Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1891-12-17
DISCUSSION OF THE INDIAN QUESTION.
Schools for Children and Tribal Relations
The Sioux WAR.

The report of the secretary of the interior
shows that very gratifying progress has been
made in all of the bureaus which make up that
complex, difficult department. The work In
the bureau of Indian Affairs was perhaps never
so large rs now, by reason of the numerous ne
gotiations which have been proceeding with the
tribes for n reduction of the reservations, with
the incident labor of making allotments, and
was never carefully conducted.
The provision Of adequate school ia. ia
locating of adult Indians upon farms
involve tho solution Of the INDIAN question"
Everything else-rations. annuities, and tribal
negotiations with the agents, inspectors and
commissioners who distribute and conduct
them--must pass away when the Indian has be-
come citizen secure in the individual owner
ship of tarm from which he derives
his subsistence by his own labor, protected
by and subordinate to the laws which
govern the white man, and provided by the gen
eral 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 meas.
ure to be that of Il ward; but the general govern
ment ought not mt once 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
it has been found nee, ssary to protect the In
dian against the com pulsory alienation of his
land by exempting him from taxation for Il
period of twenty-five years 1t would seem to be
lLht tnht the general SoNcI SSitHlhAy
where there are tribal funds in its possession,
should pay to the school fund of the state what
would Dc equivalent to the local school tax
upon the property of the Indian. 1t VIII be
noticed from the report of the commissioner OF
Indian affairs that already some contracts have
been made with district schools tor the
education of Indian children. There is
great advantage / think. in bringing the In
dian children into mixed schools. This prog
ress will be gradual and i'll the meantime the
present educational provisions and arrange
no result of the best experience OF those
who have been charged with this work should
he continued. This viii! enable those rehglous
bodies that have undertaken the work OF In
dian education with so much zeal and with re-
sults so restraining and benetcent to place
their institutions in new and useful relations 10
the Indian and to his white nelS hbors.
!Thr outbreak among the Sioux " hich oc-
Cured in December last is as to its causes ana
incidents fully reported upon by the war De-
nnrtment and the Department OF the Interior.
THAT these Indians had some just complains,
especially in the matter OF the reductioh Oh tne
apnropriation for rations. and in the delays at
tending the enactment OF laws 10 ei,n' atornd
into with them, is probabl true: but the SIOUX
tribes are naturally warlike ana turpulen'.
and their warriors Were Who GMe't nreac6ed the
coming of an Indian Messiah, who was 10 give
them nosyer to destroy their enemies. III view
of the alarm that preyaiieu ain 3 * The fatal
cnnseouenceS that would have resulted from az
indian incursion. placed at the dlsposal oi
Gen Miles, commanding me alFi .ho,,o nj NV
Missouri all sucn forces as We're thous II. IL
him 10 be required. He is entitled TO the creuI'
n having given thorough protection TO the set
tIars and III bringing the hostiles into supJec-
lion with the least possible loss OF HE. ~,
The appropriation of S299l. 400 lot tne oa st
lows and (,hickasaws. contained IN the lnulan
nppropriation bill of March 1871. mas no. ~ ,
~ nended tor the reason that nave no' te' ~ dp
nroyed a release to the government " s ~ ,at
alan claim TO the lands mentioned. ms n"s
,nr will he made the subject OF special ineS
sage. placing before Congress ali the iac's iA'n
haye come to my knowledge. .,h, Now
The relation of the five clVlnzeo ~. kito TTni,ad
ocennving the Indian territory 10 ,nu -
States is not believe, that pest .hasa In
nromote the highest advancement u tnvso ~
ttionS That there should be within our poI
49, t;ye independent states, having no Ie ,
.in axcent those growing out OF treaties win
no government of the United otates' NJ eorIa
ants zion in the national legislature us peopA0
not citizens is startling anomaly. .,.roshal,
nv. 90 ~ me TO be inevitable that lneTe si'aiA
=, ~ s 90 long some organic changes III tne Ec-
i"+;on IF these people to the unlteq S.asos t
What form these changes should taAe ~ 80 sao
th,nr n desirable now TO suggess e EN-, ho,,IJ
We're we'll defined in my own mlnu. ia ie.;;ansbin
certainly involve the acceptance va -; Cangrass
nv the Indians and Representative. -, 10 nre
~ ~ ~ Ind;ans should have opportunity ~ pr
n, tha;r claims and grievances upon .ns ~
mar than as now, in the LOBBY. ia tihas 70
nv, Gould he appointed to VISIT these M -; ~
nnter with them in Il friendly sPII.' ~ ,>ras
Whole subject even If no agree.iiett r,Sas rnnon
WY raached the feeling oil the tIlSes 80 -
en- ,,nstion would be developer aIsl s,nh
VIZ VIC ~ the discussion would be changes "Ae
must come sooner or later.