The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-10
rHE INDIANS.
school Progress-The Ghost Dsnce-ReP-
resentation of Civilized Tribes

school Progress-The Ghost Dsnce-kep-
resentation of Civilized Tribes
The report Of the secretary o. tho interior
shows that very gratifying progress has been
maize IN all o. the bureaus which make up that
complex. difficult department The wofk "a
the bureau Of Iniian affairs was perhaps never
30 large as now by reason OF the numerous ne
gotiatons which have been proceeding with
tie tribes for a reduction o! the reservations,
with the incident labor OF making allotments,
ami was never more carefully conducted. The
provision of adequate school facilities Tor In
dian children ana the locating of adult In adams
upon farms involve the solution o. the Indian
question. Everything else, national annuities
and tribal negotiations with the agents, III
spectors and commissioners who dis
tribute and conduct them, must pass
away when the Indian has become citizen,
secured in the individual ownership of a farm
from which he derives his subsistence by his
own labor, protected by and subordinate TO the
laws which govern the " bite man. and provided
by the general government, or by the local com
munities in which he lives, with the means of
education for his children. When an Indian
becomes citizen IN an organized state or terri
tory his relation TO the general government
ceases in a great measure 10 be that OF n ward .
but the general government ought not az once TO
put upon the state or territory the burden of the
education of his children. /. has been my
thought that the government schools and school
buildings upon the reservations would re alb
territory, but rs il has been found necessary 10
protect the Indian against the compulsory
alienation of his land by exemptiag il
from taxation for period OF twenty five years,
IL would seem to be right that the gem
eral government certainly, from the tribal
funds in its possession, should pay To the school
fund OF the state what would be equivalent 10
local school tax upon the property of the ln-
dian. IL will be noticed from che report OF the
commissioner on Indian affairs that already
some contracts have been made with district
schools for the education of Indian children.
There IL n great advantage, think, in bringing
the Indian children into mixed schools. This
process will be gradual aud in the meantime the
present educational provisions and arrange
ments which are the result OF tho best expert
ence OF those who have been charged with the
work, should be continued. This will enable
those rel gious ladies that have undertaken the
work of Indian education with so much zeal,
and with results so re training and Denehcent,
To place their institutions in new and useful re-
lations to the Indian and his white neighbor.
The outbreak among the sioux, watch occur
red IN December last, has been, as to it, causes
and incidents, IN L. reported uVon py the war
department and the department of tne interior.
That these Indians had some just complaint, e.
pec1aly In the matter OF the reduction OF the
appropriation for rations and in the delays at
tending the enactment of laws 20 enable the de-
partment 10 perform the engagements entered
into with them, is probably true: but the Sioux
tribes are naturally warlike and turbulent, and
their warriors were excited by their medicine
men and chiefs. who preached the coming of
an Indian Messiah. who was TO give them power
alarm that prevailed among the white settlers
near the reservations for the fatal consequences
that would have resulted from an Indian incur
sion, placed at the disposal of General Miles,
commanding the division, all the arms that
were thought by him to be required. He is en-
titled to the credit of having protected the set
tiers aud OF bringing the hostiles into subjec-
ton with the least possible loss OF life
The Appropriation of s2.99l,i j0 for the choc-
taws and Chickassws, contained in the general
Indian appropriation bill of March 3, 1891, has
q Y p6 a thQf
not yet approved release to the government of
the Indian claim to the land. This matter will
De made the subject of a special message
placing before congress all the facts which
have come to my knowledge. The relations
of the five civilized tribes now occupying In
dian Territory to the United states, do not be-
lieve the best calculated TO promote the
highest advancement of these Indians. That
there should be within our borders five inde-
pendent states, having no relations excepting
those growing out of treaties with the govern
ment OF the United States, and representa-
ton in the nations legislature OF its people is
startling anomaly. 1t seems to be inevitable
that there shall be some organic changes in
the government OF those people. What
1orm those changes should take /
do not think advisable to suggest,
even ii they were defined in my own mind.
They should involve the acceptance OF citizen
ship by the representatives in congress. These
Indians should have an opportunity TO present
their claims and grievances upon the floor,
rather than, as now, in the LOBBY. IL q commits
sion could be appointed to visit these tribes tn
confer with them upon the whole subject, even
II no agreement We're presently reached the
feeling of the tribes upon this question would
be developed and the discussion would prepare
the way Tor the changes, which must come
sooner or later.
The good work of reducing the larger Indian
reservations by allotments in seyeraty to the
Indians and the cession OF the remaining lands
to the United states for disposition under the
homestead law, has been prosecuted during the
year with energy aud success. In September
last was enab cd 10 oren 70 settlement in the
fxrr ftnTt nf Elah1 a
OF which was taken up by settlers in single
day. Inc rush for these lands was accompanied
by great deal OF excitement but
m enee ff W rDm ns son1ce Of , yio
regret that l was not able TO open at the same
time the surplus land of the Cheyenne and
Arapahoe reservation, amounting TO about
100000 acres, by reason Of the insufiiciency of
the appropriation .or making the allotments
Deserving aud impatient settlers are waiting TO
occupy these lands, AMI | recommend that a
special deficiency appropriation be promptly
maize of the same amount needed, so that the
allotment may be completed and the surplus
lands opened IN time to permit the sett ers 10
get upon their homesteads in the early spring
During the past summer the Cherokee com
mission has completed arrangements with the
Wichita, kickapoo and Tonka tribes whereby
II the ARRANGEMENTS are ratified by congress-
over 100000 additional acres will be opened 10
settlement In Oklahoma. The negotiations for
the release by the Cherokees Of the claim 10 the
Cherokee strip has made no substantial pro-
gress so lar as this department is officially adj
Vised, but IL is still hoped that the cession of
tins large and valuable tract may be Assured
The price which the commission was author.
lzed To ouer-Sl.25 per acre in my Judgment
when all the circumstances 10 the lie and
the Character of the lands are considered, fair
and adequate one, aud should have been ac-
cepted by the Indians.
since March 1. 1859, about 100000 acres have
been separated from Indian reservations ard
added to the public domain lor the Use of those
who desire 10 secure free homes under onr
behehcent laws 1t is difficult TO estimate the
increase of wealth which win result from the
conversion OF these vast lands into farms but it
Is more dnleult to estimate the betterment
which will result 70 the families that have foupd
renewed hope and courage in the ownership of a
nome ana ths assurance OF omfortabls sub
slstence under free aud beautiful conditions IL
Is also gratifying TO DO able to feel a. we may
that TINS work has proceeded upon lines o! ins
Tee toward the lnGian and that he may now II
ne WIZ, secure TO himself the gooi influences of