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Show 1 R E P O R T COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. - OFPICE OF INDIAN +PPAIRS, Washin-gton,. Oct obw 1,1889. SIR: The tifty-eighth annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs is respectfully submitted. I entered upon the discharge of the duties of this officeJuly 1,1889. I have.had no time as yet to familiarize myself fully with the details of office administration nor to make myself acquainted by personal ob-servation with the practical workings of the Indian field-service. As soon as practicable, I hope to do both. Unexpectedly called to this responsihla position, I entered upon the discharge of its duties with a few simple, well-defined, and strongly- J' cherished convictions: First.-The anomalons position haretofore occupied by the Indians '. iu this country can not much longer be maintained. The reservation system belongs to a '1 vanishing state of things" and must soon cease to exist. Second.-The logic of events demand~thea bsorption of the Indians .. . into our national life, not as Indians, but as American citizens. !7'hird.-As soon as rt wise conservatism will warrant it, the relations of the Indians to the Government mustrrast solely upon the full recog- * nition of their individuality. Each Indian must be treated as a man, he allowed a man's rights and privileges, and.be held to the perform. auce of aman's obligations. Each Indian is entitled to his proper share of the inheritzed wealth of the tribe, and to the protection of the courta in his "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness." He is not entitled to be snpported in idleness. Fourth.-The Indians must conform to "the white man's ways," peaceably if they will, forcibly if they must. They must adjnst them-selves to their environment, and conform their mode of living substan. tially to our civilization. This civilization may not be the best possible, hut it is the best the Indians can get. They can not escape it, and m- ust either conform to it or he crushed by it. 3 |
