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Show ANNUAL BEPORT I N D I A N A F F A I R S , BY TAE A C T I N G COMMISSIONER. DEPARTMEONFT T HE INTERIOR, OFFICEI XDIAANF FAIRS, November 15, 1567. SIR: I have the honor, in the absence of tlie Commissioner of Indian Affairs, who is now and has been for some time past engaged in the discharge of duties devolved upon him, under the act of Congress of 20th Jnly ultimo, creating a bommission to establish neace with certain hostile Indian tribes. to submit the udu.11 nnnual rrport of h e I~tiliaUl~a i.tau. liust of the tribcd,partirulnrly thosc~cttledu pon rc.scrvation~,wl~aorc friendly atid neacrable. I i ~ r t . . to a con3idcrable dreree, made advances in thr attainment of A n y of the benefits of that condition of civilization to which the govern-ment, by treaty stipulations, and under a sense of its obligations as their guar-dian and protector, has sought to raise them. Although their progress has been slow, hardly answering the expectations of those who have looked for more general and marked results, yet the instances are frequent, as the facts in their history develop, of a decided change, indicating the practicability of tbeir being brought from a state of harbnrism and ignorance to the posses-sion of a nobler and higher style of life. The reports of the various Indian agents, not only for this year hut of preceding years, show the good spirit that nrevails with manv in recard to their moral. intellectual. and social eleva- ;ion, and their wiilingnesa to engage in industrial pnrsnits. But so long as the red man remains in a position where he is subject to inflnences more numerow and notent for evil than ihosc nut in motion forhis e-o od are canable of counter- acting and overcoming, no great progress in these respects &ay be realized or even expected. No doubt the greatest obstacle to the consummation of ends so much desired is to he found mainly in his almost eoustant contact with the vicious, unsernpnlous whites, who not only teach him their base ways, but defraud and rob him, and, often without cause, with as little compunetion as they would experience in killing a dog, take even his llfe. Another cause or hindrance is the fact that the Indian has no certainty as to the permanent posses. sion of the land he occupies and wbich he is urged to impr3ve, for he knows not how long he may he permitted to enjoy it. Should it he in a region of remark-able fertility, or in a country abounding in rich mineral ores, it may he wanted for the white man's oceupany or use. The plea of "manifest destiny" is para-mount and the Indian must give way, though it be at the sacrifice of what may he as dear as life. If the incentives to build up for himself and family a pleas-ant home are not provided by his condition and prospects, he becomes discon-tented ar indifferent as to his future welfare,and if he does noa really retrograde |