Los Angeles herald., 1891-12-10

|
be noticed from the report of
the commissioner of Indian affairs
4 that already some contracts have
been made with district schools
| for the education OF Indian children.
There is great advantage, | think, in
bringing the Indian children into mixed
schools. This process will be gradual,
and in the meantime the present educa-
tional provisions and arrangements,
the result of the best experience OF
those who have been charged with this
work, should be continued. This will
enable those religious bodies that have
undertaken the work of Indian educa-
ton with 30 much zeal; and with results
so restraining and benefcent, to- place
their institutions in new and useful re-
lations to the Indian and his white
neighbor.
The outbreak among the Sioux, which
occurred in December last, as to its
causes and incidents was fully reported
upon bv the war department and the
department of the interior. That these
Indians had some just complaint, espe-
cially in the matter OF the reduction OF
the appropriations fol- rations and in the
delays attending the enactment OF laws
to enable the department 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 an 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 reservations and of the fatal conse-
quences that would have resulted from
So, II ot hn Ito-
posal of General Miles, commanding the
division, all the arms that were thought
by him to be required. He is entitled
, to the credit of having protected the
settlers, and of bringing the hostiles
: into subsection with the least possible
loss of life.
| The appropriation of s2991 ,450 for the
Choctaws and Chickasaws contained in
, the general Indian appropriation bill of
March 8, 1891, has not been expended,
for the reason that have not yet ap-
| proved release to the government of
| the Indian claim to the land. This mat
, ter will be made the subject of special
. message placing before congress all the
facts which have come to my knowledge.
The relations of the five civilized tribes
y now occupying the Indian territory to
,, the United States is, believe, not that
best calculated to promote the highest
advancement of these Indiana. That
, there should be within our borders five
independent states having no relations,
: excepting those growing out of treaties,
with the government of the United States I;
] no representation in the nations leglsla-
/, ture; its people not citizens, Is a start
2 ling anomaly. 1t seems to me to be in
+ evitable that there shall be before long
= some organic changes in the relation OF
9 these people to the United States. What
: form these changes should take do not
: think it desirable to suggest, even if
e they were we'll defined in my own mind.
8 They should involve the acceptance of
t citizenship by the Indians and represen-
s tatives in congress. These Indians
4 should have opportunity to present their
! claims and grievances upon the floor
: rather than as now in the lobby. If a
i commission could be appointed to visit
s these tribes to confer with them upon
8 were presently reached, the feeling OF
= the tribes upon this question would be
Q developed, and discussion would prepare
n the way for changes which must come
q sooner or later.
J. The good work OF reducing the larger
Q Indian reservations by allotments in
3 severalty to the Indians, and the cession
Q of the remaining lands to the United
a States for disposition under the home
8 stead law, has been prosecuted during
: the year with energy and success. In
g September last was enabled to open to
Q settlement in the territory of Oklahoma
3 9OO,O 900 acres OF land, all of which as
| taken up by settlers in asingle day. The
: rush for these lands was accompanied
by great deal of excitement, but was
fro ~ %e ,fx y,oIo Ia
source of great regret that was not
9 able to open at the same time the sur
! plus land of the Cheyenne and Arapa-
hoe reservations, amounting to about
: 5000, 900 acres, by reason of the INSULT
! cheney of appropriation for making the
: allotments. Deserving and impatient
settlers are waiting to occupy these
t lands, and recommend that a special
deficiency appropriation be promptly
made of the amount needed, go that the
: allotment may be completed and sur
} plus lands opened in time to permit the
settlers to get upon their homesteads in
the early spring.
/ During the past summer the Cherokee
= commission has completed arrangements
, with the Wichita, Kickapoo and Tonka
tribes, whereby, if the arrangements are
, ratified by congress, over 100000 addi-
tlODdl dCTcS VIII Dc UpCucQ W ScLJltU1enC
} in Oklahoma. The negotiations for the
, release by the Cherokees of their claim
to the Cherokee strip have made no
substantial progress, so far as the de-
partment is officially advised, but it is
still hoped that the cession OF this large
and valuable tract may be secured.
The price which the commission was
authorized to offer, $1.25 per acre, is, in
my judgment, when all circumstances
as to the title and 10 the character of
the lands are considered, fair and ade-
quate one, and should have been ac-
cepted by the Indians.
} Since March 4, 1889, about %, 900 900
acres have been separated from Indian
reservations and added to the public do
main for the use OF those who desire to
secure free homes under our benefcent
laws. 1t is difficult to estimate the in
crease of wealth which will result from
the conversion of these vast tracts into
farms, but it is more difficult to esti-
mate the betterment which will result
to the families that have found renewed
hope and encouragement in the owner
ship of home and the assurance of
comfortable subsistence under free and
beautiful conditions. 1t is also gratify-
ing to be able to feel, as we may, that
this work has proceeded upon lines of
;uutica towo ri tho Indian opd tbot / -