The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-10-06
ON INDIAN AFFAIRS
The Commissioner Makes His
Annual Report
THE RED MANS POLITICAL STATUS
Observation-Disclosures of the Rising Genera
tion-Lands in Observation-Disclosures of
Reservations Missionary Work.

| WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.-The commissioner
OF Indian affairs, in his annual report, saws
he thinks the great forces now at work.
lanu IN seVerality with its accompany ing
dissolution of tribal relations and breaking
up reservations, destruction of the agency
system; citizenship and all that belongs
thereto; independence, privilege and duty
OF education which seeks to bring the ris-
| ing generation of Indians into right rela-
| tlonshlp with the age in which they live
and put into their hands the tools by which
they may gain for themselves food and
clothing and build for themselves homes
Will, II allowed to continue undisturbed a
reasonable length o. time, accomplish their
benetcent ends.
Inc report discusses at length the polit-
lcaI status of the Indians, tracing the evo-
lutlon OF the present policy of dealing with
the Indians as wards. After careful his
torlcal survey, the commissioner draws a
number of conclusions. He thinks the
time has come for declaration by Con gress
TO the effect that hereafter il will not recop-
ME Indians as competent to make war
1hat they shall be treated, not as belliger-
ents, but as subjects. That the general
government has the right, both for its own
protection, for the promotion of the public
welfare, and for the good of the Indians.
not only to establish schools in which their
children shall be prepared for citizenship,
but also to use whatever force may be nee
cessary to secure to Indian children the
benefit OF these institutions The commits
sloner submits the time is at hand for the
extension over the Indians of the
protection and privileges of our
courts. Meanwhile, the DEVELOPMENT
on the Indian reservations OF courts of
indian ofenses by the perfecting of their
coue Oh procedure and the enhancement of
Jnelr Jurisdiction, will be helpful as a prep
afatlon Tor complete participation in our
common life.
Il venture also to suggest whether the
Ilhe Is not at hand for the passage of an
enabling act whereby the five civilized
tribes may form either territorial or
state government and be represented on
the 1oors OF Congress. The time has come
When the Pueblo Indians should be adj
mltted by special act of Congress TO the
enjoyment of all rights as citizens of the
United States, according to the principles
OF the constitution, as contemplated by the
treaty OF Guadalupe Hidalgo. The Definite
:
the actual political status of the Indians is
necessary as basis of wise legislation and
10 the satisfactory administration of Indian
affairs"
After giving an account of the progress
made In the allotment of lands to the
Indians during the past year, the commits
sloner says: This radical and far-reacb-
ing revolution IN the social status of the
Indians is making satisfactory progress
Land in severalty has in it the spromise
and the potency of great things, but only
that. In many cases it brings uuutterabIe
woe, and In all it is liable to leave the
Indians worse off than before"
de further says: II am not in recent
OF enough information, nor indeed mas
suthclent time elapsed to enable me to
Judge OF the practical results of the allot-
ment policy. L have seen nothing during
the year, however, to lead me to change
my views as to its ultimate success. ;,
Regarding the reduction of reservations
winch has proceeded with great rapiditv
during the year, the report says: "While
1t Is possible to push this work too RAPIDLY.
perhaps, do not hesitate to say that the
ultimate destruction of the system of
reservations is inevitable There is mn
place for 1t in our present condition of life,
The millions OF acres of Indian land now
lying absolutely unused, are needed
as homes for our rapidly increasing ponn-
latlon and must be so utilized. Whatever
right and title the Indians have in them is
subject TO and must weld to the demands
OF civilization. They should be protected
IN the permanent possession of all this
land that is necessary for their own sun
port, and whatever is coded by them
should be paid for at it's full market value.
But 1t cannot be expected, under any cir
cumstances, that these reservations can re-
main intact, hindering the progress of
civilization, requiring an army to protect
them from the encroachments of home
seekers and maintaining a perpetual abode
of savagery and animalism.''
The report discusses at length the sub
Ject OF Indian education. The enrolment
OF Indian pupils for the year ended June 30
has been 1926, an increase over last wear
OF 549. The amount OF congressional an
preparation for Indian education ayaiIabie
for the year to come in nearly two and
one-quarter millions of dollars. The com
missioner regards the education of the In
dams as the only solution of the Indian
problem. Regarding contract schools. the
commissioner recommends the maintenance
OF the status quo for the present, but urges
that the appropriation Of public funds for
sectarlan education is contrary to the spirit
OF the constitution, opposed TO public pol
Icy, and ought at al early day to be dis
continued. he expresses strong ayprecia-
ton of the missionary work done among
the Indians by the churches, and thinks
the present time is peculiarly favorable for
an increase of such work.