OCR Text |
Show SO far as possible I have insisted upon the literal fulfillment of all the obligations of the Government to its wards, and during the pait three years a number of important agreements which had been long pending have been ratified by Congress, and their conditions have either been complied with or are in process of fulfillment. So far as I know, there is now no matter of any great consequence pelldiug wliioh the Indiails have a right to complair~ of as a failure on tbe part of the Government to fulfill its obligations. In the purchase of subsistence and other supplies I hive personally taken great care to see to it that only articles of merit were bought, and a great improvement in the quality of the dry goods, hardware, and agricultural implements especially has resulted. I believe it is now generally conceded by all of those cognizant of the facts. that the Indian Department aims to buy ody ariicles of excellent merit and at a reasonable price. Very critical oversight is extended to the delivery of these goods, so that the Indians to whom they properly belong shall receive the full quantity and quality of supplies to which tliey are en-titled. There has been during the past year very little complaint in this particular. - CONCLUSION. From tbis brief summary of the work of the,offiee for the year it will be seen that every branch of the work has received due attention; that the forces at the control of the Oommissioner have been used to the utmost to uecure the highest possible degree of efficiency; that very considerable progress has been made in many directions, and that the present state of Indian administration is, on the whole, encouraging, and hopeful. At the same time I am constrained to point out what seem to me dangers connected with the present situation among the Indians, which very properly may be denominated the Indian crisis:" First. There is danger that citizenship will be thmst upon the In-dians before they are prepared for it, and that they will thus become the prey of evil forces which are now held in check but will then belet loosn upon them. Second. There is danger that the scheme of education which has grown up in the past and hits been moulded and brought into shape, energized, and greatly enlarged within the last three years, may be checked in its beneficent work. Third. There is dmger that the efforts to purify the Indian' service, lifl it out of politics; and place it upon the firm basis of justice and of business methods, will be thwarted by those who are interested in keeping to the old system and of using the Indian service for personal, political and other mercenary ends. Fourth. There is danger that the Obristian people of this country iu the present transition stage of the work, will fail to appreciate the im- |