Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-06
A CABINET DISAGREEMENT.
Rumors of a Breach Between the Presidents
and Secretary Blaine on Canadian Reci-
procity - The Indian Commissioner
Makes Some Interesting Suggestions in
His Rauort
rFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT l


further postponement of negotiations for a
Canadian reciprocity treaty has grown into
positive statements of disagreement be-
tween the President and Secretary Blaine
which may lead, or which has already led to
a determination by Mr. Blaine to retire from
the Cabinet. There is absolutely no ground
for such statements, except mere differences
from the peculiar condition of things:
There was very good reason for the post
ponement of negotiations at this time. The
States bordering OH Canada, or those I'M
mediately across any of the great lakes
from Canada, would be most affected by q
reciprocal arrangement
At least they think they would be, and
there is the strongest feeling against what
it is supposed would be the terms of any
treaty negotiated. In Ohio and New York
any discussion of the matter at Washington
would give opportunity to thrust new ques-
tions into the campaigns now raging at
their height and in which the issues are
clearly defined and the line of argument in
each party worked out. Any action or dis
cussion on the part of the administration
would afford the Democrats chance to
assail the Republican official leaders, and
through them the candidates in the States
named. This, it is asserted by the friends of
the President and Mr. Blaine, is the sole
reason for the postponement of the negotia-
tions.
Harrison Not Enthusiastic on Reciprocity.
AT the same time it is pretty we'll
known that the President is not as enthusi-
astic as Mr.. Blaine in regard to reciprocity
with Canada, and it is not impossible that
the latter has himself cooled little in that
direction, as it is quite a different thing to
make liberal reciprocity treaties with
South American countries with which we
might establish new and valuable trade
from planning reciprocity with an old and
nearby country which might possibly send
more to us than we to it.
Mr.. Blaines continued absence after the
time when it was positively announced he
would return to his Washington home is Gu
rious enough, perhaps, to give color of tam
gibtlity to reports of a disagreement with
the President. A month ago word was sent
to the caretakers of the old Seward house
on Lafayette square, which Blaine has pur-
chased and in which he lives, to prepare for
the coming of the master. There was 81
furry of opening and airing and fresh deco
ration for Il brief time, and then all became
silent. The shutters are yet closed, and
there is not sign of spider being expelled
or cobweb being brushed down.
SOME WILD RUMoRS SET AFLoAT.
This has led not only to runors Of a
disagreement with the President, but to
more alarming assertions about Mr.. Blaine's
continued ill health being sufficient to unfit
him for duty, or a relapse which leads his
friends to despair. This is met by the i'll
formation that the great Secretary is con-
stantly gainiug in health that he desires to
remain out of Washington during the
height of the malarial season (though Wash
ington's malarial season is really thing of
the past, and no more to be dreaded than
that of any city of the country, and that he
will therefore not return before the first of
November.
There will really be so little requiring his
attention until the elections are passed that
the very dullness of things would justify
his absence. Many high officials will be alb
sent from now till the election. Politics and
diplomacy are stagnant here. Members of
Congress and other politicians of note and
influence will not be known here till the
fate of the fall battles is decided. This and
his increasing health and strength are
delayed return, and there is not probably a
word of truth in any other.
The Indian Commissioners Report.
THE sixth annual report of the Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs has just been SUBJ
mitted to the Secretary of the Interior.
After alluding to the increased public inter-
est in the subject of Indian administration,
the commissioner outlines what he regards
as the settled policy of the Government in
its dealings with the Indians, emphasizing
comprehensiveness, def1niteness of aim,
clearness of outline, adaptation of means to
ends, Justice, frmness, humanity, radical
ness, stability and time as the essential eIe-
mentS of such O policy.
He thinks that the great forces now at
work-land in severalty, with its accom-
panying dissolution of the tribal relations
and breaking up of the reservation, the de-
struction of the agency system, citizenship
and all that belongs thereto, of manhood, in
dependence, privilege and duty and educa-
tion which seeks to bring the rising genera
tion of Indians into right relationship with
the age in which they live, and to put into
their hands the tools by which they may
gain for themselves food and clothing and
build for themselves homes-w1ll, if allowed
to continue undisturbed a reasonable length
OF time, accomplish their beneficient ends.
The Practical Conclusions Drawn.
The report discusses at considerable
dians, tracing the revolution of the present
policy of dealing with the Indians as wards.
AS the result of the historical survey the
commissioner draws the following practi-
cal conclusions:
That the fiction as regarding the Indians
as independents peoples has been displaced
by the theory of regarding and treating
them as wards of the general Government.
That the purpose of the Government, as
has been made more and more evident is to
change their status from that OF wardship
to that of citizenship.
That the time has come for a declaration
by Congress to the effect that hereafter it
will not recognize the Indians as competent
to make war, but that in our dealings with
them they shall be treated not as belliger-
ents but as subject and dependent people,
capable of course, of insurrection, rioting,
or disturbance of the peace, but not of wag-
ing war.
That the general Government has the
right both for it's own protection, for the
protection of the public welfare and for the
good of the Indians, not only to establish
schools in which their children may be pre-
pared for citizenship, but also to use what
ever force may be necessary to secure to. the
Indian children the benefit of these insti-
tutions.
Indian Representation in Congress.
I venture also to suggest whether the
time is not at hand for the passage of an en-
abling act whereby the five civilized tribes
may form either Territorial or State gov
ernment and be represented on the floors of
Congress. That the time has come when the
Pueblo Indians should be admitted by
special act of Congress "To the enjoyment
of all the rights of citizens of the United
States according to the principles of the
as contemplated by the treaty
of Guadeleupe HidalgO.
The definite determination by the highest
of the actual policy status of the
Indian is necessary as basis of wise legiS-
lation and to the satisfactory administration
of Indian affairs"
After giving an account of the progress
made in the allotment of lands to the In
dians during the past year, the Commits
sioner says that "This radical and far-reach-
ing revolution in the social status of the In
dams is making satisfactory progress. Land
in severalty has in it the promise and po-
and the potency. In many cases it brings
woe and in all it is liable to
leave the Indians worse off than before" He
further says:
Results of the Allotment Policy.
-'I am not in receipt of enough infor-