The record-union., 1898-10-16
Much Progress Has Been Made
Within the Past Few Years.
Still The Problem Is Yet Far From a Salts
factory Conclusion.
DR.. Lyman Abbott's Review of the
Present System and It's Evils
Delivered Before the Indian
Conference at Lake Mohonk,
New York.

LAKE MOHONK On. ", Oct. 10
At yesterdays session of the Indian
conference, Rev. DR.. Lyman Abbott,
Chairman of the Business Committee,
presented al platform for discussion and
adoption by the conference, as fol-
| lows:
Great progress has been made in
| dealing with the Indian race in our
country. The nation no longer regards
them as hostile people nor even as a
| foreign people. The reforms inaugural
ed under President Grant have been
carried forward toward their logical
results; the policy of disseminating the
reservation system has been accepted,
and in many of the reservations the
land has been allotted in severalty, and
the surplus sold for the benefit of the
Indians. Less money is expended in ra-
tions, which pauperize, and much more
in schools, which prepare for self-sup-
port. The Government has recognized
the value of education of the Indian
women in their homes in the domestic
arts, and has appropriately increased
the sums needed to- carry on this work.
nation and the churches has been dis
continued, and now only one denOmina-
tional body looks to the Government
for aid in support Of its schools. The
schools of the other denominations are
supported by themselves, and the Gov
eminent itself has organized and is car
rying on with comparative efficiency the
work of the similar education of all In
dian children of school age in the reser-
vatiOns.
Nevertheless, the Indian problem is
still far from solution. needlessly ex-
pensive system is maintained, nomin-
ally to care for the Indians and in a
large measure to care for party and pO-
litical favorites. The schools, the clerks
in the bureau at Washington and the
agency physicians have been brought
under the civil service law, but with
these exceptions the Indian Bureau re-
mains a political machine, subject to
change in all it's personnel at every
esidential election. By both Demo-
cratic and Republican Administrations
men have been put at the head of the
Indian Bureau who are neither familiar
with Indian affairs nor acquainted with
methods of education. Indian agents
and Indian inspectors have been APP
pointed without training or any evil
dence of their fitness for the office. In
more than one instance drunken Off
Gals have been appointed in the reser-
vations and we'll authenticated COM
plants have failed to secure their re-
moval or have resulted only in their
transfer to another field with an in
creased salary.
In those cases in which the reserva-
tons have been discontinued and the
land has been allotted in severalty, the
entire machinery of the agency has
been retained, though no considerable
service is required and the retention is
clearly against the spirit of the law
These evils have shown themselves
alike when the appointments have been
left with the Indian Commissioner,
when they have been reserved by the
Secretary of the Interior to himself,
and when they have been practically
left to local politicians. Some excellent
officials have been appointed and some
excellent work has been accomplished,
but this is not because, but in spite
Of the system.
1.-TWO illustrations of it's evils have
been afforded during the past year
The first is the removal of Dr. Hall
man, Notwithstanding his splendid rec
ord as superintendent of Indian
schools, attested by protests against
his removal by men of all parties and
sections who were familiar with his
work, including many educational ex-
perts. The second is the outbreak of
Chippewa Indians, whose valuable pine
timber the Government, by the agree
ment of 1889, covenanted to sell for
their benefit. and is still appraising and
as a preliminary to such
sale. Two successive appraisements,
conducted, have already
been set aside as worthless, with
third appraisement in progress. We
have applied to successive Administra-
lions to remedy these abuses, and the
abuses still continue.
I'VE now apply to the people of the
United States to demand of their Gov
eminent that the Indian Bureau be
taken out of politics; that the Indian
be no longer treated as
a. political officer to be changed with
every change of Administration, and
that the work of the bureau be intrust-
ed to experts and left in their hands
until it is accomplished. And we also
appeal to them to demand of Congress
that it set on foot at once measures to
bring the Indian Bureau and it's work
to an early close; that it expedite the
dissolution of the reservations and the
allotment of the land in severalty: that
it give all Indians everywhere a right
to apply to the courts and render all
Indians everywhere accountable to the
and that it thus prepare the way
for the adjustment of a costly policy
unjust to the Indians, injurious to the
whites and an impeachment to civiliza-
ton"
This platform, with slight verbal
was adopted. as was also
the following resolution:
Resolved, That a committee of seven, |
Of which the Chairman of the confer |
ance shall be the Chairman, and which |
shall have power to increase the num- |
oer be appointed by the Chair to pre-
pare during the next year a scheme |
adapted to carry'out the policy outlined |
IN the platform and appeal and to pro-
pose it to the next conference for it's |
action.
The committee is also authorized to |