Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1879 — INDIAN AFFAIRS. [ARTICLE]

INDIAN AFFAIRS.

The Report of Commissioner Hayfc. The annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs shows that during the past year there has been among the Indians in general a steady advance in civilization, which has no parallel in any previous year. In this the Ogalalla and Brule Sioux have taken the lead, and their progress during the last eighteen months has been simply marvelous. It is no longer a question whether the Indians will work. Those who are anxious to-do so are now largely in the majority. From all except the five civilized tribes in the lDd/.*n Territory there is a call for lands in soveralty. There te a largely increased desire for houses and agricultural implements, wagons, etc., and fca citizens’ clothing. The following shows the substantial resul s of Indian labor during the year. They are much larger than ever before, and but for the severe th ought in the Indian Territory and among the Navajoes the increase in crops would have been much greater, espec ally in the corn crop, which is less than that of last year. By Indians, exclusive of the five oivilized tribes of the Indian Territory, in 1879: Number of acres broken, 27,131; number of acres cultivated, 157,056; number of bushels of wheat raised, 328,637; bushels of corn, 043,286; bushels of oats and barley, 189,054; bushels of vegetables, 330,693; tons of hay cut, 48,333. By the five civilized tribes: Number of acres cultivated, 273,000; bushels of wheat raised, 565,400; bushels of corn, 2,015,000; bushels of oats and bar1ey,.209,000; bushels of vegetables, 336,000; tons of hay cut, 176,500. The only sure way to make the Indians ad-‘ vanco in civilization under the best condition to promote their welfare is to give each head of a family 16J acres of land, and to each unmarried adult eighty acres, and to issue patents for the same. The history of the Ute outbreak is given in detail, without disclosing aDy new facts. In reference to the removal of the Utes to some other location, the Commissioner suggests that a commission be appointed to visit the tribe and obtain its consent to remove from the State upon the payment of the full value of the lands now occupied. The advantages to be obtained by removing them to the Indian Territory are, first, the abundant supply of arable land and cultivation; second, immunity from white encroachment; and, third, better security for keeping the Indians peaceable, as the country is not adapted to Indian fighting, and everywhere offers open fields for the use of artillery and all appliances of civilized warfare, so that, whatever be the disposition of the Indians, if a resort to force should be necessary, it could be made effective in the interests of peace. The Commis doner considers the enactment of a bill extending the criminal laws of tfie respective States or Territories over the Indian reservation of vital importance. The Indian policemen have shown the utmost fidelity to the Government, and have, when necessary, arrested even friends and relatives With absolute impartiality. Several instances are cited in proof of their fidelity. There is but one drawback, which should be removed bv Congress, aud that is the inadequacy of the pay, which by law is fixed at $5 per month.. The Commissioner recommends that it be increased to sls per month. The following novel recommendation is made: A penal settlement for the confinement and reformation of the more turbulent and trouble some individuals amoDg the various Indian tribeß is a pressing want. For murderers and the worst class of refractory Indians one settlement should be in Florida, which is far < nough from the Indian reservations to make any attempt at escape hopeless. Another setV tloment should be at some point in the Northwest, where considerable land can be found upon which imprisoned Indians may be taught to work so ■ their own support. The settlements should be guarded by sufficient force to exercise pericet discipline, aud trades as well as agriculture should be taught, and when the time arrived for them to be returned home the captives would have reached an advanced stage of civilization. Inside of Indian reservations men are everywhere found driving a thrifty business in selling the latest and best patterns of arms and fixed ammunition to non-civilized Indians. Tfie sales thus made are limitea in amount only by the ability of Indians to purchase. Previous to the late Ute outbreak the Indians were amply supplied with Winchester and Spencer rifles aud fixed ammunition, obtained from traders outside their reservations. There is no statute against this crime, and the Commissioner recommended that legislation be especially directed against such sales, by Congress prohibiting under severe penalty the sale of botn firearms and fixed ammunition, and further legislation requiring non-civilized Indians to be disarmed are the only commonsense and practicable methods of putting an end to this dangerous traffic. The Poncas are reported as doing well on their new reservation, and rapidly advancing in the ways of civilization. The progress of the youths trained in the Indian schools is of the most hopeful character. Exclusive of the five civilized tribes of the Indian Territory there are now over 7,100 Indian children taught at the agency schools. The five civilized tribes have 6,250 children at Bchool Among other recommendations of the report is one for the enactment of the law to prevent polygamy and provide for legal marriages among tfie Indians. For this purpose it is proposed to make civil magistrates of Indian Agents.