of such claims have been patented during the year ending June 30, 1873, and it is believed that before the close of the year ending June 30, 1874, the arrears of work on this class of claims in the General Land-Office will have been brought up to date.
I am, sir, very respectfully your obedient servant,
The Hon. Secretary of the Interior.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.
I have the honor, in accordance with law, to forward herewith the annual report of Indian affairs of the country.
In respect to the general question of civilization of Indians, the record of the year is a good one. In many of the agencies gratifying progrcss has been made, as shown in increased interest in the education of children, a disposition to labor, the desire for allotment of lands, and in the increase of stock and ordinary farm products, and other personal property. At other agencies serious efforts in the same direction have developed more decidedly the difficulties which lie in the way of progress. Among these hindrances six are specially noticeable.
FICTION IN INDIAN RELATIONS.
First. A radical hinderance is in the anomalous relation of many of the Indian tribes to the Government, which requires them to be treated as sovereign powers and wards at one and the same time. The comparative weakness of the whites made it expedient, in our early history, to deal with the wild Indian tribes as with powers capable of self-protection and fulfilling treaty obligations, and so a kind of fiction and absurdity has come into all our Indian relations. We have in theory over sixty-five independent nations within our borders, with whom we have entered into treaty relations as being sovereign peoples; and at the same time the white agent is sent to control and supervise these foreign powers, and care for them as wards of the Government. This double condition of sovereignty and wardship involves increasing difficulties and absurdities, as the traditional chieftain, losing his hold upon his tribe, ceases to be distinguished for anything except for the lion's share of goods and moneys which the Government endeavors to send, through him, to his nominal subjects, and as the necessities of the Indians, pressed on every side by civilization, require more help and greater discrimination in the manner of distributing the tribal funds. So far, and as rapidly as possible, all recognition of Indians in any other relation than strictly as subjects of the Government should cease. To provide for this, radical legislation will be required.
EVILS OF PAYMENTS BY CASH ANNUITIES.
The second hinderance, growing directly out of the first, is found in the form in which the benefactions of the Government reach the Indian. In treaties heretofore made with many of the tribes, large sums
