The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-30
CATHOLIC INDIAN MISSIONS.
A Complaint from the Bishop
Of Nesqualy.
Interference Of Methodist Preachers With the
Catholic Clsrgy-Attsmpt to Take Their
MISUNDERSTANDING Letter
to Secretary Delano.
VANCOUVER, w. T., March 80, 1870.

Hon. NJ DELANO. Secretary of the Interi0r:-
HONORABLE SR-permit me to say that you have
been recommended to me as a gen tleman who, IN
his Official capacity, Is Invariably guided by prn-
cpies Of equity ana justice to ALL Acting upon this
recommendation beg leave to call your earnest at
tention to our Catholic Indian missions OF washing.
ton Territory and to lay before you a summary
sketch OF their early establishment and onward
growth.
dare say that careful perusyl OF these state
ments will make 1t at once evident to your well
meaning views that consistently with the lately
avowed Indian policy OF the President, largo
share ought to be accorded to tho Catholic mission
airy authorities In the assignment OF government
agents and teachers to tho Indians, IN Justice both
to the Indians themselves and TO our Catholic ms.
slonaries, who have been, in most all cases, the
original and true teachers or civilization and Chris
tianty to the poor Indians.
AS Catholic Bishop came TO this Territory in the
year 1s47, and my solicltude was Immediately d.
rected toward the welfare OF our Indian population
and for the lurtherance OF this object sent that
same year missionary priests among the Yakamas,
where permanent mission was established
forthwith, ana for eight continuous years
the work OF civiizing aud Outstanding
these Indians was carried on with steady pro-
gress, when, unfortunately the in 1855 Obliged
the Fathers TO abandon the field OF their missionary
laDors let the iakama Catholic mission was not
priests to visit these Indians for the purpose OF
confirming the converts IN the faith aud OF bapzing
their Children leaving II an uncontrovcrtlbe fact
that from 1S47 Till 1869 the Yakima nation was
taught no other but Catholic religious tenels ana by
none but Catholic priests.
In 1850. or thirteen years after we had established
the mission oil tie Yakama valley, at our sacrifices
and expenses. the United States government pro-
Indians. Then suddenly competitor appeared
among us In the person OF Mr.. Wilour, Methodist
Minister who rs teacher. lntruslvey Installed him.
~. AZ yvttl
superintendent Geary. but, he beng another Mctno-
dist minister, my reinonstrance Was OF course dis
regarded and the inCruaer formally confirmed
ana appointed as literary and religious Superinten
dent contrary to what he Mr. Cearyl had himself de-
wards submitted 10 wrItng) with Very Rev. Father
Brouillet, MIR. Geary said:-"All tribes formerly
instructed and ChriSiani2ed by Catholic clergy
should be placed again. when on their reservations.
under the care and ID charge or the Fathers. as to
literary training" And he added:-'srhe lite rary
and the religious instruction OF none but Two, at
most three, reservations would be entrusted to the
Protestant clergy namely. the Nez Perces, the
Spokanes anu perhaps tile Grande Eonde; all the
others should fail to the care OF the Cathonc Clergy
namely, the reservations OF Puget Sound those OF Va
kama. Warm Springs, umala aud Pend 'Oreillesn
This plain, ingenious statement, made by an ON
cial perfectly aware OF the state Of affairs, still
more conclusive as emanating from member OF
the religious sect which has invariably shown Itself
the most bitterly opposed to Catholic tenets
and Catholic rights. True, IT, was made
Simcoe. After the preparation OF this act OF
injustice, Mr.. Gearys sentiments of right and JUS
al
ton, since, III answer to my protest, he wrote Oi-
Cia!ly us lolows-"As can officially make dis
tnction account or religious tenets connec-
tons IN appointing persons to positions, and as MIR.
Wilbur has high Intellectual and moral Guallhca.
lions, fitting him for the position of teacher,
shall cheerfully confirm the appointment whenever
submitted to lie oy the agent"
This same MIR. Wilbur was afterwards appointed
to the Yakima agency; and need not say now. III
that capacity he threw every OBSTACLE In the way
prevent the Catholic missionary from giving relt-
gous Instructions TO Indians, even In our own
chapel outside the limits OF the reservation; Of
the threats he made both against the priest aud the
are now well known TO the department.
Can any unbiased mind say that there Is not here
an evident wrong done usa Was not the ield OF our
missionary labors uniuslly wrenched rom our
hands and given to man whose teaching was
known to these Indians? Were not the COVE nment
subsidies appropriated by such as had right,
while, for thirteen years. we had maintained that
mission at great sacrifices and expenses2 These
conclusions necessarily press upon us; but enough
what about the Puget Sound reservationss 1t is
country that from 1s4S q should have said from |
1881 to tho present day, CathOic missionaries have
iize the Indians, ana that whatever knowledge OF |
either Christianity or civilization they possess 1t has
been impaired to them by the Catholic priests. THIS
fact admitted in 1860, not only for the Indians
on Puget sound but for nearly all tribes both IN |
Washington Territory and the state OF Oregon; wit.
ness the quoted statements OF superintendent Geary.
corrOborated by q declaration made by the Oregon |
conference OF the Methodist Episcopnl church, in !
to Work for the salvation Of the Indians
whenever Providence would open the way tsee
Portland Christian Advocate, February IL, 1s7lj
Now. with the exception OF Simcoe or YaKama
reservation, no evidence appears OF any new road
being opened by Providence Tor their proifered
vices to the benighted Indians.
Notwithstanding these facts, and, SHOULD say, in
defiance of the new policy adopic by the President,
the Puget Sound reservations, TO the number or 1--WE
or six. with the exception or one Tuialipl |
are taken away from the Catholics, and sectalIan
Agents and teachers are placed over Catholic |
Indians, In violation OF the most sacred principles
OF our consuuton-'lloerty or conscience lC ,
certainly cannot be that the avowed policy Of the |
President was never Intended TO be applied to |
Catholics.
close these remarks by expressing the fond hope |
that you will give this subject due attention, and |
submit my claims to MS EXcellency the President,
that his intentions may he equiaDly and justly |
carried ont, and not be set at naught by design
Ing men, as they evidently nave been far as our \
Catholic Indian missions are concerned.
j have the nonOr TO be- with high consideration !
and regard, honorable sir. your most humble |
want A. Nj. A. BLANCuET, Bishop OF Nesquay.
AN EL0PEMENT FROn TIE DUTCH IS COUNTY |