New-York tribune., 1868-12-17
A TALK WITH FATHER DE sMET.

The Rev. Father De Smet, widely known for
his missionary abors among the Indians departed re-
Gently for Europe the steamer City Of Baltimore A
Belgian by birh Father DE smet at early entered
the Jesuit Order and after having been ordained priest
was sent to the Rocky Mountain region in 1912 to prose
cute perous and Oilsome duties OF Christanzing
and ciyzng the savages of the plains and mountains OF
the far West" At various periods within the past %
years he crossed the Atlantic for the purpose both of
chasing goods for the Indians. He makes his
present voyage for the object d Q, bringing
will establish schools among the Rcarees, Crows, and
Sioux inha1ting the region through when n9ws the
expected to teach the Indian children the rudments OF
an English education, and also instruct the girls In sew
ing and embroidery. Father DE snet intends also TO
bring with him few blacksmths taiOrs and carpenters
The backsmths wanted for wagon work. horse shoe
ing and the requirements Of the household the carpen-
for church and hut building and 10 instruct the male
youth in their craft and te taors 10 instruct in the
knowledge OF the manufacture OF comfortable garments
The condition OF the Indians on the western side Of the
Rocky Mountains is In the opinion OF the good Father
OF the Fathea ads Nezperces SpOkaues kaspes Snakes
6o ssSs converted and have ad aside their predatory
habits for the peaceful ayOcations Of agricultural life
and taught them TO raise abunant crops The tribes
haeitng Montana, Dak9ta, ana Wyoming Territories,
British America, and from Minnesota 10 the
Hocky iSs ana tnyo me se great
Although wishing to deal charably with all. and Ia
that the treatment of tie tribes by the Government
ns has been far from ought TO be- The greatest
r ofthe latter their treatment OF the Indain
'enced almost solely by Unsuitable desire for
% oeGn Ia "su has been that NOT than per cent
s al ,ha rood sent out have been distributed the
vL al VIC sOo" -, previously opened. and the greater
mart retained by the ge OF their snbordlnates Last
yesi matters were better Es--g',. AL The boxes
mained unopened until r we're brnr gt into the pres
ence OF the various ves for whom they were inteed
Ihs Ir ana oPe aealing had happy effect and FaNor
tbsSs vii Ge opinion that II t sn0o9 h Oo GS6usa rc6 nue.
Ihs ather Is desirous that the Government should
srcise care in marking out reservations Tor the
indiana and I'm guarding the latter much as possible
from the corrupting habits aud rauduent practices OF
traders and adyenurers Most OF the Indians on thls
oOr; their chief support, the buffalo ana nearly al
ther kinds Of game having become very scarce should
he buffalo continue TO decrease In the same ratio as dur
az ne last years, II Will not be long until they VIII
almost disappeared from the regions watered by the
Upp M souri, aud its afuents Inc manners ana haols
OF u Ind general thing very little studied
tves believe they are dsgraced nnt his death
white person is killed 10 10 not unusual for the whites
TO attack and murder a the lndlans OF ioage. dne
butchery OF Co dams, nearly al OF whom were
women and children by the order OF Major Chiyngton,
while under the iattets proteeuon, very naturally
aroused the spirit OF vengeanee among all the sufround
ing tribes Helpless old women and young girls were
Aendshly murdered ana eNei tne oeaa % pCutes Were IN
among the various Sioux tribe Brules Backfeet Crows
Uckases and other tribes man OF whom are az pesen.,
giving evidence Of hostile feeling, Father DE
Smet was everywhere received with Kindness
About year ago he visited hostile bands OF he Se9x 10
the number OF 5000 as the request OF the United states
officers. and erywhere well received and listened
q
dans viii be kind and docle II treated kindly During
the whole OF 25 years residence among them he never
was Addressed with an angry word. He spoke OF the
visit Of Messrs DoOtte and Foster Of the Senate last
year TO the Marys Mission Station among the Rica-
rees with evident pleasure These gentlemen were pres
ent at an examination OF $50 children In reading spelling,
grammar arithmetic United States history sewing and
embroidery They we're extremely pleased with tho
good department Of the children and their progress
IN learning. In speaking OF the Indian children,
the countenance OF the Father dilaed with JOY, his
thoughts having evidently recurred to the dro sports
and uncOuth oeuay OF the tender ones who are under
his care The Indian boys were he said, the bestDe-
haved boys he had ever and the adults were so
eager for Instruction that they would listen the teach
ines of the missionary from dawn until dark
He had no doubt but that they will become a useful
portion OF the American people IL the Government
ers itself In their behalf and puts aside the destroying
sword All can easily DO taught TO cultivate tic soil and
practice the arts OF civilized hfe.