davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1897-02-25
Tho Indian Buroau.

A measure IL pending in Congress to make
the head of the Indian Once no longer sin
gle person, but, in Mrs. -Malaprops phrase,
like Cerberus, three gentlemen at once"
The Offices Of Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs and Assistant Commissioner, now
carrying salaries Of $4,000 and 5000
year, are to be abolished, and n Board OF
Indian Commissioners substituted consist
ing Of two civilians, from different politi-
cal parties" with maximum terms of four
years each, and an army officer not below
the grade Of Major. The army officer would
have only his regular pay, with commuta-
tion of quarters, and the two civilians
$5 900 each, a slight increase Of cost.
During the Revolution, and for several
years afterward, Congress had direct con.
troll Of Indian affairs; hut In 1886 they
were placed in charge OF two super
intendents, the Northern and the Southern,
subject to the War Department. The Sec
retary OF War continued 10 have jurisdic-
tion of the red men for many years, with
some changes in details. Thus, In 1882,
Congress created the Office Of Commissi ioner
Of Indian Affairs, and in 1894 further
organized the service. In 1877 II practical
ly abolished the superintendents, but con-
tinued the agents and sub-agcnts. Mean
while, in 1s49, it had made the great
change OF transferring Indian affairs to the
Interior Department, then Just constituted.
The appointment Of an Assistant Commits
sioner did not follow until 1883.
In the new plan now proposed the leading
idea seams to be continuity Of policy, which
Is considered Of particular value in dealing
with the Indians, who do not take into
account changes Of Administration and ro-
tation Of office, and regard the Government
a. q whole. This element Of permanence
and transmitted experience would appar-
emily be derived In large part from the
army officer. who could hold Office indef-
pitely, there being in fact, no restriction
In the bill, even 10 the active list. We
may point out, however, that should the
bill commend itself to Congress as a whole,
one civilian, at the start, should be Ap-
pointed for only two years, so as TO carry
out more fully this idea of continuation In
the board.
The argument for the bill from the in
crease OF the duties Of the Indian Bureau
does not seem TO US particularly strong. 1t
is pointed out in Mr.. SHKRMAN's report that
the Indian schools have vastly increased in
numbers, and that the appropriations for
Indian education have more than doubled
The sun., 1897-02-25

that our great political parties have been
made by Federal or national issues, whether
they were arrayed against each other In
Federal, State, or town elections. The
parties, as political organizations, have
been national, and have borne designations
a. such. During the interim between
Federal elections they have been held to-
gether and kept In discipline by State and
local contests, the machinery for the one
serving for the other. Thus the national
idea has been preserved, even In periods
when there was most talk about State
rights and State sovereignty. The Union
has been the political master. and the ma
tional sentiment has not been dissipated.
Moreover, under our political system,
every part Is welded together. Politics pro-
ceeds from the township to the State, and
from the State to the Union: and inherent
ly the system Is inseparable. Municipal
politics necessarily involves State politics,
for the town Ia q creature OF the State. Nor
is there any more reason for separating
city politics from State politics than
State politics from Federal politics.
The questions Of municipal politics are
no more peculiarly local to the city
than those OF state poItlcs are local 70 the
State. The management Of the Affairs Of
the one Is no more a matter Of business
purely than Is that Of the other. II there
should be q distinct municipal party "un-
controlled by national and State politics"
as the address issued in behalf Of the move
ment to which we have referred declares,
every State and every town In every State
should "go as you please" in politics, throw
ing Of all national control, with the result
that there would be innumerable and unre-
lated parties, and dangerous weakening
Of the national sentiment essential to the
enduring power of this republic.
Accordingly the proposition Of this ad-
dress that there should be an entire sepa-
ration Of municipal government from ma
tional and State politics" is essentially
vicious, and should receive emphatic repu-
diation from all patriotic citizens.
We want only one kind Of politics in this
republic. The Union, one and inseparable,
now and forever, in politics, in national
sentiment, and In it's moral and material
integrity That is the true American idea
The sun., 1897-02-25
The Contract Indian Schools.

The Senate has acted judiciously In
amending the Indian Appropriation bill
DO as to make temporary provision for con-
tract schools for Indian children.
A few years ago, when the question Of
gradually displacing sectarian by Govern
ment schools came up, IL was arranged to
decrease by one-fifth the, last preceding ap-
propriations for the former, during the fiscal
year then next ensuing. The following year
the same policy was continued In the House
bill, as reported, and 1t was expressly pro-
vided therein that the Secretary leach
succeeding year shall proportionately so
reduce the amount thus used that at the
end Of five years all contracts for such
education shall cease"
However, q prolonged discussion resulted
In the decision last year to make contracts
to q certain limited amount for the year
ahead, but not to go on to the end Of the
five years. Yet the Commissioner Of Indian
Affairs stated that, II the contract school
system were abolished, 1t would cost not
less than 81 200, 900 to construct Govern
ment schoolhouses and other buildings to
take its place, whereas q very much
smaller appropriation was made for this
purpose. Even II the full amount had been
voted, IL would have taken, according to
Commissioner BRowNISes estimate, from
two to three years to supply these buildings.
The consequence il that at the present
time the Government Is without means to
dispense with the aid Of the sectarian
schools. 1t is conceded that its policy must
be to supply its own schools as rapidly as
L..s l.
question as to the wisdom Of keeping the
contract schools along until others are
ready TO take their place.
When the mission schools were estAb-
lished, they were at once recognized by the
Government an effective allies in Indian
education. It wns found that the average
cost Of education was less In them than In
the Governments schools, as they were
conducted with funds Of their own. Encour-
agement was given from time TO time to
establish more such schools, and 1t thus
became q subject of fair dealing not TO
withdraw Government support from them
too suddenly. The original plan Of ending
all contracts In FIVE years, with reductions
Of one-nfth Of the appropriations each
year, seems to have been a wise one. Per.
haps IL may yet be found that this period
will elapse before the reliance on con-
tract schools can be wholly given up.
AT all events, so longas the alternative IL
that of actually leaving Indian pupils with.
out education or continuing TO support
them in the contract schools that have done
40 much for them hitherto, the latter is un-
doubtedly the course to be followed. Provis-
ion, indeed must be made not only for the
contract school pupils, but for the Indian
children Of school age who arc not yet pro-
vided for anywhere.
The sun., 1897-02-25
Over 70 the Next Administration.

One wcek from to-day the Hon. GRovKR
CLEvELANp will 90 asc to DO President Of
the United States, and Major McKINLxr
Of Canton, Ohio, will shoulder . load.
Among the questions which the Cleve-
which 20 over to the Mckinley Admins
tration.or settlement, are these:
A revenue sufficient for the needs Of the
Government. economically administered
An honest tariff;
A foreign policy, consistent and vigorous,
compelling respect abroad and inspiring
confidence at home;
The reviyiiication Of general business
prosperity.
1t is n curious circumstance that the Hon.
GROVER CLEVELAND ran for Office and was
elected four years ago on platform promis-
Ing all four Of these things. He was to give
the country revenue equal to the Govern
rnent's needs, and instead Of that he has
been borrowing money for years to pay cur
rent expenses. He was to give the country
An honest tariff, and instead Of that he has
helped to enact tariff which is n humbug.
. shame, and q lie. He was to compel re-
spect abroad and inspire confidence at home
by the consistency ana vigor OF MS foreign
policy, and instead Of that he has present
ed to this country and to the world a
spectacle Of vacillation, fabbiness, eva
sion and whimsical eccentricity unpar.
alleled In the chronicles OF all preceding
Administrations. He was to put the people
of the United States into clover and keep
them there for four years, and instead Of
that they are even now look ing forward
eagerly to the end Of his term as an escape
from four years period Of depression and
disheartenment. Cleveland times" will
long be remembered by the survivors; and
in the business world something like
lynching will be the need of the man who
expresses desire for their return.
Referred to the Mckinley Administra-
tion": That Is both the record and the
epitaph Of the Administration now about
To close.
The sun., 1897-02-25

the welfare Of society has been most rapidly
and most completely utilized In the great
town. Hence society, witnessing and duly
spprccisting these superior advantages
enjoyed by the urban resident, tends
more and more to aspire to partici-
pate in them. Population gravitates In
creasingly TO the communities which arc
under municipal government, and the more
90 the larger they are. The whole country
would be depopulated for the benefit Of the
cities IL the inhabitants Of the rural dis
tricts could follow their inclinations.
Young men fy from the farms whenever
the opportunity offers. The loneliness and
monotony Of rural life are constant cause
of complaint, the superior attractions Of the
city . constant magnet, and among these
municipalities.
Instead, therefore, of the past experience
Of the workings Of the government Of New
York affording reason for misgivings as to
the administration of the Greater New
York, soon TO come, IL affords the best
reason for sanguine expectation. The
larger New York has become, the better
governed IL has been. 1t is the most cmi-
nent example and highest proof OF the
ability Of the people for self-government.
A little thinking and an intelligent eI-
animation Of facts as they are, would be
novelty in the experience Of our preten-
tious municipal reformers, and would serve
to relieve the public from the monotonous
iteration Of their shallow and ignorant
make-believc at philoeophizing.
The sun., 1897-02-25

In ten yeaxs that severalty sllotments ON .
largo scale began only ten ycsrs ago. and In
volve difficult and intricate questions, re-
quiring time, labor, and legal skill to detor-
mine that the purchases of Indian lands
have become very important. But with the
growth Of the country there In growth OF
expenditures In nearly all parts Of the gov
ernmental system, and greater multi
plicity Of details. The result is not usually
the appointment Of Boards Of Management
in place Of single heads.
There is something, however, In the pc
culiar character Of the Indians, and in the
grave results of failure TO pursue that
general uniformity Of policy which they
sometimes consider as synonymous with
good faith. The proposed change would
further introduce at the head Of the Indian
Bureau that military element which has
been urged for years, on the ground that
some army. officers are constantly asso-
ciated with Indians and studying them,
and become well suited 20 manage them.
The recent law Of Congress, which makes
all reservation agents army officers, except
in certain specified cases, was one conces-
sion to this view. The present would be
another very important one, as in time the
army officer might be the man OF longest
experience on the board, assuming that no
service rules or customs limiting details
should be applied TO him.
There IL also something, perhaps, In the
idea that three Commissioners could divide
up to advantage the work resulting from
the great variety of subjects which the
charge Of q whole race Of men involves
Each would practically be manager Of his
own department, subject TO the revision OF
the other two: and two could be visiting
the Indians while still leaving one in charge
Of routine work.
We have purposely set forth tho srgu-
ments favoring the change, for the reason
that the arguments against 1t, the general
desirability Of single executive head and
the individuality Of change without rea-
sonable assurance Of Improvement, are
manifest. The matter is one that deservea
careful consideration, the main question
being what would be best for the red men.
The sun., 1897-02-25

This exhibits with sufficient clearness
that tendency to costly administration, and
to steadily increased cost of administra-
tion, which marks the recent management
Of the affairs Of this nation.
This tendency is the most serious problem
which the Republican party, coming back
into power under MCKINLEY, will have to
confront during the next four years.
Adding the permanent annual appropria-
tions to the appropriations made at the
first session Of the Fifty.fourth Congress for
the current fiscal year, the total for this
year is $515, 5,s45, 1914. Estimating the pres
ent population at 10000, 900, this is a tax
Of $7.l6 for every man, woman and child in
the country.
For the tremendous increase in the cost
Of running the Federal Government, outside
Of the expenses resulting from civil war
which ended thirty.two years ago. II must
be said that the Republican party is mainly
responsible. II is a party Of enterprise, but
II has not hitherto shown itself to be q
party OF economy. That the Democrats
when In power at Washington, have some
times carried up the figures close to the Re
publican high-water mark, does not alter
the responsibility Of the organization now
In control Of the Federal Government.
Speaker REED at the present session Is al
most the first Republican Of great promi-
nence found resisting earnestly and with
measurable success the multitudinous de-
mands OF an extravagant Republican ma
jority in Congress. The Speaker evidently
understands ths warning of past experience,
and the dangers Of the immediate future.
In the matter of appropriations the
Republican party in the Fifty.fifth Congress
will need bride rather than a spur, and
II will be we'll for continued Republican
supremacy il there is fra hand ON that
bride during the next four years.
The sun., 1897-02-25

A Bostonian smiled the other day "a he
quoted the prediction which NAPOLEON
made about the time Of his overthrow At
Waterloo, that in hfty years all Europe
would be either republican or Cossack." It
must be admitted that the prediction was
inexact; and yet when We gaze AT Europe
In these times and see how the lord OF the
Cossacks casts shadow from the Neva to
the Seine, and even to the Thames, we are
disposed to believe that there are prophets
who have fallen wider OF the mark than
NAPOLEON BoSAPARTE.
France and the Cossack are friends, even
though France In now republican. All the
crowned heads In Europe spend most Of
their time in watching the Cossack. Tho
The sun., 1897-02-25
vital o.c~tiop. In Canada

MONTREAL Feb. ga business man in On
tario whose opinion had asked on the oonse-
quenccs Of the abrogation Of the bonding priv
ilogcs enjoyed by Canadian railways engaged In
interstate trafic, says. at strikes the nail on
the bead;" and he goes on 10 give the opinion,
that n the Immigration law with the Oorliss
amendment is put into efIoct against Canadians
going regularly back and forward into the
United States to work, and Mr.. Laurier fails TO
get q reciprocity treaty, II viii bring about
such disorder in Canadian trade and industry
that II viii compel the Canadian people 10
seek an immediate remedy by a complete change
Of political conditions. As my correspondent is
not an anneIatonist. gather from his letter
that he il in favor Of Independence. He does
not believe England under her now policy would
consent 10 free commercial intercourse between
Canada and the United States unless she also
had tho lions share OF the advantages 10 be de-
rived from Il.
At Rossland, the mining centre Of British
Columbia, meeting was held last week by some
persons described as American citizens. at
which they passed resolutions oondemning the
Corliss amendment 20 the Alien Labor law, and
sent them TO President Cleveland. They stated
that they represented q large number Of
the twenty-five thousand Americans resi-.
dent In British Columbia who would suffer
py INC phhshKo OF inc Dl1 Win Lnht
amendment. The wording OF the third
clause Of the resolution has a suspicious ring
about IT, and has rather the look Of an advertise
ment OF the vast deposiie Of the precious
metals recently discovered" which promise
70 do more TO relieve the congested condition Of
the labor market in both countries in the near
future than all the other resources combined"
The whole thing roads as " II had boon drawn
up by sharp Canadian attorney. A statement
OF the number OF people at the meeting. with q
few names OF the more prominent persons pres
ent, would help TO better appreciation Of the
protest. Only a few DAYS ago the reports were
that in Rossland, this Edorado OF Canada, there
were people starving and out Of work.
stronger tone toward the Government since
the return OF Sir Charles Upper from England.
which looks as II he intended to try and force
Its hand in regard 20 the question Of reciprocity.
immigration retaliation, and other prominent
topics The Stdr Of this city, which is Sir
Charles Tuppcr's mouthpieoe, tells Mr.. Laurier
that business has already stood ne much uncer-
tainty as IL Ii prepared 10 endure. and that
Ministers are expected 10 tell precisely what
they intend to do with the tariff: and. further
more. 10 take the country into their confidence
Visitors to the once Of La Pdtris thnt knew IL
in the days OF its stern and puritanical severity
under the late proprietor, Mr. Beaugrand.
would not recognize II now that II has become
the iocls OF Government organ. Everything is
new and on a larger scale. but Mr. BeauRrand
took the grit and backbone away with him
The sun., 1897-02-25

Scribners Magazine for March might be called
foreign number" almost every one Of ia arti.
olsa relates " other country than our own
Howard Pyle illustrates the duel between Esmond and
the Prince; Richard Harding Davis desrrihes the
"BAndsrium In Hungary" and has inst AIment of
hA Central American story; Mn Fennell discuAaes
Whistler n the Master Of the LithogrAph" (and
whistler Is foreigner practically; Mr.. Lewis Id.
dngs tells OF the "Art OF Travel" and c. D. Gibson
continues his descriptions OF London. M Howells
beginu his new novel. :" The Story OF Play" and Mr.
p O. Hubart tolls Of the business OF factory in the
series ths Conduct Of Great Busnesss" and thair
articles are Of the soii Ameraoan-
The sun., 1897-02-25

Turk knows him; the Greek, Roumsninn,
Austrian, italian, German, and Lord
SALISBURY, are very much interested in
him at this moment. In Europe, at the end
Of our century, the biggest man alive Is
NAroLroN's Cossack.
Passing over to Asia, we observe that the
Cbinaman, the Jap, the Hindoo, the AZ
CHAN, and the Persian have become much
better acquainted with the Cossack than
they used TO bc.
The sun., 1897-02-25
An Essentially Vicious Undertaking.

The proposed "union Of citizens for the
separation of municipal issues from national
and State politics" will proceed on the
wrong track, and start out for an end
which is both unAttainable and undesira.
BILE, even II it were practicable.
Such separation would violate the prin-
ciples upon which the preservation OF our
political system depends, and tend TO con-
fusion where there should be homogeneity
In order to keep dominant a necessary ma
tionAl sentiment.
It has besn fortunate for this republic
The sun., 1897-02-25

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: have
desired 10 express my thanks 10 you for some
weeks for your editorial on the spirit Of liberty.
ask you to-day to tnsert this letter Of thanks on
"Mr. wetmores Important Speech" Thanks
10 God that there II one man living to defend
liberty in America as you are doing. TIE coun-
try will be able to overcome its enemies with
friends Of your calihre 10 defend her. Always
yours tnow for twenty -nve years.,
THAppEus HOGAN, Catholic Priest
TRENTON, Feb. %.
The sun., 1897-02-25

To TIE Enron or THr suS--sir ! see an editorial
in your paper upon the subject Of Popuism and tn
sanity. You say the number Of people In ansAs Ia
decreasing. the number Of lunAtice Increasing Sir
the statement that Populist II capable Of potno in
IL one did not expect 10 see In THr srs WIN
you kindly correct yourself and add that the cause
OF this phenomenon IL simply thai people aro slowly
getting ON TO" the Populistss
UrTos b. SINCLAIR Jr
The sun., 1897-02-25

The Gaelic language seems to be coming
to the front once moro in Ireland. At the Dun
garven Petty Sessions Court the other day
PATRICK CoNNoRs was committed for contempt
OF court for answering in Irish the questions that
were put TO him In English CoNSoRs could
understand English. but could not speak IL with
sufficient facility TO convey his ideas. So he
spoke Gaelic and was sent TO jail
The sun., 1897-02-25
Tho Cost OF Running This Nation.

The table subjoined shows the net ordi-
nary expenditures Of the Government, ex-
cluding interest, at intervals Of ten years
since the beginning Of the century; together
with the population, and the per capita Of
expenditure to population:
The sun., 1897-02-25

Consul General LEE may not have re-
signed. but certainly he ought 70 resign. Al .
servant Of the public Of the United States he
owes this emphatic protest against the dastsrdly
policy OF the Administration
The sun., 1897-02-25

To THE EprroR OF TuE suS--Si-,-rermit me to call
your readers attention to the Registrar Generals re-.
turns Of marriages solcmnscd within the pASi twenty
year in England. II the num,ors o' converts To no,
man Catholicism In that country have been so enor
nous NJ for example $4,000 within ntteoa months
why 10 II that no better showing can I've made than
these returns indicate9 The returns arr m follcwk
taken at intervals:
The sun., 1897-02-25
Twelve American W omen.

Prom The Pochsster HenocrGf AVID ChroNsaLs,
TIM suK asked 10 name the Ten American wom"r
who will live longest in history, Fivrs this AnfweT
Martha UGshinp1on, Eebeccs Eolft TorAhouta'
Molly Pitcher, Elizabeth Blackwell, Elizabeth EA''
stanton, Priscilla Alden Eliza Gnose Mother coos
Maria Mitchell Harriet BcrgLvr stowe LurrCta Hoit'
The number ought To- have tceu twelve suhaa -
Anthony and lAc,'dusiA lurr might lie RA4rl Ar :
icsas VIII never cease to speculate EIua The fat
Aaron Bur-'s beautiful and Accomp plALod daughter,
The sun., 1897-02-25

must he evident that II marriage he taken aa the
test there ia no sign OF increase In the number o
ndharcDts 90 the Roman Catholic Church during thai
period. & r., from 1873 10 ss1.
Noawoop, Feb. 60 ARTHUR wHuAEKn
The sun., 1897-02-25
Its Face Not Remarkable.
From the Nrpa III sunday eau.

IFNNH WIN f'u'FtffTV
There was IA strange man here TO see you to-
day, Papa" said little Ethel, who met her father
in the hall US he came home On Wednesday night
Did he huye Till T. asked BinkA
No. papa lie had Just plain nose"
The sun., 1897-02-25

Local rrws-Ths City and Suburban Nsws Buresu
Of the Usnxp Pass and NEW Yosx ASSOCIATED
PnEss h at ~ 70 ~ Ann street AL information
and documents for public use instsntiy dissenii-
pstsd 10 the pres Of ths whole oountry.