The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-10
This reservation should be thrown
epen to settlement,

by public morality, and, in short, by
taking every rational step to aid the
Cuban people to attain to that plane
Of self-conscious respect and self-re-
liant unity which fits an enlightened
community for se1-government with
in it's own sphere, while enabling it to
fulfill all outward obligations"
But" he continued, Il don't sup
pose that the Standard cares for my
views in detail upon this document. I
have said that I regard it as a mas
terly and statesmanlike message and
that covers it all. We have reason to
expect much from the present con-
gress and 1 don't think that we will
be disappointed. 1t has a lot of hard
work cut out for it, but I think that ii
will Justify the confidence that we have
in the ability and patriotism of its
members. There is one matter of more
than passing local Importance that con-
gress ought to consider in a broader
light than it has heretofore and that is
the question of opening our Indian res
eryations. The past action of congress
in this matter, while it has been osten-
sibly in the right direction, has failed
utterly to accomplish the desired re-
suits. The fault and its remedy are.
simple. The appointees upon these
treaty boards, nafned to negotiate them
with the Indian tribes, have almost in
variably been made from the East.
Now while the intentions of these East
ern fellows may be the best in the
world, they know no more about the
nature and disposition Of the Indian
than they do about the Malays. Con-
sequently, they come out here and en-
joy the pleasure of living on the reser-
vations at a comfortable salary and ac-
complish nothing, simply because the
Indians have nc confidence in them
THE members of these treaty COM
missions should be Western men, who
are familiar with the Indian character
| and with the points at issue. I am GER
tain that, with such boards appointed
there would be no difficulty in opening
, our Flathead reservation. This Is a
splendid empire, capable of contribut-
state, but at present of no benefit what
ever to the body polite or to the COM
mercial world. This reservation should
be thrown open to settlement. This
could be accomplished without delay
if there We're to be a commission named
that would have the confidence of the
Indians.
II don't mean that I believe We should
cut off the Indian without any means
of support. The Indian has been abused
and downtrodden and his rights have
| been ignored. The government should
spend all the money that it can to edu-
cate and to provide homes for the men,
bers of these tribes, but there is no
reason why splendid domain like the
Flathead reservation should be allowed
to remain closed to settlement, inhab-
tied only by a few scattered bands OF
Indians"
do you think that anything will be
| done soon toward placing a garrison al
| Fort Muscular"
well, as to that l can only say thai
| l believe that we will have a garrison
| here again as soon as the troops car
be spared from the island campaign
! There are no full garrisons anywhere
| now, as it is taking SO many soldiers
| to carry out the plans of the admin.
| istration in Cuba and the Philippines
When these troops are returned to thi:
country. there is no doubt that For
Missoula will have a garrison / would
| not be surprised if some of the frs
troops withdrawn would be sent here
/ The splendid climate OF this part of thu
! United States would make Fort Mis-
| soula a most desirable point for reeu
! peration from the effects of campaign