Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-12-16
Affairs in Alaska.

Below we publish letter to the New
York World, from gentleman who " has
been there" aud who faithfully shows up
the treatment to which the natives are sub.
jected under the present management Of
affairs in that Territory, aud the injustice
with which they meet at the hands Of the
military: y.... -...... ..-l.7a- -..t- p
.. SIrKA, Alaska Ter, Oct. IL.
+ While the press throughout the country,
and conspicuously the W0rld, are holding
up to the light the evildoiugs Of the Ad-
ministration Of General Grant, think it
proper that you should be informed, and
through you the whole public, Of the dis
'astrous march Of affairs in this distant
Territory.
Through the instrumen tality of money
and the piancy of members of both Houses
Of Congress and the President the Russo.
American firm of Hutchinson, Kohl Il
Co., secured about two years ago lease Of
the islands of St. Paul aud St. George,
aud virtually monopoly of the entire fur
trade Of the Territory. The advent into
power of this company was signalized by
all manner Of fraudulent practices, both
upon the native people and the Govern
ment, aud so it has ever since been main
taincd AS matter Of course all outside
traders were forbidden by law from deal.
ing with people of the islands mentioned ;
but, presumng upon its prerogative, the
company went even further, and presently
interdictcd, virtually if not nominally, the
presence of, other traders at any of the fur
marts Of the Territory, and notably at this.
Tho Government officials, appointces of
Grant, have in every instance violated
their pledge to protect the natives in their
trade, and have grown rich upon their of.
fetal malfeasauce in strikingly brief peri
DDS. Blackmail has. been the watchword
aud blackmail the prevailing practice.
And the Government, or rather the Ad-
ministratiou, has invariably overlooked if
it has not positively connivcd at these
frauds, and the offenders have never in a
single instance received their deserts. To
illustrate a Deputy Collector at this port,
Mr.. j. A. Faulkner, was convicted by
military court Of dishonest practices a
short time ago and removed from Office.
When the President was Informed of the
fact he Immediately soothed the wounded
feelings of Mr. Faulkner by making him
Government Agent at the island of st.
George, Il more lucrative post than the
other. Comment is unnecessary. This is
only one of many similar eases.
The ma tivcs Of ST. George Island, to the
number of near two. score, united recently
in petition to the Government setting
forth the abuses and expressions with
which they are visited by the lessces of tho
island. Several Government Agents sue
successively took charge of the document,
promising its deiverance to the President.
Between these fellows and the President,
however, the petition was stifled until now,
when it is made public.
The natives aver that they can read and
write and are capable Of holding cores
pondcnce with the Government That
this fact Notwithstanding, the Government,
without consulting or respecting their
wishes, leased their heritage for twenty
years, thus virtually depriving them of
their liberty to which they are entitled,
and which is guaranteed by the Constitution.
They charge that this lease reduces them
to condition of slavery, and compels
them to accept for their labor whatever
rate of wages it may please the company
to fix, aud that, in consequence, their in
comes being small and uncertain, they can.
not educate their children nor prepare
themselves for the duties of citizenship.
They say, moreover, the employees of this
company are brutal aud oppressive to them
in the last degree, and are entirely indif.
ferent to the fate of the fur-seal, their only
means Of subsistence. From this it ap
pears not unlikely that the fur SEAL the chief
resource Of the Territory, will become ex.
tinct before the company's lease shall ex-
pire.:! ......
l may add in conclusion that wherever
there is fort in the Territory, there are
found the most inhuman and brutal op..
pressions Of which an undisciplined sol.
diery are capable. There is no law or order
iu the Territory, the company and military
being law unto themselves. The natives
have come to look upon Americans with
infinite disgust, and judging the Govern.
ment by the Agents which it has sent
among them, they do not conceal their
preference for the auld lang syno when the
Gar was their political master. Aud this
condition Of affairs, it cannot fail to be
seen, may be referred directly to the pres.
ent incompetent head of our Government.
What income General Grant himself dc.
rives from this Territory am, of course,
unable to say, but there is very general
opinion that he is silent partner in the
monopolizing firm, just as he is a partner
in the quarrying business.