Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-12-18
nOKE suIrH,s OPPOSITION.

HOKE SuIIH'S OPPOSITION.
II IL announced In the dispatcher
that the national Naturalization "has
detormlncd to fgnt the Ute BILL" The
aulagonism to the measure IA credited
principally to the secretary Of the In.
terror, Hoke Smith. Mt. Smith has
considered carefully the condition Of
the Indians as reported 10 MIN, and on
the examination made he thinks II
unwiso 10 treat them as suggested.
The Ute bill referred 10 lisa measure
backed by Colorado congressman, ani
relates 10 the occupants Of the Southern
Utc Indian reservation in southwest
orn Colorado. IL proposes to make
alloiments In toveNlty TO the
savagea Of part OF the land
now embraced in the reservation, and
10 throw the rem ,indur open for settle.
meut and occupancy by the white
men. Tho indians Affected arc those
who recently came over into San Juan
county, aud who are now returning By
Secretary Smiths direction.
The attitude assn med by tho score.
tary on this proposition should receive
the unqualified supper, otall friends OF
the Indian race. Every consideration
OF luitlci and humanity dem,ndi that
the Ute bill should be defeated. II not
a greater outrage, Il n equally o. great
an Imposition on the Indians as was
attempted on the S,u Juan sol.
tiers by sending the UIos into
that county, and whatever influence
Utah's Delegate In Congress can brin q
10 bear on the subject In tho national
legislature might be we'll directed to-
ward bringing the proposed measure
~ ignominious failure.
Tho Indians on the Southern Ute
reservation are no more NJ to be- sub.
Jecied to tho provisions OF tho bill ~ a
law than Is a nve-year Old boy to be
turned out and left 10 make his own
living. Tho child might bog and eke
out miserable existence; but It would
be crime to require him 20 DO II. Yet
II would DO no greater oiiense against
humanity than to adopt tho suggested
measure. II means simply death 10
the Indians by slow and painful
process.
Within the area OF the present reser-
walton there IL u comparatively small
amount Of agricultural land. There Ia
considerable grazing country, much Of
broken hnd mountainous district, and
probably good mineral region. The
aborigines are thoroughly wild blanket
Indians. They live by hunting, a
little stock raising, aud the anRuitles
which come from tho government. II
allotments in severalty are made the
hunting and roaming will no stopped,
and the extent OF gtazing county left
70 the IndlRns will be 20 limited that
they cannot obtain sustennuco for their
sheep, cattle and ponies. They are un-
fitted ~ engage In farming or Indus
trial puTsuits because they are unolv-
llizsd, and the result Of the Intended
change would DO to compel them 10
either starvo or be- supported entirely
by the government, while ut the same
time the restrictions necessarily placed
around them by tho allotment rule
would be "a injurious to their physical
condition az II would be 10 u civilized
person to confne him In a disease.
infected penthouse.
The attempt Of Colorado TO get rid OF
the Indians, by inducing them 10 In.
wade the San Juan country, even at
the risk OF having an extcrminating
war waged against them, Is not one
whit worse than the present proposed
legislation, which might well be on.
titled bill to provide for the eKtino-
lion ofthe Southern Utes. In opposing
the Ute bill the secretary Of the interior
in particular and the administration
In general are interposlng barrier to
the wholesale destruction Of human
life. May this latest scheme 10 rob aud
destroy the Indian inset with the fate
il msrits In civilized uatioul