Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-12-16
DISCUSSION OF THE INDIAN QUESTION.
Schools for Children and Tribal Relations
The Sioux WAR.


The report of the secretary of the interior
shows that very gratifying prog ress has been
made in all of the bureaus which make up that
complex. difficult department. The work IN
the bureau OF Indian Affairs was perhaps never
so large now, by reason of the numerous =
gotiations which have been proceeding wi; b the
the incident labor of making allotments and
was never more carefully conducted
The provision of adequate school IA
cilities for Indian children, ana the
locating of adult Indians upon farms
involve the solution of the Indian question"
Everything else-rations. annuities, and tribal
negotiations with the agents. inspectors and
commissioners who distribute and conduct
them-must pass away when the Indian has be-
come citizen. secure in the individual owner
ship of q farm from which he derives
his subsistence by his own labor, protected
by and subordinate to the laws which
govern the white man, and provided by the gen.
which he lives with the means of educating his
children. When an Indian becomes citizen in
an organized state or territory his relation 10
the general government ceases, in great meas
ure to be that of a ward; but the general govern
ment ought not at once put upon the state or
territory the burden of the education of his
children 1t has been my thought that the
government schools and school buildings upon
the reservations would be a described by the school
systems of the states and territories; but as
II has been found meet sSary to protect the In
dian against the compulsory aliena ton of his
land by exempting him from taxation for
period OF twenty-five years, it would seem to be
where there tribal funds in its possession,
should pay to the school fund of the state what
would be equivalent to the local scnool tax
upon the property Of tn Indian. 1t 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 In
dian children into mixed schools This prog
ress will be gradual, and in the meantime the
present educational provisions and arrange
mentS, the result of the best experience ofthose
| Iarvo aIov<r
be continued This will! enable those religious
bodies that have undertaken the work of In
dian education with so much zeal and with re-
suits SO restraining and benefcent, to place
their institutions in new and useful relations to
the Indian and to his white neighbors
The outbreak among the sioux, " hich oc-
Cured in December last, is as to its causes and
incidents fully reported upon by the War De-
partment and the Department of the Interior.
That these Indians had some Just complaints
especially in the matter of the reduction Of the
appropriation for Tations. and in the delays at
tending the enactment of laws 10 enable the de-
partment TO 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 Indian Messiah, who was to give
them power to destroy their enemies. In view
of the alarm that prevailed among the white
settlers near the reservation and of the fatal
consequences that would have resulted from an
Indian incursion, placed at the disposal of
Gen. Miles, commanding the division of the
missouri, ali SuCn forces as were thought by
him 10 be required He is entitled to the credit
of having given thorough protection to the set
tiers and of bringing the hostiles into subjec-
ton with the least possible loss of life.
The appropriation of 81, 991 $50 for the Choc-
taws and Chickasaws, contained in the Indian
appropriation bill of March 3, 1891. has not been
expended Tor the reason that have not vet ap-
proved release to the government of the In
dian claim 10 the lands mentioned. This mat
ter will be made the subject of a special mes
sage. placing before Congress all the facts which
have come to my knowledge.
The relation of the five civilized tribes now
occupying the Indian territory to the United
States is not, believe that best calculated to
promote the highest advancement of these In
dams. That there should be within our Dor
Gers five independent states, having no rela-
lions except those growing out of treaties with
the government of the United States, no repre-
sentation in the national legislature, its people
not citizens. is a startling anomaly.
1t seems to me to be inevitable that there shall
be before long some organic changes in the re-
lation CT these people to the United States
think it desirable now to suggest. even if they
were well defined in my own mind. They should
certainly involve the acceptance of citizenship
by the Indians and representation in Congress-
These Indians should have opportunity to pre-
sent their claims and grievances upon the floor
rather than. now, in the lobby. If a commits
sion could be appointed to visit these tribes to
confer with them in friendly spirit upon this
whole subject even if agreement were pres
emily reached, the feeling Of the tribes upon
this question would be developed, and the re-
suit of the discussion would be changes which
must come sooner or later