New-York tribune., 1891-05-17

.rnmert t tae ocon An extingnish the claim OF the
Ogden Company to the lands OF the senecas' anu '"'
portion OF the Tuscsroras, covered by H. =.
o. That the lands of the several rcservsuons W
allotted in severalty among the members OF tho .o
with suitable restrictions TO alienation 10 "hi.
and protection from Judgments and other debts pu'
division not 20 go into effect 20 lands auec'u W
the ogden Company's claim until that cmim oo 10
moved This allotment in severalty ought not I'd DO
limited to division OF the possession Of the land ou'
should comprise radical uprootlng of the whoie
tribal system giving TO each individual hosoiu'e
ownership OF his share OF the land In fee.
4. The repeal Of all existing laws relating 10 tno
Indians Of the State. excepting those prohibiting
sale of liquors them and Intrusion upon their lanos
the extension of the laws Of the State them, and
their absorption into citizenship.
Public interest in the chief of these recon-
mcndations and in the general subject OF the
New-York Indian, is stimulated by letter
which Judge Draper, the Superintendent OF
Public instruction, contributes to the last num-
ber of 1.-The Indian Advocate" monthly
journal devoted to the discussion of Indian
topics The Judge in the discharge Of his Off
cial duties has seen good deal of the Indians ;
80 that what he has to say of their condition and
their peculiar needs is worthy of attention. lie
sums up his views touching their condition with
the statement that, "while there are some re-
deeming features the State Indian reservations
are disgrace to the Commonwealth" How is
this disgrace to be brought to an end? In an
swering this question he is at one with the
legislative committee holding that the reser-
vaton system should be discontinued lands al
lotted in severaty, the tribal relations broken
up and Indians absorbed into citizenship"
1t is to be expected that the practical, level
headed philanthropists of this State, who natr-
rally take lively interest in all the aboriginal
wards of Uncle Sam, will allow their charity
to begin at home; that they will give small
attention to the Indian problem at large until
they have secured the abolition of these seven
reservations within New-York's own territory
A few years ago a religious body in Buffalo, in
reply to certain drastic criticisms which had
been passed upon the reservations, contended
that the four with which it had relationship
Cattaraugus Aegany, Tuscarora and Tona-
wanda-were unJustly assailed. How much fur
ther the defenders of the four reservations went
we do not now remember, but our impression
is that they held that the indians on the four
were fairly moral and progressive. However
this may be, it is evident that the large ma
jorty of those most competent to express an
opinion are dead against the reservation sys-
TEN. The men and women who recently won
so great victory for philanthropy by securing
the removal of the pauper insane from the
county asylums to State institutions are pos
sibly signing for another important field to
conquer. 70 them we respectfully commend
New-Yorks five thousand Indians.
The measure Of last winter known as the
Whipple bill was prepared by Assembyman
Whipple, of Cattaraugus, who was the chair
man of the special committee to which refer
ence has been made. The Assembly passed it,
but the Senate was prevented from considering
it by the deadlock. If its friends do their
duty, there is no reason why it should not get
through next year.