The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-04
The Consular Service.

any type of government lies in its
proving itself both honest and efficient.
The Consular Service.
The consular service is now organ
lied under the provisions of a law
passed in 1856. which is entirely in
adequate to existing conditions The
interest shown by so many commercial
bodies throughout the country in the
reorganization of the service is heartily
commended to your attention. Several
bills providing for a new con-
sular service have in recent years been
submitted to the Congress. They are
based upon the just principle that APP
pointments to the service should be
made only after a practical test of the
applicants fitness, that promotions
should be governed by trustworthiness,
adaptability and zeal in the perform
ance of duty, and that the tenure of
office should be unaffected by partisan
considera lions.
The guardianship and fostering of
our rapidly expanding foreign COM
merce, the protection of American citi-
zens resorting to foreign countries in
lawful pursuit of their affairs, and the
maintenance of the dignity of the ma
ton abroad, combine TO make 1t essen-
tal that our consuls should be men
of character, knowledge ard enter
prise. 1t is true that the service IS
now in the main, efficient, but stand
ard of excellence cannot be perma-
nently maintained until the principles
set forth in the bills heretofore sub
mitted to the Congress on this subject
are enacted into law.
To Break Up Indian Tribes.
In my judgment the time has arrived
when we should definitely make up our
ind To
individual and not as a member of
tribe. The general allotment act is
mighty pulverizing engine to break up
the tribal mass. 1t acts directly upon
the family and the individual. Under
it's provisions some 10000 Indians have
already become citizens of the United
States. We should now break up the
tribal funds, doing for them what al
lotment does for the tribal lands; that
is, they should be divided into individ-
ual holdings. There will be transit
ton period during which the funds
will in many cases have to be held
in trust This is the case also with
the lands. A stop should be put upon
the indiscriminate permission to In
dams to lease their allotments. The
effort should be steadily to make the
Indian work like any other man on his
own ground. The marriage laws of the
Indians should be made the same as
those of the whites
In the schools the education should
be elementary and largely industrial.
The need of higher education among
the Indians is very, very limited. On
| the reservations care should be taken
to try to suit the teaching to the needs
of the particular Indian. There is no
use in attempting to induce agriculture
| in a country suited only for cattle rails
| ing, where the Indian should be made
a stock grower. The ration system,
which is merely the corral and the
| reservation system, is highly detri-
mental to the Indians. 1t promotes beg
gary, perpetuates pauperism. and
stiles industry. 1t is an effectual bar
rier to progress. 1t must continue
TO a greater or less degree as long
as tribes are herded on reservations
and have everything in common. The
Indian should be treated as an individ-
ual-lke the white man. During the
change of treatment inevitable hard
ships will occur; every effort should
be made to minimize these hardships;
but we should not because of them hes
itate to make the change. There should
be a continuous reduction in the num-
Der of agencies.
In dealing with the aboriginal races
few things are more important than to
preserve them from the terrible ply
steal and moral degradation resulting
from the liquor traffic. We are doing
all we can to save our own Indian
tribes from this evil. Wherever by in
ternational agreement this same end
can be attained as regards races where
we do not possess exclusive control
every effort should be made to bring
it about.
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition
tai 500
from the Congress and the people for
the st. Louis Exposition to Commem-
crate the One hundredth anniversary
of the Louisiana Purchase. This pur-
chase was the greatest instance of eX-
panSion in our history 1t definitely de-
cided that we were to become a great
continental republic, by far the fore
most power in the Western Henri
sphere. 1t is one of three or four great
landmarks in our history-the great
turning points in our development 1t
is eminently fitting that all our people
should join with heartiest good will in
commemorative it, and the citizens of
st. Louis. of Missouri, of all the ad-
iacent region. are entitled to every aid
in making the celebration a noteworthy
event in our annals. We earnestly hope
that foreign nations will appreciate the
deep interest our country takes in this
exposition. and our view of its import
ance from every standpoint, and that
they viii participate in securing its
success. The national government
should be represented by a full and
complete set of exhibits.
ChnrIcston's Exposition.
The people of Charleston. with great
energy and civic spirit, are carrying
on an exposition which viii continue
throughout most OF the present session
of the Congress. I heartily commend
this exposition to the good will of the
people 1t deserves all the encourage
ment that can be given it. The mana
gers of the Charleston Exposition have
requested the cabinet officers to place
thereat the government exhibits which
have been at Buffalo, promising to pay
the necessary expenses. l have taken
the responsibility of directing that
this be done, for 1 feel that
II is due to Charleston TO help her
in her praiseworthy effort In my
opinion the management should not be
required to pay all these expenses. I
earnestly recommend that the Con-
gress appropriate at once the small
sum necessary for this purpose.
The Pan American Exposition at
Buffalo has just closed. Both from
the industrial and the artistic stand
point this exposition has been in a
high degree creditable and useful, not
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