The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1891-12-17
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
The Indian Problem Discussed and
Recommendations OfTared

The Indian Problem Discussed and
Recommendations offered.
The report of the secretary of the interior
shows that very gratifying progress has been
made in all of the bureaus which make up that
complex, difficult department.
THE OUTBREAK AMONG THE SIOUX, j..
which occurred in December last, is, as to its
causes and incidents, fully reported upon by the
war department and the department of the in
terror That these Indians had some just COM
plaints especially in the matter of the reduction
OF the appropriation for rations aud III the de-
lays attending the enactment Of laws to enable
the department to perform the engagements en-
tered into with them, is probably true; but the
Sioux tribes are naturally warlike and turbu-
lent and their warriors were excited by their
medicine men and chiefs who preached the COM
ing OF an Indian messiah who was to give them
power to destroy their enemies; Inyiew OF the
near the reservation and OF the fatalities which
would have resulted from an Indian incursion, /
fSa 81 ns i the N en ore
as were thought by him to be required, He Is
entitled to the credit of having given thorough
protection to the settlers and bringing the hos
tiles into subection with the least possible loss
OF life.
The appropriation of S2.901 ,45o 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 q release to the
government of the Indian claim to the lands
mentioned. This matter will be made the sub
ject OF special message, placing before congress
all the facts which have come to my knowt
edge.
LAND IN sEvERALTY.
The good work of reducing the larger Indian
reservations by allotments in severalty to the
Indians, and the cession of tie eremaning lands to
the United States for disposition under the
homestead law has been prosecuted during the
year with energy and success. In September
last was enabled to open to settlement in the
Territory of Oklahoma 100000 acres OF land,
all of which was taken up by settlers in a single
day. The rush for these lands was accompanied
hxyo az Hon1C Cf awoitn hnt "a ha
free from incidents of violence.
1t was q source of great regret that was not
able to open at the same time the surplus lands
of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservation,
amounting to about 100000 acres, by
reason OF the insufficiency of the
appropriation for making the allotments.
Deserving and impatient settlers are waiting to
occupy these lands, and urgently recommend
that a special deficiency appropriation be
that Che allotments may be completed and the
surplus lands opened in time to permit the
settlers TO get upon their homesteads in the
early spring.
have been greatly rejoiced to notice many
evidences OF the Increased uniication OF our peo-
pie and Of q revived national spirit. The vista
that now opens TO US Is wider and more glorious
than ever before. Qualification and amazement
struggle for supremacy as we contemplate the
country. IA trust. momentous in its influence
upon our people and upon the. world is for
brief time committed to us, and We must not be
fathless to its first conditionthe defense ofthe
free and equal influence on the people In the
choice OF public officers and In the control Of
Executive ii ansion. Dec. 0. 1891.