
and as this measure will undoubted-
ly create wide debate, if considered
at all, it will probably be forced over
to next Congress.
The bill to refund the direct taxes
imposed during the late war, is being
pressed, but this measure is bitterly
opposed and hence will fail of consid-
Grafton. The shipping or Subsidy
bill, is not in the advantageous shape
its promoters desire, and although
there is strong lobby at work tC
urge its passage, it is extremely
doubtful whether the measure car
carry in the House. Financial leg
islation is in the throes, and at the
present junclure it is impossible t
predict what action the House vii
take on the Senate Free Coinage bill
1t is confidently asserted that TIT
President will veto a free coinage
bill, unless silver can be placed on al
international standard of value, 81
that all civilized nations shall agre,
as to a ratio of value as between sill
yer and gold. The free coinage mel
will not consent to this, since they
claim that the United States Govern
ment is abundantly able to maintain
its own standard.
The Indian war in the Northwest
its causes and probable effect upol
the future policy of the government
of the Indian tribes, are matter
which naturally are widely discussed
at Washington. Fears have arisel
in the minds of public men, VIII
have hitherto advocated the policy G
assigning lands in severalty to tn
Indians, thereby making them citi
zens with the right to vote, as is nov
the law, as to whether this cours
will produce the beneficial effects ar
ticipated. The possibility of civilis
ing Indians under this process, is bt
coming a matter of grave doubt, es
pecially as concerning those tribe
, which have hitherto roamed at wi
and depended upon the chase fC
} subsistence.
The fact is apparent that as tn
game is rapidly disappearing, tn
cred Man" can no longer depend W
on his old time hunting grounds as
means of supplying him with foo(
Collecting these Indians on reservi
q tiOns, and feeding them with COY
eminent ratiOns, even though hoI
0 estly furnished, which is believed
be the exception rather than the rul
5 is demoralizing in many ways. B
. sides the Indian is impatient of r
7 straint, and holding him within Il
s confines of reservations in order
3 prevent him from marauding, max
10 him FESTIVE and dissatisfied. This ia
2 has been pointed out by Gen. Hoy
:. ard in a recent communication on Il
:: subject, in which he expresses disa
3 proval of the policy which restrain
70 the personal liberty of the India
= while placing, or seeking to pla
him on an equality with the viii
man in respect to citizenship. 4
II these things lead to the conclusit
h that, instead of the Indian profile
: being solved, it remains as far fro
settled as ever.
Is An army officer of high rank al
considerable experience in Indi
ia warfare, stated to your corresponds
that, while Gen. Miles had broug
ID the hostile Sioux to terms and
apparent peace had been consumm
q, ted, he nevertheless entertain
ut grave apprehensions that sometir
er in the latter part of May or first
June when the grass had sprout
a. and their ponies could subsist, the
20 Indians XUprn liknlU tO hreok lOO