The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-08-09

eftlOu.
Under a more modern and enlight-
ened knowledge Of the needs of the
Indian, and better understanding OF
how to bring about desired results. You
| as superintendent. teachers and in
| structors, have been selected TO for
ward the work of enlightenment and
| civilization. Your work requires in
telligence, discretion, patience and de-
termination and aftentimes heroism
and bravery.
1T is not alone a knowledge of how
to read, write and cipher, that the
Indian requires. The greatest problem
now confronting the government
aside from free coinage, bimetalism or
monometalism) is how to make the In
dams self-supporting and prevent them
from becoming a race OF paupers, de-
pendent for support upon the charities
| of the communities or municipalities
where they may happen to reside.
1T has been the policy Of the gov
eminent for several years to encOur-
age the abandonment Of tribal rela-
tons by purchasing surplus lands held
| by the Indians and allotting in sever
| atty to each Indian a specified tract of
/ land to which he is given conditional
title. The funds derived from the sale
of surplus lands in some instances has
been paid directly to the beneficiaries
| in installments, while in others a pOr-
ton has been paid and a portion re-
served in the United States treasury
| and interest paid to the Indians in an
nual, semi-annual or quarterly INSTALL
ments. These funds are not sufficient
| in most instances to adequately sup
port tie Indians, with their lack. of in
telligence, habits of Incidence and eX
! trayagance, the question is, what shall
be done? The Indian has his allott-
ment, but he can not eat land, though
some do seem to thrive on dirt. They
must be fed. They can not be allowed
! to starve, for it has long been the en-
lightened policy of the government and
all the states and territories TO make
| provision for the support Of the desti-
tute and poor of all classes, races and
colors. These burdens are usually cast
upon the local communities and are
generally somewhat evenly distribut-
ed. But in the case of the Indian, the
, rule is changed A whole tribe is by
agreement or law Of congress, located
in one community. They are the rec
ognized wards of the government, and
it is decidedly unjust that the govern
ment shall he allowed to turn her
wards out and shift her burdens upon
a pinoneer people who have all the
burdens they can reasonably bear in
supporting their local governments
and care for their own necessities. The
government must bear these burdens
and the only way she can relieve her
self, is to teach these people habits of
industry, thrift and economy whereby
they may be enabled to support them
selves. How this can best be accom-
plished will no doubt vary with the
local conditions and the property
rights Of the several tribes.
1T is the experience of every unset
fish observer, that the policy of paying
out monies directly to the ordinary un-
intelligent Indian to be expended as
his fancy may dictate. is a mistken one
and should be abandoned. You can
not teach a prohigate child habits of
economy by giving him all the money
he can spend. Until an Indian arrives
at that stage of intelligence and ac-
ou;roS. Suff;ciant huSipaSS n ct to ON n hla
him to deal intelligently and protect
his own interests, his money should be
expended through. the agent in charge
and his purchases made for him, and
his means applied TO the purchase only
of necessaries. This question requires
bold and heroic treatment If the re-
sources of these Indians are not hus-
banded by those in charge and their
financial interests managed by the gov
eminent or it's agents, it is only ques-
ton of a short time Gntil these people
will become public charges Any at
tempt TO take from them the. expendi-
ture of their annuities will meet with
vigorous opposition. There are many
white people whose greed and ayarice
SO far exceed their pOtriotism, that,
for the sake of few dollars today,
they will antagoniZe any effort that
may be made to elevate the Indian or
protect the future Of the community.
Every county embracing Indian allott-
ments is vitality interested in this ques
ton and the local authorities should
takes steps to encourage every move
ment of the officers of the Indian de-
partment which will tend to better the
permanent condition of the Indian.
refer to the Indians as a class who
have but recently sustained tribal re-
lations and who are yet adhering to
their native customs and manners
1T is true that there are individual
exceptions where wonderful progress
and rapid advancement has been
made, where the Indian is competent
TO handle his own means and make his
own investments. and herein is where
the discrimination should be made.
Such persons should be ged.
and the agent in charge should be EN-
powered with discretion 10 determine
who are competent TO deal for them
selves and who are not. and should he
fully authorized by law 10 make all
expenditures for those who perfer 10
remain in the paths of ignorance. or
who refuse 10 abandon their native
customs and keep pace with the mach
of progress. This would tend TO slim