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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. VII trions, self-reliant, and to respect the rights of others; and my delib-, erate opinion is, that it is not only the interest but the duty of the gov-ernment to aid and encourage these efforts in the most liberal manner., No money spent for the civilization of the Indian will return a better dividend t,han that spent in this way. In urging this point I do not wish to be understood as claiming that all the good people are inside the churches and all the bad ones outside; bat a little observatio.n, I think, will con\-iuce any one tha.t a aery large proportioll of those who sacritice time and money for the good of others is fouud inside of some Christian organization. If me expect.to stop sun dances, snake wor-ship, and other debasing forms of superstition and idolatry among In-dians, we must teach them some better way. This, with liberal &pro-priations by the government for the establishment of industrial schools, where the thousands of Indian children now roaming wild shall be taught to speak the English language and earn their own living; wiu accomplish nhat in so mnch desired, to wit, the conversion of the wild, roving Indian into an industrious, peaceable, and law-abiding citizen. SEED OF XORE LIBERAL APPROPRIATIONS. This result, however, cannot be reached in any reasonable time uu-less t.he means are commensurate with the end to be attained. The conditions which now surround the case are very different from those that existed in the years of the past. The game upon vhich the In-dian subsisted is fast disappearing, and he must of necessity look for subsistence from some other source. The vast domain which he once called his own, and over which he roamed at mill, is rapidly being absorbed by the white people, who insist that these fertile valleys and mountains rich in mineral deposits shall no longer remain locked up and shut out from th6 enterprise and industry of the white race. The commercial interests of the country seem to demanc? that the means of eommnnication between one section of the country and another shall not be obstructed by denying the right of way for trade aud traffic; and as a consequence railroads are penetrating these reservations once set apart for the home of the Indian, and in ~ h i c hhe had a right to suppose he mould not be disturbed. I do not stop now to canvass the question of right or justice. I only point to the iuerit.able, and claim that it is unquestionably the impera-tire d u t . o~f the gorernment, as well as the soundest and safest policy, to provide the safest., surest, and most equitable means to induce the Indian to abandon the manners, customs, and traditions of his fathers, and accommodate himself to the new and better may. This can only be done by appropriations much more liberal than those made in the past. If one million of dollars for educational purposes given noro will save several millious in the future, it is wise economy to give that mill-ion at. once, and not dole it out in small sums that do but little good. The more thoughtft~al nd intelligent of the 111diausc omprehend and a@ |