The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-10

govern the white man, and provided by
the general government or by the local COM
munities 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 govern
meut ceases, in great measure, to be that Of
ward, but the general government ought
not at once TO put upon the state or terri
tory the burden OF the education OF his
| children. IL has been my thought that the
! government schools and school buildings
I upon tae reservations would be absorbed by
( the school systems of the states and terri
/ tories, but as 1t has been found necessary to
/ protect the Indian against the compulsory
alienation OF his land by exempting him
| from taxation for a period of twenty-five
years. it would seem to be
right that the general govern
ment certainly where there are tribal
funds In its posse ssion, should pay to the
school fund Of the 8 ate what would be
equivalent to the local school tax upon the
property Of the Indian. Il will be noticed
from the report Of the commissioner of
Indian affairs that already some contracts
have been made with district schools for
the education of Indian children. There Is
great advantage, l think, in bringing the
Indian children into mixed schools. This
progress will be gradual, and in the mean
time the present educational provisions and
arrangements, the result OF the best expert
ence of those who have been charged with
this work, should be continued. This will
enable those religious bodies that have I'M
dertaken the work Of Indian education with
so much zeal, and results so restraining and
beneficial, to place their institutions in new
and useful relations to the Indian and his
white nelghbors.
OUTBREAK OF THE SIOUX.
The outbreak among the Sioux, which
| occurred in December last is as to its
Nj all rod T.
war department and the department Of the
! interior. That these Indians had some COM
plants, especially in the matter of a reduce
ton OF appropriations and all the details
! delaying the enactme e of laws to enable
| the department to perform the engagements
entered into wi h them, is probably true,
| but the Sioux tribes are naturally warllke
aud turbulent, d their warriors were ex-
cited by their medicine men and a chief
| who preached the coming of an Indian mes
| siah who was to give them power to de-
stroy their enemies. In view Of the alarm
that prevailed among the white settlers
near the reservation, and of the fatal conss-
quences that would have resulted from an
| Indian incursion, placed at the disposal Of
Gen. Miles, commanding the division OF the
Missouri, all such forces as were thought by
! him to be required. He is entitled TO the
credit of having givel thorough protection
to the settlers and of bringing the hostiles
into subsection with the least possible loss
of life.
The appropriation of 1891 $50 for the
Choctaws and Chickasaws contained in the
general Indian appropriation bill of March
| 3, 1891, has not been expended for the
reason that have not yet approved a res
lease to the government of the Indian
claim to the lands mentioned. This matter
will be made he subject of special mes
| sage placing before congress all the facts
oh hay y IN my al
The relation Of the five civilized tribes
now occupying the Indian Territory to the
| United States is not. l believe, that best
calculated to promote the highest
advancement Of these Indians.
borders five independent states having
relations, except those growing out of
treaties, with the government Of the United
Statec, no representation in the national
legislature or its people not citizens is a
startling anomaly. 1t seems to me to be in
evitable that there shall be before long some
organic changes in the relation of these
people to the United States. What form
these changes should take do not think it
desirable now to suggest, even IL they were
well defined in my own mind. They should
! certainly involve the acceptance of citizen
ship by the Indians and a representation in
congress. These Indians should have
opportunity to present their claims
and grievances upon the floor
rather than as now, in the lobby IL a
commission could be appointed 60 visit these
tr bes to confer with them in a friendly
spirit upon this whole subject, even if no
agreement we're presently reached, the feel
ing OF tue tribes upon this question would
be developed and the discussion would pre-
pare the way for the changes which must
| come sooner or later. The good work of
| reducing the larger Indian reser vations by
allotmeuts in severalty to the Indians and
the cesslon Of the remaining land to the
| United States for disposition under the
homestead law has been prosecuted during
the year with energy and success.
OKLAHOMA
| In September last was en-
| abled to open to settlement
in the territory of Oklahoma 900, OO1 acres
of land, all of which was taken up by set
tiers IN a single day. The rush for these
lands was accompanied by a great deal Of
excitement, but was happily free from in-
cidents of violence 1t was a source Of great
regret that | was not able to open at the
same time the surplus lands Of the Cheyenne
! and Arapahoe reservations, amounting to
about 5000, 900 acres, by reason of the in
sutilciency of the appropriation for making
the allotments. Deserving and impatient
| settlers are waiting 10 occupy these lands,
and l urgently recommend that special
urgency deficiency appropriation be prompt
| ly made of the small amount needed, so that
the allotments may be completed and the
surplus lands opened in time to permit the
settlers to get upon their homesteadS in
the early spring.
| During the past summer the Cherokee
commission have completed arrangements
with the Wichita, XII kapoo and T0nkawa
tribes whereby, il the agreements are rat
flied by congress, over $4,000 additional
acres will be opened to settlement in Okla
homa. The negotiation for the release by
| the Cherokees of their claim TO the Chero-
kee strip has made no substantial progress
SO far as the department. is officially ad vised,
but it is still hoped that the oession OF this
large and valuable tract may be secured.
The price which the commission was author
lied to offer, 81 25 per acre, is in my judg-
ment, when all the circumstances as to the
titles and the character of the lands is con-
sidered, fair and adequate one and should
have been accepted by the Indians Since
March 4. 1889, about 5000, 900 acres have
been separated from the Indian reservation
and added to the public domain for the use
of those who desired to secure free home
under our benefcent laws 1t is difficult to
estimate the increase of wealth which will
result from the conversion of these waste
lands into farms, but il Is more difficult to
estimate the betterment which will result to
families that have found renewed hope and
courage i'll the ownership Of a home and
the assurance Of a comfortable subsistence