The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-01-03
A Talk with Father De smet.


The New York Tribune, with all its peculiar
tiles, manages to be an interesting paper, and
gathers information from all sources to interest
it's readers. The following is the result of
"Talk " with the devoted Father De Smet, and
would be quite pointed If at the end word
of advice VAS given to the political preachers
of New England to follow the self-denying
example of the good missionary
The Rev. Father De Smet, widely known for
his missionary labors among the Indians, de-
parted recently for Europe in the steamer City
of Baltimore. A Belgian by birth. Father De
Smet at an early age entered the Jesuit Order,
and after having been ordained priest, was
sent to the Rocky Mountain region in 1912 to
prosecute the perilous and toilsome duties OF
Christianizing and civilizng the savages OF
| the plains and mountains of the "far West"
At various periods within the past twenty
years he has crossed the Atlantic for the pur-
pose both of obtaining missionary help and
means of purchasing good for the Indians. He
makes his present voyage for the object of
bringing dozen or more OF religious
women and men who will establish schools
among the Ricarees, Crows, and Sioux inhabit
ing the region through which flows the main
branches Of the Upper Missouri. The Sisters
are expected to teach the Indian children the
rudiments of an English education, and also
instruct the girls in sewing and embroidery
Father De Smet intends also to bring with him
a few blacksmiths, tailors, and carpenters
The blacksmiths are wanted for wagon work
horseshoeing,, and the requirements OF the
household; the carpenters for church and
hut building, and to instruct the male youth
in their craft and the tailors to 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, such as would make good
men rejoice Nearly the whole of the Flat
heads, Nezperces, Spokanes, kalispels, Snakes,
and other tribes inhabiting Oregon and WASH
ington are he says converted, and have laid
aside their predatory habits for the peaceful
ayocations of agricultural life. The Catholic
missionaries have supplied them with seed and
taught them to raise abundant crops. The
tribes inhabiting Montana, Dakota, and Wyom-
ing Territories, and all the region extending
from Northern Kansas to British America, and
from Minnesota to the Rocky Mountains,
appears to cause Father De Smet great anxiety
as regards their present and future condition
Although wishing to deal-charitably with all,
| and having no desire to- be-censorious or con-
demnatory, he feels that the treatment of the
tribes by the government agents has been far
from what it ought to be. The greatest number
of the latter have in their treatment of the
Indian been influenced almost solely by an in
satiable desire for gain. The result has been
that not more than 25 per cent. of all the goods
sent out have ever been distributed, the boxes
having been previously opened and the greater
part retained by the agents or their subor-
dinates. Last year matters were better man
aged. All the boxes remained unopened until
they were brought into the presence of the
various tribes for whom they were intended.
This fair and open dealing had a happy effect
and Father De Smet is of the opinion that
should it continue there would be but little to
| fear from the red man. The Father is DESTROYS
that the government should exercise more care
| in marking out reservations for the Indians,
| and in guarding the latter as much as possible
| from the corrupting habits and fraudulent
practices of traders and adventures. Most OF
| the Indians on this side of the mountains, he
support, the buffalo, and nearly all other kinds
| of game having become very scarce. Should
! the buffalo continue to decrease in the same
ratio as during the last ten years, it will not
| be long until they will have almost disappeared
| from the regions wateredby the Upper Missouri
and its atiluents. The manners and habits OF
the Indians are, as general thing, very little
studied by the whites. When one of the former
is killed. his relatives believe they are disgraced
until his death is avenged. If a white person
is killed, it is not unusual for the whites to
attack and murder all the Indians of a lodge
The butchery of some 600 Indians, nearly all OF
whom were women and children, by the order
of Major Chivington, while under the latter
protection, very naturally aroused the spirit OF
vengea nee among the surrounding tribes. Help
less old women and young girls were iiendIshlH
murdered, and the dead bodies were ill Somt
cases subjected to outrage. In his Journe!!, g
among the various Sioux tribes Brulcs, Black
feet, Crows Uckases, and other tribes. many OF
| whom at present giving evidence OF ahostlle
feeling, Father De Smet everywhere re
ceived with kindness. About year ago he
visited hostile bands of the Sioux to the mum
Der of 6o0O at the request of the United States
officers, and was everywhere well received and
listened to with patient attention Father dc
Smet SAYS the Indians will be kind and dOcilt
if treated kindly. During the whole of p
years. residence among them he was never
addressed with angry word. He spoke OF
the visit of Messrs. Doolittle and Foster OF the
Senate, last year, to st. Mary's Mission Station,
among the Ricarees, with evident pleasure
These gentlemen were present at an eXami-
nation OF $50 children in reading, spelling,
grammar, arithmetic, United States history
sewing and embroidery. They We're extremely
pleased with the good department. of the chill
dren and their progress in learning. In speak
ing of the Indian children, the countenance OF
the Father dilated with joy, his thoughts
having evidently required to the droll sports
and uncouth POPULARITY of the tender ones who
are under his care. The Indian boys, were, lie
said, the best-behaved boys he had ever seen
and the adults eager for instruction
that they would listen to the teachings of the
| mi from, lawn until dark