Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1902-12-06

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with varying degrees of purity of indian
blood who are absolutely indlstinguish-
able In point OF social, political and econ-
omic ability from their white associates
There are other t,i,,os which have as yet
made no pcrceptiblc advance toward such
equality. To try to force such tribes too
fast is to prevent their going forward Mt
all. Moreover the tribes live under wife-
~ different conditions. Where tribe
has made considerable advance and lives
on fertile farm soil 1t Is possible to alloA
the members lands In severalty much M
IL the case with white settlers. There are
other tribes where such = course In not
desirable. on the arid prairie lands tho
effort should be to induce the Indians to
lead pastoral rather than agricultural
lives and to permit them to settle In VII
lagos rather than to force them into iso-
lation
The large Indian schools situated re-
mote from any Indian reservation do q
special and peculiar work Of great Inn
portance. But. excellent though thess
are, an immense amount OF additional
work must be done on the reservations
themselves among the old. and above all
among the young. Indians.
The first and most important duty to-
ward the absorption OF the Indian Is to
teach him to earn n living yet II Is not
necessarily TO he assumed that In each
community all Indians must become eth
er tillers OF the soil or stock raisera.
Their industries may properly be diversf-
fled. and those who show special desire
or adaptability for Industrial or even
commercial pursuits should be encourag-
ed 80 far as practicable to follow out each
his own bent.
Every effort should be made to develop
the Indian along the lines of natural apt
itudc. and to encourage the existing M
tive Industries peculiar to certain trtbes.
such as the various kinds OF basket weav-
ing canoe building. smith work and blan-
ket work. Above all. the Indian boys ana
girls should be given confident command
of coiioauial English, anc should ordin-
arily be prepared for vigorous strug910
with the conditions under which their
people live. rather than for immediate abb
sorption into some more highly developed
community.
The officials who represent the governs
ment In dealing with the Indians work
under hard conditions. and also under
conditions which render 1t easy tn do
wrong and very difficult to detect wrong.
Consequently they should be amply paid
on the one hand. and on the other hand
n particularly high standard OF conduct
should be demanded from them. and
where misconduct can be proved the pun
ishment should be exemplary. Z
Aid to Farming Population. !.
In no department OF governmental work
IN recent years has there been greater
success than In that of giving scientific
aid to the farming population. thereby
showing them how most efficiently to
help themselves, There In no need OF in
sisting upon Its Importance, for the well
fare OF the farmer Ii fundamentally nec-
essary to the welfare OF the republic an
whole. In adition to such WORT as quar-
: artine against animal and vegetable pla-
CUES. and warning against them when
here introduced, much efficient help has
I been rendered to the farmer by the intro
D duction OF new plants specially fitted for
cultivation under the peculiar conditions
existing In different portions of the coun-
, try. New cereals have been established
I In the semi-arid west. For instance. the
a practicability Of producing the best types
] of macaroni wheats In regions OF an an
: nual rainfall of only ten inches or there
abouts has been conciusiveiy demonstrate
|
riccs In Louisiana and Texas the procuc-
. ton OF rice In this country has been made
to about equal the home demand. In the
= southwest the possibility OF regrassinx
!. over stocked range lands has been demon
strated; In the north many new forage
crops have been introduced while In tho
, east II has been shown that some OF our
choicest fruits can be stored and shlppe I
, In such a way as to ind a profitable mar
, ket abroad
Smithsonian Museum.
again recommend TO the favorable
consideration of the congress the plans
: Of the Smithsonian institution for making
4 the museum under It's charge worthy o1
: the nation. and for preserving at the ma
Z tional capital not only records Of the van
4 ishing races OF men but of the animala
: of this continent which. like the buffalo.
G will soon become extinct unless specimens
e from which their Representatives may be
4 renewed are sought In their native reg
! ions and maintained there In safety.
The District Of Columbia.
The District OF Columbia In the only
n part OF our territory In which the national
4 government exercises local or municipal
q functions. and where In consequence the
y government has free hand In references
: 10 certain types OF social and economlo
: legislation which must be essentially
r local or municipal In their character. The
government should see to II, for Instance.
. that the hygienic and sanitary leginla-
! tion affecting Washington is Of q high
character. The evils of Stun dwellings,.
whether In the shape OF crowded OF con-
gested tenement house districts or OF thG
:, back alley type, should never be permit
J, ted TO grow up In Washington. The clfy
= should be model In every respect for ~
!, the cities OF the country. The charltah1a
!, and correctional systems Of the dlntS)e(
|. should receive consideration 1t The han1u
= of the congress to the end that thay rs