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Show IV REPORT OF COMMISSTOLNER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. expendit,ums. In fact the estimates for carrying on the Indian service are being reduced, as the folloming statementshows : Estimate for appropriation : Fiscal year 1886 ................................................ $7,328,049 64 Fiscal ye- 1887 ................................................. 6,051,259 84 Fiscal year 1888 ................................................ 6,608,873 64 In the estimates for 1888 an increase of $177,500 is asked for ednca-tional work. But for this increase the reduction would have been much greater, and the estimate for 1888 would have fallen below the estimate for 1887 $619,886.20, and below the estimate for 1886 $1,896,676. A benign policy on the part of the Government toward the Indian race, dictated by a lore of humanity, one in which both political parties have fortunately and exoeptionallg agreed, is a proud national distinc-tion. It speaks well for the great heart of the people which lies back of and behind this Government that they order end command their representatives to foster a policy which alone can save the aborigines from destruction-from being worn away by the attrition of the conflict-ing elements of Anglo-Saxon civilization. Upon my ind~ctionin to of-lice I gave to this line of administration mature refleetion, critical re-search, and extensive consultation, and id my last annual report it was briefly summarized, as follows, and its continuance urged: This brings me directly to the consideration of the practical polizy vbiohI believe should be adopted by Congress and the Government in the management of the In-dians. It should be industriou81y and grsvely imprcesed upon them that they must ahandon their tribal relations and take lands in severalty, a the corner-stone of their , complete suocess in agriculture, which means self-support, personal independenoe, and material thrift. The Government should. however. in order to orotect them. rc-t d n the right to their lands in trost for twenty-five years or longer, but isaoe trust patents at once to suoh Indiana as have taken individual holdings. When theIndians have taken their lands in aevereltv in suttioient auentities (an2 the number of acres in each holding may and should vary in different localities according to fertility, pro-ductiveness, clim&tic, and other advantages), then having due regard to the immedi-ate and eariy future needs of the 1ndia4, the remaininglands of their reservetione should be purchased by the Government and opened to homestead entry at 50 or 75 cents per acre. The money paid by the Government for their l s n d ~sh ould be held in trust in 5 per cent. bonds, to be invesoed as Congress may provide, for the eduos-tion, civilization, and materiel development end advancement of the red race, reserv-ing for eeoh tribe its own money. When the farm and the school have booomc familiar institutions among the Indians, sutl reasonable time hm intervened far the transition from barbarism or a semi-civ-ilimd state to one of oivilization, then will the Indian be prepared to take upon him-self the higher and more responsible duties end privileges whioh appertain to Amer-ican citizenship. A nider and better knowledge of the Englishlenguage among them is essential to their comprehension of the duties and obligations of citizenship. At this time but few of the adult population can speak a. word of English, bne with the efforts non being made by the Government and by religious and phileuthropic s%so-oiations and individuals, especially in the Eestem States, with the missionary and the schoolmaster industriously in the field everywhere among the tribes, it is to be hoped, and it is confidently believed, that among the next generation of Indiana the English langoage will be sufficiently spoken and used to enable them to become acquainted with the lam, customs, and institutions of our country, and to regulate their conduct in obedience to its authority. |