Year: 1878




lnadequacy of the appropriations made by
congress to the wants OF the Indians at time
when the Indians were prevented from sup
plying the deficiency by hunting. After an
arduous pursuit by the troops of the United
States and several engagements, the hostile
Indians were reduced to subiection, and the
larger part of them surrendered themselves as
prisoners.


In this connection desire to call attention
to the recommendation by the secretary of the
interior that sufficient fund be placed at the
disposal of the executive, to be used with
proper accountability, at discretion, in sudden
emergencies of the Indian service. The other
case of disturbance was that of a band oil
Northern Cheyennes, who suddenly left their
reservation in Indian Territory and marched
rapidly through the States of Kansas and Ne
braska in the direction OF their old hunting
grounds, committing murders and other crimes
on their way. From documents accompany
ing the report of the secretary of the interior
it appears that this disorderly band was as
fully supplied with the necessaries of life as
4, 700 other Indians who remained quietly on
the reservation, and that the disturbance was
caused by men of reckless and mischievous
disposition among the Indians themselves.
Almost the whole of this band have surren-
dered to the military authorities, and it is a
gratifying fact that when some had taken ref
uge in the camp of the Red Cloud Sioux, with
whom they had been in friendly relations, the
Sioux held them as prisoners and readily gave
them up to the officers of the Uuited States,
thus giving new proof of their loyal spirit.
Alarming rumors to the contrary notwith-
standing, they have uniformly shown ever
since the wishes they expressed at the couucil
of September, 1877, had been complied with
Both the secretary of the interior and the sec.
retary of war unite in the recommendations
that provision be made by Congress for the or
ganization of corps of Indian auxiliaries, to
be under the control of the army and to be
used for the purpose of keeping Indians on
their reservations and preventing or repress-
ing disturbances on their part. | earnestly
concur in this recommendation. 1t Is believed
that the organization of such body of Indian
cavalry, receiving moderate pay from the
government, would considerably weaken the
restless element among the Indians by with
drawing from it number of young men and
giving them congenial employment under the
government. 1t being matter Of experience
that the Indians in our service, almost with
out exception, are faithful in the performance
of duties assigned to them, such sln organlza-
tion would materially aid the army in the ac-
complishment of task for which its numer-
ical strength is sometimes found insufficient.
But while the employment of a force for the
prevention or repression of Indian troubles is
Of occasional necessity, and that wise prepar-
ations should be made to that end, greater re-
liance must be placed on humane and civiliz-
ing agencies for the ultimate solution of what
is called


THE "INDIAN PROBLEM.


1t may be very difficult. and require much
patient effort, to curb the unruly spirit of the
savage Indian to the restraints of civilized life;
but experience shows that it is not impossible
Many of the tribes who are now quiet and or
derly and self-supporting were ouee as savage
as any that at present roam the plains or on
the mountains of the far west, and We're then
considered inaccessible to civilizlng influences
1t may be impossible to raise them fully up to
the level of the white population of the United
States, but we should not forget that they are
the aborigines of the country, and called the
soil their own which on our people
have grown rich, powerful and happy. We
owe II to them as a moral duty to help them
in attaining at least that degree of civilization
which they may be able to reach. 1t is not
only our duty but it is also our interest to do
so Indians who have become agriculturalists
or herdsmen, and feel an interest III property,
will henceforth cease TO be warlike and dis
turbing element. 1t is also well authenti--
Gated tact that Indians are apt to be peaceable
and quiet when their children are at school,
and l am gratiied to know from expressions
OF Indians themselves, and from many concur
ring reports, that there is steadily increas-
ing desire even among Indians belonging to
comparatively wild tribes, to have their chill
dren educated. invite attention to the re-
ports of the secretary OF the interior and the
commissioner of Indian affairs touching the
experiment recently inauenrated in taking 80
Indian children, boys and girls, from differ
ent tribes to the Hampton Normal Agricul-
tural Institute in Virginia, where they are to
receive an elementary English education and
training in agricultural and other useful work,
to be returnM to their tribes after the com
pleted course as interpreters instructors and
examples. 1t is reported that the officer
charged with the selection of those children
might have had thousa ads of youngIndians sent
with him had it been possible to make pro-
vision for them. l agree with the secretary of
the interior in saying that the result of this
interesting experiment, if favorable, may be
destined to become an important factor in
the advancement of civilization among the
Indians.


THE CHANGE IN THE INDIAN SERVICE.


The question whether change in control of
the Indian service should be made was at last
session of Congress referred to a committee for
inquiry and report Without desiring to an
ticlpate that report ! venture to express a
hope that in the decision of so important a
question, the views expressed above may not
be lost sight of, and that the decision what
ever it may be viii arrest the further agita-
ton of this subject, such agitation being apt
to produce disturbing effect upon the SER
vice as well as on the Indians themselves.





THE HOT SPRINGS COMMISSION


In the enrolment OF the bill making appro-
priations for sundry civil expenses at the last
session of Congress, that portion which pro-
vided for the continuation of the Hot Springs
commission was omitted. AS the commission
had completed the work OF taking testi-
mony on many conflicting claims, the sus-
pension of their labors before determining the
rights of claimants, threatened for time to
embarrass the interest, not only of the gov
ernment, but also of large number of citi-
zens of Hot Springs, who were waiting for
final action on their claims before beginning
contemplated improvements. In order to
prevent serious difficulties which were appre-
hended, at solicitation of many leading citi-
zens OF Hot Springs and others interested in
the welfare of the town, the secretary of the
interior was authorized to request the commits
sion to take charge of the records of their pro-
ceedings and to perform such work as could
properly be done by them under such circum.
stances to facilitate the future adjudication
of claims at an early date, and to preserve
the status of claimants until their rights
should be finally determined. The late com
missioners complied with that request and
report that the testimony in all the cases has
been written out and SO arranged as to facili-
tate an early settlement when authorized by
law. 1t is recommended that requisite au.
thority be given at as early a day in the ses-
sion as possible, and that fair compression
be allowed the late commissioners for expense
incurred and the labor performed by them
since the 10Th of June last.


THE PRESERVATION OF TIMBER OK PUBLIC


LANDS.