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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAX AFYAIRS. 6 the same protection of his person and property as is given to others. That being done, he should be thrown entirely upon his own resources to become a useful member of the community in which he lives, or not, according as he exertshimself or fails to make an effort. He should he locakd where the conditions are such that by the exercise of ordi-nary industry and prudence he can support himself and family. He must be made to realize. that in the sweat of his face he shall eat his bread. He must be brought to recognize the dignity of labor and the importance of building and maintaining a home. He must nnderstand that the more useful he is there the more useful he will be to society. It is there he must find the incentive to work, and from it must come the uplifting of his race. As has been said before, in the beginning of his undertaking he should have aid and instruction. He is entitled to that. Necessaries of l i e also will doubtless have to be furnished him for a time, at leaat ' until his labor becomes productive. More than this, so long as the Indians are wards of the General Government and-until they have been absorbed by and become a part of the community in which they live, day schools should be established at convenient places where they may learn enough to transact the ordinary business of life. Beyond this in the way of schools it is not necessary to g-beyond this it is a detriment to go. The key to the whole situation is the home. Im- , provement must begin there. The first and most important object to he attained is the elevation of the domestic life. Until that is aecomplishe+ it is futile to talk of higher education. This is a mere outline. There are many details to be considered and some dificulties to overcome. Of course it can not all be done at once. ~i f ferencto nditions prevail in different sections of the country. In some places the conditions are already ripe for the surrender of Government control; in others the natural conditions are such and the Indians are so situated that if protected in their rights they should soon be ready for independence. But in other places the question msumes a more serious aspect. Located in an arid region, upon unproductive reservations, often in a rigorous climate, there is no chance for the Indian to make a living, even if he would. The larger and more powerful tribes are so situated. So long as this state of things ex%& the ration system with all its evils must contin"e. There can be little or no further reduction in that direction than that already made without violating the dictates of humanity. Already in several quarters there is suffering and want. In these cases something should be done toward placing such Indians in a position where they can snp-poi% themselves, and that something should he done quickly. But whatever the condition of the Indian may be, he should he removed from a state of dependence to one of independence. And the - only way to do this is to take away those things that encoumge him i |