The rustler., 1891-10-16
THE INDIANS

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f@aFs-ia~xtt1his n@atFaeslam oF en-.
rrfh.i SD R-..rv.tlsa srsa~uns-naus.s-
tun the fndi.a.
NAknixeruK. Oct d-The xixtisth
snnuAl report Of the commissioner of
Indian Affair." has just been submitied
10 The secretary of the interiar.
After alluding 10 increased public In
terest In the subject % the Indian Ad-
miuistration the commissioner outlines
what be regards az the settled policy of
the government In Ia dealings with the
Indians emphasizing comprehensive
nesA dehnitcncss Of aim. clearnexs
q outline. adaptation Of means 20
ends, justice. firmncss. humanity,
radicalness stability aud time a. the
essential element Of such a policy. lie
thinks that the great forces now AZ
work-land In seyeralty. with its ac-
eompanying dissolution Of the tribal
relation and breaking up Of the rcscr-
walton. the destruction of the agency
system, citizenship aud all that belongs
thereto OF manhood. independence,
privilege and duty. education which
seeks b bring the rising genera.
ton OF Indians into right relation
ship with the age in which they live
and 90 put into their hands the tools
by which they may gain for themselves
food and clothing aud build for them
selves homcs-will. IL allowed to con-
tinuc undisturbed a reasonable length
Of time, accomplish their benehccnt
ends.
The report discusses at considerable
length the political status of the In.
diaus tracing the evolution OF the
present policy Of dealing with the In.
dians as wards.
After giving an account OF the
progress made In the allotment of
lands 10 the Indians during the past
year, the commissioner SAYS This
radical and far reaching revolution In
the social status OF the Indians is max.
ing satisfactory progress Land In
severalty has in II the promise aud the
potency Of great things, but only the
promise and the potency. In many
cases IL brings unutterable woe and In
all it is liable 10 leave the Indians
worse of than before am not in re-
ceipt of enough information nor. in.
deed has sufficient time elapsed 70 en-
able me 10 judge Of the practical results
Of the allotment policy. ! have seen
nothing during the past year, however,
10 change my views as TO its ultimate
success"
Regarding the reduction of the reser.
vations, which has proceeded with
great rapidity during the year, the re.
port says: while IL Is possible tc
push this work too rapidly, perhaps, !
do not hesitate 10 say that the ultimate
destruction of the entire system of
reservations is inevitable. There is nc
place for IL in our present condition of
life. The million OF acres of Indian
lands now lying absolutely unused are
needed as homes for n very rapidly in. /.
creasing population, and must be uti I
lized. Whatever right and title the In.
dians have in them is subject &c
and must yield to the de-
mands of civilization. They shoulc
be protected in the permanent posses
sion of all the land that is necessar,
for their own support and whatever /.
ceded by them should be paid for ut lis
full market value. But il cannot be
expected under any circumstances that
these reservations can remain intact
the progress Of civilization.
requiring an army TO protect then
from the encroachments OF home seek.
ers and maintaining perpetual abode
OF savagery and animalism."
The report discusses at length the
subject of Indian education. The en-.
rollment of Indian pupils for the yeai
ending June 30 has been Il, 2g6, an in.
crease over last year of 1,549 The
amount of congressional appropriation
for Indian education available for the
year to come Is nearly two aud one.
quarter millions of dollars The com.
missioner regards the education Of the
Indian as the only solution of the In.
dian problem.
Regarding contract schools the com
missioner recommends the maintenance
of the status quo for the present, but
urges that the appropriation of public
funds for sectarian education Is con
trary TO the spirit OF the constitution
opposed to public policy and ought, Al
an early date, TO be discontinued. liz
expresses strong appreciation of the
work done among the In
dians by the churches, and thinks the
present time is peculiarly favorable fol
the increase of such work.
The report discusses n great variety
Of topics and contains full statistica
tables and other information regarding
all matters that have been under con
sideration during the past year