The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-12-10
SUBSCRIPTION RATES.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1896.
rRouREss or TIE Rrn mAN-

HRO0hEsso OE 1hk tALD MAN
Few of the government reports have
been read with greater satisfaction
than those OF the Indian bureau in very
recent years, for they have shown a
situation in striking and happy con-
trast with that which their predeces-
sors presented in past that is near
enough to be remem bered with humil.
istion and regret. Our Indian wars,
which were often brought on by de
siRuing white rascals for their own
profit, are probably ended for all time
The scAndalous corruption that char.
acterized the Indian service und er
many Administrations has been grad
uslly reduced, until little, II any, OF it|
remains. And the condition OF the In
iians, physical, intellectual, and moral,
is improving as rapidly as the most op-
timistic could have expected
The report Of the commissioner OF
Indian affairs OF the last fiscal year is,
like that for the preceding year, dlled
with facts that are encouraging to the
friends Of the red men and TO all who
believe in the enlightened policy OF the
government in its relations TO these
people. There has been no outbreak
or disturbance Of any kind and this
fact shows that the Indians have. at
least, learned that resistance is vain
that they must submit to "the will Of
the conqueror," and that their future
must be trusted to the justice OF the
nation, supplemented by their own
efforts to improve their condition.
The commissioner states that the chief
object and labor Of the bureau is now
and for many years must continue to
~he-to put the Indian upon his separ-
ate allotment OF land, and get him 70
support himself there, and 10 protect
him from encroachment and injustice
and train his children ia books aud in.
dustries
Let one generation be thus trained,
and the great task will be ended. but
IL is one Of the most difficult under
takings ever attempted, The resist.
Snce which our ahoriginals have almost
uniformly shown to the civilization OF
the whites has been ar almost insur-
mountable obstacle Like other bar
barians, they were far more ready to
adopt the vices than 10 emulate the
virtues Of the whites. 1t was easy for
them to learn to drink rum, but they
had an intense adherence for books
and work. II is, thei efoce, gratifying
TO learn from this report that progress
in education has been marked. The
enrolment OF pupils during the year
was 23, $50, an increase OF $40 over the
previous year, while the average at
tendance increased s52
Another cheering item ~ the report
is the statement that during the past
year the government paid to regular
Indian employees a half million OF dol
Lays, and that the number Of trades
/and occupations pursued by them is
constantly increasing Their indus
trial progress is impressiyely attested
by the fact that they are raising sup
plies for the government; also crops
and live stock TO sell on their own
account. AMI in many different way
are coming to earn their own living.
The commissioner forcibly urges leg
islAtion TO put stop to the sale OF
liquor 10 Indians who have become
citizens lie says that many such who
have received allotments ia the west
aud northwest are becoming demoral,
lied by the traffic This raises diff
fcult question. II an Indian has be-
come a citizen he is on an equality be
fore the law with his white or black
fellow-citizen. To make and attempt
20 enforce prohibitory statute ap
plieable 10 him and not 10 his neigh Dor
would probably be a departure frou
constitutional government. II woult
certainly be class legislation aud ex
tremely offensive 70 the red citizen
We suspect that educational ana mora
efforts will have to be depended upor
to meet this difficulty. II the Indians
cannot be assured Of equal rights by
becoming citizens, they viii have litil'
ambition for that honor