The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-04
honsSSs warning IN his native tongue ana with hi
pAkivo accent

nonS6r warning IN MS native tongue ana Win Dis
IAtive accent.
BACK IN BKLGIUM.
awhile in Ghent,n proceeded Mr. Weed, in his
Interesting narrative, ~ dined with his family,
His brothers, one OF whom was chaplain to The
King, while the other was Judge OF one OF the
highest courts In the State, we're present on that
occasion; IL was 0 delightful family circle. re-
member tnat his sister. who was also present,
told me that when her brother wrote home IL was
generally TO ask for money and she laughingly ex-
pressed the wish that he might write for money
every day so that they might only hear more ire
quently Of their dear brother Before hts depar-
ture from nome he mad renouncea all his share OF
the family property beyond what he needed to
sustain his missionary work) His return excited
great interest among the religious people OF
Belgium and when IL became known that ne nad
come back Ia need OF assistance for the prosecu-
ton OF his noble labors the prominent citizens
went to work quietly and without giving him any
intimation OF 1t and filed ship from stem TO
stern with everything that was necessary, Euch as
agricultural implements, clothing, &C., and when
he embarked he found on board seven young men
thoroughly fitted for the task they had set them
selves. They sailed for tine Oregon River and
there Father De Smet recommended his old labors
with renewed vigor.
TIE CLOSE OF NOBLE LIFE.
"After his return to America" said Mr.. Weed,
closing his recital OF this extraordinary career II
and Bishops Hughes and Purcell made known
10 the government OF what inestimable
value this missionary could be 70 them in
their dealings with the Indians. Our
advice was accepted, and from 1852 up
to lew years ago, when he closed his missionary
labors, every administration sougns his services
as mediator OF peace. During all these years he
never received any compensation from the gov
eminent, decli ming all the oers OF salary that had
been made to HIM and sustaining himself out OF
hts own ample means. Previous to mis- death he
founded splendid Catholic college in st. Louis,
where he had spent some time during the last few
years OF his life. He died about year or two
ago-I do not exactly remember when. l am
thoroughly convinced that II he had lived longer
mucn OF our recent dinieulties with Indians
might have been spared u.s." And Mr.. Weed con-
Guided this brief sketch with heartfelt eulogy on
the exalted character OF his departed friend.
In regard to the misslonarys statements about
the gold deposits In the Black Hills country Mr..
Weed says that Father De Smet mentioned
to him the Indians stores but only In a general
way 1t was SO long ago that he remembered The
conversation but indistincty, ana could not rec
oliect the exact expressions used by him.
Father De Smet's literary works on Indian life
are too well known to need particular mention.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
read with pleasure your wise suggestion that
II the Black Hills country should prove to be as
ricn in gold as supposed the general government
should use 1t to reduce the national debt. Can you
not con :inue the subject iuyther and suggest
practicable and statesmanlike plan by which the
product or these new gold fields can be made
available for the purpose you have suggested 2
Suppose you show how a sub.deDartment or a
bureau could be formed by the Secretary or the
Interior by which the mining opa1.ltions could De
placed under the charge OF the engineer onlcers OF
the army, VINO In time OF peace have very little
work 70 do, giving them the aid OF such experts
and scientific biologists they might select, VITA
power to survey the lands. and, wheL carefully
mapped lease them on terms oil royalty by which
the government should receive one hall the pro-
quot. The government should erect and provlue
stamps and smelling works az convenient locali-
ties IN the gold region, and assay ofices where
tine product could be promptly converted into
bars Of proper size for transporta ton.
With these COSBY appliances and conveniences
furnished 0y the government the miner would be
j enabled 20 enter upon his work win no capital
possible results would be produced by the least
waste OF energy and capital. In order tnat peace,
safety and good order should be mafntalned
throughout the whole mining region, let the gov
and from tho Black Hlls~~ud a su licieat military
force TO act "a ,poAce TO Gi3lfrce. ttnalian e
with sucn rules and regulations as may De auopIeo
Just accounting OF the product. II this course shall
| be adopted Il Is rot too much TO believe that
enough gold can be realized rom the royalty 10
reimburse all 0utays and largely reduce the ma
tional debt Respectfully yours, B..