New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-01
MERCY TO INDIANS.
LETTER FROM BISHOP wHIPPLE.


To fLs EdftOr Of The Tribune
S,n: Many Of your readers are deeply interested
IN the poor red men of the West. They do pity the
beloess but are powerless TO help them. 1t is not
often that they find silver lining to the cloud
Nav write YOU of some Indian work which viii
brnc iov 10 many Christian heartst You are aware
that for some time past we have had trouble with
the Kiowas. the Comauches the Cheyennes and the
hrapahoes. 1t is the old story of our wrong
doing. the violation Of treaties, until 1t has
ended in savage war; Indian war means
a war of races and the massacre OF
women and children Our troops captured a
number of these hostile Indians. They selected
some 20 warriors and chiefs and sent them as pris-
oners 10 Fort Marion at st. Augustine, Fla. A por-
ton of these were Us desperate Indian warriors as
ever carried the tonahawk and rifle. A few OF the
chiefs were sent as hostages for the good behavior
of their people. They placed in the charge OF
Capt II. II. Pratt a noble Christian soldier They
were sulen, revcngeful full of hate and had to be
brought in double irons. One of their number COM
mitted suicide on the way. 1t was an unpromising
field for Christian civilization and missionary effort
As soon as they reached st. Augustine, Capt. Pratt
selected ten Of the best behaved Indians cut their
hair and dressed them in the uniform of soldiers.
. A few DAYS after he released Others. In less than
two weeks he was drilling all his prisoners in an
organized company. They had non-commissioned
officers of their own number. They guarded them
selves in the fort and discharged every duty of a
well appointed garrison. Col. Hamilton, the FORMER,
and Gen. Dent, the present commander OF the post,
seconded every effort made by Capt. Pratt. They
learned by heart LIES first lesson " to obey" They
received every kindness when they deserved IT. ana
suffered severely f6r every violation of orders.
There is not to-day a orderly body OF soldiers
in the service.
O.. cd flvis tian
teachers in a school. They are beginning to read
and write They have learned the Lords Prayer.
They sing very sweetly several Christian hymns.
was never more touched than when | entered this
school, Here were men who had committed murder
upon helpless women and children sitting like dOcle
children at the feet of women learning to read.
Their faces have changed. They have all lost that
look of savage hate and the light of a new Lille Is
dawniug upon their hearts. 1t was my privilege to
preach to them every Sunday, and upon week days
l told them stories from the Bible. | have never
had q more attentive congregation. At times
they seemed to hang upon my words as
if / was a messenger of life from heaven.
You could see on every face that the old, old story
sounded TO them it does TO us, as they heard OF
One who was the friend of every one who needed n
friend Providentially we had the best OF inter
prefers. Mr Fox speaks the Cheyenne language
fluentlv and he also speaks the sign language per-
fectly This sign language is common to all In
dams and Mr. Fox is much at home with 1t he
could translate it so that all could I'M
derstand il. The day before left st. Augustine
asked the privilege of meeting the chiefs with Capt
Pratt and the interpreter. told them that came
to say Good by" believed God sent me to them
Their home was 1000 miles away in the South
West. Ny home was 1000 miles away in the North
West did not know them they did not know me-
vet had been permitted to tell the sweet story of
Gods love- and of Jesus their Savior We shall never
meet again on earth, but / hoped that we should
both follow the good trail which led to heaven.
The chief Ne-min-ick silent for moment.
He then said with deep feeling "You may wonder
whether your words reached me. They did not go
into my and then go away; they went down,
down. into my heart. They viii always stay there.
go to church now, and when l see the white man
kneel, know that he talking to the Great Spirit
and asking for himself and children. too try to
send one little breath of prayer TO the Great Spirit
that he will have pity upon poor me-" He said, 1t
is not you alone that haVs pointed me to the good
trail y and then turning TO Capt Pratt, he said, HE
has tried to lead to it, his words are always good
/ shall walk in that path until die" He could not
90 on. He choked, then up to Capt. Pratt and
threw his around his neck and kissed him, first
on one cheek and then the other He then en-
braced me- kissed me both cheeks, and laid his
head on my ShOu0er ana Crltu Ike Clllu' All iho
chiefs embraced us and kissed us and were moved to
tears
Ii shows that even in the most savage men there
is a heart which can be reached by discipline kind
ness and Christian teaching The older chiefs
ought to be sent back to their people They can do
much to keep them from joining the Sioux III the
present war. Some of them may not live through
this Summer in prison. The effect of their death
would be very deplorabe upon their people. Some
of the younger men are very intelligent and they
ought 10 be educated as teachers ana craftsmen.
They ought to become the leaders of their people in
the path of civilization. am more convinced than
over that there is not the slightest necessity for
Indian wars. They are the fruit of our wretched
policy. 1t would make our own white race
Ishmaelites to leave them without government,
without personal rights of property, to be the
of the dishonest and corrupt. Capt. Pratts success
is due to the fact that he has taught these Indians
TO obey he has encouraged them to labor he has
given to them III its best SENSE Christian school.
They are gaming manhood, and the Gospel Of Jesus
Christ will do for them and their people, If they
have the means to learn its good news, what it has
done for other heather folk in the ages passed away
feel that deep debt of gratitude is due to the
officers Of the army at st. Augustine for having
eolved that vexed question, "What shall we do with
hostile Indians when taken prisonersp From my
heart i can say, God bless themw Yours, faith
fully, IL b. WHILE.
Sasanaah, Ga March "a, 1876
LETTER FROM WILLIAM WELSH.
rHE PROPOSED REMOVAL OF THE SIOUX TO HE MIS-