The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-09
THE LANDS or THE RED MEN,
Commissioner Morgan's Anxiety to Abolish
the Reservation System.

Cossnsissioper Morrsu's Anxiety to Abolish
the Reservation System.
WASHINGTON. Oct S.-Although tho ncquisi-
ton OF Indian lands has gone on at on onor-
nous rate during tho last Ave years, one OF the
chief points in Commissioner Morgan's cur
rent report is plea for carrying It much
further Tho appetite In this case grows BY
what It feeds on. Before Mr.. Morgan's mp
pearanco Mt the head Of tho Indian Bureau
Congress had passed the Severalty Allotment
law. which Is based on prospective. grad
u8l abandonment OF tribal reservations and
tie absorption OF the rcd men into American
citizenship. And even twenty years ago Con-
gress passed law declaring that mo Indian
nation or tribe within tho territory OF the
United States shall DO acknowledged or rccog-
nized Us an Independent nation. tribe, or power
with whom tho United States may contract by
trenty." Up to TINT time the Government had
made with thcm. during the century preced-
Ing. between 800 and 400 treaties, which. how
ever. did not concede to thcm tho rights that
belong to autonomous nations.
This law expressly respected existing obli-
cations. but from the first the courts had hold
that tho ultimate title OF oil Indian lands was
In tho Government, subject to tho right OF
occupancy. 1t had been further held by the
Supreme Court in repeated cases that tho
Government had tho exclusive powor OF ex-
tinguishing that right OF occupancy by pro-
curing voluntary cession OF 1t. Throughout
the colonial period tho Indian right Of occu-
pancy was respected by the Crown and the
courts. and when lands were surrendered by
the red mon 1t was through the medium
OF regular contract or treaty. usually
with o consideration in tho form OF money or
goods. When Great Britain acknowledged the
independence Of the United States the latter
acquired her rights In the SOIL and so It was
with the purchase OF Louisiana from Franco
and OF Florida from Spain. Our Government
has never extlngulshed an Indian title by right
OF conquest except one. during tho Sioux out
break in Minnesota about thirty years ago;
and in this instance tho proceeding WAS ro-
paired by, giving the Indians another reserya-
they had been evicted. During these processes
Of acquisition injustice was occasionally
thing to acknowledge invariably that thelr
e t Sas by
the indians were Virtually driven s 70 SELL H yet
the, Government in tho exercise Of its right Of
eminent domain has frequently forced tho re-.
IL TIE southWest and on tho Pacific coast. since
except where It had been expressly eedett. but
auired1, under tho treaty 81 Guadaloupe HIaaigo
for indians and thon Il 'ths advances Of ciSlis
zatton demanded the acquisition OF whole or
the IL an c1 iSo ',s ~ esfab
lished In the country some depend on treaties
more tnan third on Executive order. In the
n nSFs IRE n
the e oSssd Ses y 1ndan
are expressly excepted from ths operation Of
the seyeralty Allotment act Of 1887
enss s natsf Be- Hs r ssye nmns s tSe
quarter OF q million Indians Of this country.
The wise PROVISION Of tho law makes these
1t gives to every head CT an Indian family 100
acres; half as much to every unmarried per-
finally 10 acres to each pors Su UNDER Under i8 It's
ultimate effect will DO to break up tribal allegi-
anee: In fact. Indians accepting allotments
thereby become citizens. as are also those who
and have adopted the habits II civilized, life.
nnioubt teddy been slow hitherto. but it is better
that 1t should be so. since education and abil-
so by o9 IN ' bs
some form, Of manma! skill or labor. are neces-
sary to mako the allotments, most beneficial to
bands. who have sold their surplus lands to
Hons set The ae estent sresdpS
In spite OF the enormous cessions OF Indian
nea s s dda nsar h a d
possibly more. Since there are not moro than
Of them outside Of Aas eek y is evident
their holdings and yet leave them much more
than Is required under the allotment basis.
when tho Indian reservation will no longer
appear on our maps" echoes the expectations
rather the consequence Of other steps in the
progress OF the race than the condition
precedent In Dakota with tho Sioux.
in Minnesota with the Chippewns, and in
Montana with tho Crows, tho needs for settle
ment have stimulated tho acquisition Of terri
preparation for entering into citizenship arc
more important than the reduction OF reserya-
oil. It is necessary that the terms OF purchase
should be carried out in good faith prior to
any opening OF such lands to settlement