New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-11-16

Good Effects of Kindness, Educatfon, ana
Christian Innuemce-WisdOmo OF the Pres
emit Humane Indian Policy Demonstrated.

Good Effects of Kindness. Educatfon, and
Christian influence wisdom OF the Press
emit Humane Indian Policy Demonstrated
HooPA VALLEY INDIAN RESERVATION, kla-
math County, CAL, October l9.-Perhaps
few words from this distant locality regarding
the working of the Presidents Indian Policy
may be interesting. This reservation IS IN the
northern part of California. and was estaoiisneo
in 1864. The Indians at that time, IOo IN
number. inhabited this and surrounding coun-
ties. and were the dread and terror OF the
whites. This is beautiful valley. about five
miles long. and surrounded by lofty mountains,
rough and precipitous in the extreme The
| Trinity river runs through the entire length
| of the valley. Last Winter the President gave
the several agencies of the California Indians
to persons nominated by the Conference OF the
Methodist Church. The Rev. ID. II. Loury
was commissioned agent for this reservation,
and entered upon his duties in March, bring
ing with him six Christian families as en-
ployees. When they came here they antlci-
pated more or less difficulty in managing the
Indians; and what else coald they expect
Seven years since, these were at war with the
whites, and four years ago they killed their
| agent, Mr.. Stockton. Ever since its establish
ment, the reservation has been run" by un-
principled and debauched white men, with
squaws for their mistresses; numerous hall
breed children, as white as their fathers, attest
| the truth of what l say. The minds OF the
Indians were poisoned against the whites, and
| some of the most prominent ones threatened to
leave, saying: "New agent no good man
white man tell US So" Gen. Grants new
agents tried in vain for some time to induce
| the Indians to come to the school they estab-
lished, and to attend the religious services {;
but they had empty houses and vacant seats for
their pains the Indians saying they wanted to
Z" catch" them white man tell them so. !"
The agents did all they could to counterfeit
these evil influences, and finally succeeded.
They have harvested 500 acres of hay and grain
without single Indians refusing to work, and
have never had to punish one for disobedience
They have established a school, and numbers
of children who had no idea of the alphabet are
now learning to write, and can readily read
words of FIVE or six letters. A large Sunday
school is also in successful operation. An
organ used in both day aud Sunday schools de-
lights the pupils; and they readily follow their
teacher in singing simple school melodies
they can be heard humming these over at any
hour of the day. We teach them the elements
of Christianity, and every Sabbath tell them
some Bible story which interests them. We
have little hope of beneftting, materially, the
old Indians but all have confidence in being
able to civilize and Christianize the rising gen.
GRAFTON, provided the Presidents policy is car.
ried out to its full extent. 1t will take time,
but it is possible and practicable. There are
now six Christian families on the reservation.
and their influence and example cannot fail of
proving salutary. Indeed, we already see a
decided Improvement in their dress and man.
| ners
Our hands have been full since the day of
our arrival. There were few conveniences for
so many families, as all the employees whom
We succeeded, save two, lived with squaws, in
old tumble-down houses. We all buddled to-
gether for the first two weeks in the agents
house; but we are now all comfortably housed.
We have erected six new buildings, and are
now engaged in building saw-mill capable oil
saving 10000 feet of lumber per day, and hope
the coming year to furnish many Indians lum
Der with which they may build comfortable
dwellings for themselves.