National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-14

the women can do all the WSrk, and they should
DIT. wiIbrr suggested that . public meeting be
held.
The suggestion met with general approval.
The meeting then adjourned until p. N.
EVENING SESSION.
This session was devoted to general conference.
In addition to those present at the afternoon ses-
sion there were Col. Adalr and Mr.. Ross, Of the
Cherokee nation, Col. Kimball and the Commits
sioner Of Indian Affairs and Major Ingalls,.
THE REPORT OF BISHOP HARE.
The CHAIR read selections from the report OF
Right Reverend W. H. Hare, ID. D., missionary
ceuraging. He reports boarding schools, churches,
&C., as being established, and says that con-
siderable spirit Of enterprise Is manifested; farm
not slow at learning. This mission embraces
Oneida, Yankton, Ponka, Yanktonnais, Lower
s5o.sonss SySS AZ nsy 5 Ss s.oDs
later place there is.s hospital nearly completed;
the latter 10 under the charge Of Bishop WhIpple.
DR.. Thompson submitted the following: That in
the experience Of the agencies under the care Of
the board which he represented the presence OF
the military on the reserves had been found to
That the common soldiers would get liquor aud
distribute It among the Indians, men and women,
ior the worst Of purposes. Military force e need
but TO that end they ought 70 be only within call,
and not to interfere with the administration OF
q At man such interference can only be disastrous
There have been cases In which the Indians have
obtained arms from the soldiers themselves.
THE DETECTIVE SERVICE.
DR.. Reed said in Montana there were three de-
thought responsible men should be appointed by
the agent instead Of the commissioner.
Mr.. Smith did not think that detectives were
generally appointed in Washington. The reason
Of their appointment was for the discovery Of the
Introduction Of sPirituOus liquor. He did not
as their duties are sometimes required In inTesti,
eating the affairs Of the agents.
DR.. Reed said the system was seriously injurious.
DR.. LoWrie thought their services were Of very
great benefit. The use Of spirituouS liquor was
very injurious to the working Of those sent out TO
eiviliIe the Indian. He thought the right kind
mr.. Beade, from the Central superintendency,
spoke Of the deputy marshals being In the ca
Pacity Of detectives in his section. He did hold
very high opinion of their worth.
DR.. Reed said these men held two othees-mar-
shals and detectives.
Col Hammond suggested the propriety Of ap-
pointing q committee with power to ascertain all
facts, and report the same. .r
Mr.. Smith stated there was no general practice
Of appointing detectives in the Indian country.
The suggestion OF Col. Hammond was approved,
and Drs. Nicholson and Thompson were ap-
pointed the committee.
STATEMENT OF DR.. KrMBALL.
DIR. KimbalI said in connection with the re-
agencies and found that there were great diff
culties lying in the way OF accomplishing the de-
slred oplect. he had seen me inalans doing the
preached by one Of them, and he was astonished
at the progress These difficulties that have to
be commended with are, first, the old trouble re-
garding craftsmanship; second, the uncertainty Of
their reservations. He thought 1t ought to be
settled whether they are to remain or be re-
moved. II the tribes are given q certainty OF
their remaining on the reservations the result
will be good; It is almost essential to give them
some Encouragement. Third, the annuity sys-
tenn. There are great difficulties arising from
the present system. He thought the Indian
should be compelled to work for q part of the an
nuitY. Fourth. The conflict Of religious influ.
ences. He found at two reservations where
work had been begun by one religious faction
and continued by another; this caused q conflict,
that retarded progress.
He referred TO Roman Catholic interference
and claimed that the two interests cannot work
tremendously. As to the question Of chieftain-
ship he thought that should be decided by ballot.
The young men approve Of this mode of selecting
chiefs He did not favor keeping Indians on
reservations which could not be worked, and his
impression was that Indians do much better when
surrounded by q good class Of white men.
GENERAL DISCUSSION.
Mr.. Lang thought when Indians were doing
well for themselves they should not be removed,
AS to supplies there was another difficulty; II
was meney instead Of the articles that were
needed, the latter being garbled up by white men
The question Of removing the Indians was
widely discussed, and the case Of the PaWnees
about being removed to the Indian Territory,
was cited. This was done owing to the disaster
that occurred to them by the grasshopper plague
when aisSoarsgea me i Panns S 70 suSn an ex
1t was also stated that so far the religious so
cieties have worked harmoniously together, and
further, that good females should be employed to
agency should have good Christian woman Il
attend to the female Indians, and in conjunction
with the cultivation Of the man, the woman
should be educated.
DR.. Nicholson said on the subject of moneyed
annuities that 1t was the property OF the Indians
should be distributed to the best interest OF the
Indians. The moneyed annuittes should not bC
paid out per capita.
had gone too far on this question. There is nc
discretion in departing from the treaties without
gaining the consent from other parties. He
thought the greatest Difference should be shown
the Indians.
The question Of removing the Indians he sp
proved. The remnants Of Indians should be re
moved and gotten together. He thought It would
take time to remedy the question Of aunuities
and he did not feel hopeful for the Indian Terri
motive to eSanEe the cpUdttiOp Of tseSe men. VIZ
In the British Government, In regard to tht
Indians, the idea was to ciVilize them first, ano
afterwards ChristianiEe them, He favored put
ting the Bible forward and let the other follow
The Legislation OF the country should be done By
Congress by revision Of the treaties with the
President Grant in preventing the turning oveI
OF the Indians to politicians and he claimed that
the present system Of agents was blessing.
Mr.. Janney favored the election Of chiefs in hi!
agency; It had worked we'll. He did not feel In
the least discouraged about the Indian; every
thing looked bright, and he advised all to place
their trust In Divine Providence and all would
come out right.
In answer to the question whether those in
charge visited the different tribes in person, Il
was stated that in . majority Of cases they did
not. Those presided over by the Episcopal Church
were visited by the bishops. In the Presbyterian
the Methodist Church by the conferences; the
Hicksites and Orthodox by committees.
REMARKS OF COMMISSIONERS SMITH. o
Indian Commissioner Smith spoke in reference
to appropriations for the Indians, and said 1t wa!
year. He had suggested that there be a radica
change in dealing with the Indians. II all people
are satisfied that giving the Indians $50 per capita
is an injury It should be changed. There are In
dian tribes that get $3.50 to $500 per year to eact
family. The Indian is the ward of the Govern
ment, and should be so treated. In connection
with the Church, he claimed that 1t takes mar
TO lift up his fellows, and those who do it mus
have q full heart in the work. When the Presi
dent gave the churches the power over the In
dams, there Has,placed upon them q solemn
duty. When they talk about the agents they
forget they are from their churches, and each de
nomination, when charges are made, should as
to the churches, and they ought not TO use that
power for any other purpose than the Indians
good. They should select good men with regard
to their competency. No man should be Rp
pointed because he is member OF such and suef
church.
1t was a burning shame to call man to the
head OF these reservations where he discusses 81
much money and receives for these services such
small ray for their salaries. 1t is cruel. These
Indian agents have immense labor to perform
The best men, all through, should be selected
and men who Will stand true and give an &C
count of every dollar they receive. He needs u
feel that the church Is following him, and II be
fails his church falls He thouRht the last year hac
been very bright for the Indians. 1t was filled
with blessedness and hopefulness. The few trials
have resulted benehcially.
AGENTS SALARIES.
DR.. Lowrie said the question Of salaries was q
part Of the unfinished business Of last year: He
thought there should be some discrimination In
salaries. Some of the noblest men in the land
were going into this work without regard to sala
rles.
Commissioner Smith said the Secretary Of the
Interior or himself had not anything to do with
this matter, 1t was entirely out Of the hands o.
the Department. He thought D, 500 was not sal
airy enough for the agents.
DR.. Thompson said that he was glad he came
thought the Church should be awakened and the
Churches should be pledged to the officers Of the
| Government He offered the following, which
| was adopted:
Resolved, (by this conference representing 8
number ofreligious bodies Of this country which
| have been called by the Government to q share
| In the work Of ciyiliEing the Indians,) That OF
the review Of the Iabors of the year past, reveal
ing great and positive advance in civillEing and
outstanding these wards Of the nation, our con
| tn Wis md n