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Show REPORT OP THE COMMISSIONER OF IN1)IAN AFFAIRS. L)EPARTMXNT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFIOE OF INDIAANFF AIRS, Wmhin"oton,. D. C.. Xovenlber 1.1877. RIR: In the annual renort of the Indian Bureau. which I have the honor to present herewith; I have embodied the usail reports of agents, as vrescribed bv law. as also a schedule of all bids rezived and awards mLde at the pu"h1ic lettings of contracts, and the various tabular state-ments, together with the usual information to be found in the reports of this office. As a preliminary to this report, I invite your attention to the followine brief outline of some of the snbiects wbich are discussed in it, and of tge conclusions reached. " In considering any comprehensive scheme for the ci~ilizationi f the Indian race. it is indisnensable at the outset fo throw aside the adti- ~ ~~ ~~ mentality~&at is so fahionable in our day, and to treat the subject in a practical and common-sense way. This is tbd only course by which we can hope to deal suocessfully with the matter. I assume that there is no intrinsic imposbibility in the way of the great mass of our Indians being brought to a degree of advancement that will render them harm-less, as its first results, and that will assist them in working out ulti- f mately a completed civitieation. But in order permanently to lay the foundations on which to build up such a civilization, the following pre-liminaries are essential : 1. A code of 1aws.for Indian reservatiqns, and appliances for dis-pensing justice, neither of wbich at present have any existence. 2. Provision for the preservation of order and the enforcement of laws by means. of an Indian polioe, composed of Indians under white officers. 3. The endowment of the Indians with lands, divided into farms of convenient size, the title to wbich shall be.vested in individuals and inalienable for twenty years; and the promotion in every feasible way of the knowledge of agriculture and a taste for agricultural pursuits among them. 4. The establishment of the common-school system (including indns. trial schools) among them, with provision for their compnlsory education in such schools. 6. Opportunity for the free access to the Indians of Christian teachers and missionaries, in order to reclaim them from a debasing paganism, and to win them to a purer and more ennobling faith. 6. The institution of a wise economy in feeding and clothing them, making sure that i t i s not wastefully done, and being careful especially I not to make paupers of them by the encouragement of a system of gra- 1 IND |
