Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-10
THE NEW NAVY.


Nations Within Nation.
The report of the Secretary of the Navy
shows gratifying increase of new naval
vessels IN commission. The Newark, Con-
cord, Pennington and N1iantonomoh have
been added during the year with an aggre-
gate of something more than n,000 tons
Twentv-four warships of all classes are now
under construction in the navy wards and
private shops; but while the work upon
them is going forward satisfactorily the
completion of the more important vessels
will vet require about years time
Some of the vessels now under construc
tion, it is believed, will he triumphs of
naval engineering. When it is recollected
that the work of building modern navy
WAS only initiated in the year 1883: that our
naval constructors and ship builders were
practically without experience in the con-
srruction of large iron or steel ships: that
our engine shops were unfamiliar with
great marine engines and that the manu-
facture of steel forgingS for guns and plates
was almost wholly foreign industry, the
progress that has been made is not only
highly satisfactory. but furnishes the assur-
ance that the United states will before long
attain in the construction of such vessels,
with their engines and armaments. the same
pre-enliUence which it attained when the
best instrument of ocean commerce was the
hibIt of naval power was the wooden three
decker man-of-war.
Public and Private Naval Shops.
The officers of the navy and the proprie-
tors and engineers of our great private
shops have responded with wonderful intel
ligence and professional zeal to the conf
dence expressed by Congress in its liberal
legislation. We have now at Washington a
gunshop organized and conducted by naval
officers, that in its system, economy and
product Is uneXcelleG.
Experiments with armor plate have been
conducted during the year with most i'm
pOrtant results. 1t is now believed that a
plate OF higher resisting power than any in
use have been found, aad that the tests have
demonstrated that cheaper methods of
manufacture than those heretofore thought
necessary can be used. l commend TO your
favorable consideration the recommenda-
t1Ons OF the Secretary, who has, am sure
given to them the most conscientious study
There should be no hesitation in promptly
completing a navy of the best modern type,
large enough TO ena BILE this country to dis
play its flag in all seas for the protection of
its citizens and o: its extending commerce.
New Competition Needs a New Navy.
The world needs no assurance of the
peaceful purposes of the United States, but
shall probably he in the future mere
largely a competitor in the commerce of the
world, and it is essential to the dignity of
this nation and to that peaceful influence
which it should exercise on this hemisphere
that its navy should be adequate, both upon
the sEOses of the Atlantic and of the Pacific.
The report Of the Secretary OF the Interior
shows that a very gratifying progress has
been made in all of the bureaus which make
up that complex and difficult department.
Tue work in the Bureau o. Indian Affairs
Was perhaps, never so large as now. by rea-
son OF tie numerous negotiations which
hay haa Md slNn fYh
reduction OF the 7 -ServG tionS, with the Incl
dent labor OF making allotments, AMI was
never more carefully conducted.
The provision Q: adequate school facilities
Tor Indian children and the locating of adult |
Indians upon farms nvoiye the solution of |
the Indian question.
advantages tn the Indian of Allotment.
Everything else-rations, annuities ard |
tribal negotiations with the agents, inspec-
tors and commissioners who distribute and /
conduct them-musJ pass away when the !
Indian has becon!e a citizen, secure in the |
individual ownership OF a farm from which |
hc derives his subsistence by his own labor, !
protected by and subordinate to the laws |
y hlch govern the white NAM and provided !
Ivy the General Government or by the local
communities in which he lives with the
means of educating his children.
When an Indian becomes citizen in an |
organized State or Territory his relation to |
the General Government ceases. in great
measure, to be that OF a ward: hut the Gen
eral Government ought not at once TO put
upon the State or Territory the burden of
the education OF his children 1t has been |
my thought that the Government schools
and school buildings upon the reservations
would be absorbed by the school systems of
the states and Territories. but as il has been |
found necessary to protect the Indian |
against the compulsory alienat tion of his |
land by exemrting him from taxation for
period OF p wears it Nonll seem to be right |
that the General Governments, certainly |
where there tribal funds in its posses
sion, should Day to the school fund of the
state what would fse equivalent to the local |
school tax upon the property of the Indians. |
Provisions for Indian Education.
1t will be noticed from the report of the
Commissioner OF Indian Affairs that already
some contracts have been made with district
schools FOR she education of Indian children |
There Is great advantage l think, in bring
ing the Indian children into mixed schools |
This process will be gradual and in the
the meantime. the present educational pro-
visions and arrangements, the result OF the
best experience of those who have been !
charged with this work, should be con-
tinued. This will enable those religious
bodies that have undertaken the work of In
dian educa UiOn with so much zeal and wifi, |
results 50 restraining and beneficent to |
place their institutions iE new and useful re-
Iauons to the Indian and to his white neigh
DOrs
The outbreak among the S;oux. which oc- |
cTrred in December last, is as to its causes
ana incidents. fully reported upon bv the |
" ar Department and the Department of the |
Interior. That these Indians had some Just |
complaints, especially in the matter of the !
reduction OF the appropriation for rations and |
III the delays attending the enactment OF
laws to enable the department to perform |
~" engagements eatere / into with them, is |
probably true; but the Sioux tribes are !
liat GrSlly warlike and turbulent, and their
warriors were excited by their medicine men
? nd chiefs. who prea cheji the coming of an
Indian Messiah, who was to give them power
10 destroy their enemies.
The Indian Messiah Camo.i.u,
In view ofthe alarm that prevailed among
the white settlers near the rcserva tion and
Of the fatal consequences that would rave
resulted from an 1nGian incursion placed
a the disposal of General Miles command
ing the division Of the Missouri. all such
forces as were thought by him to be re-
quired. He is entitled to the credit of hay-
ing given thorough protection to tie settlers
and OF bringing the hostiIes into subsection
with the least possible loss OF lie
Nhe appropriation of 81 99l 40 for tho |
Choctaw- ana ChickaSaws. contained in the |
general Indian appropriation bill of March |
;, le!il. has not been expended, for the reason
That have not Ee0 approved a release to
The Government OF the Indian claim to the |
lands mentioned. This matter Will be made ! ,
he subject o! special message placing
before Congress all the facts which nave
come to my knowledge.
The relation of the live civilized tribes |
lo~ occupying the Indian territory, TO the
nited States Is not, 1 believe. that best cal I
,u!ated TO promote the highest advancement
II these Indians. That there should be I
S ithln oar borders live Independent States 5
l3ving no relations except those growing !
,Ht OF treaties with the Government of the I
nited States, no representation III the Ma
lonal Legislature. its people not citizens, is ,
startling anomaly.
The FyiIs of the Tribal S,..o,,,