The New York herald., 1877-10-05
OUR INDIAN POLICY.
VIEWS OF A PRIEST WHO HAS LIVED AMONG
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FOR STATES

VIEWS OF A PRIEST WHO HAS LIVED AMONG
THE sAvAGEs--sUaGEsTIoN FOR STATES
MEN.
From the Baltimore Gazette, Oct 81
While the President aud his Cabinet are engaged In
finding somo solution OF the voxed Indian problem
all testimony the subject will DO OF interest and
Importance. For hundreds OF years. as Ia well known
there has been class Of successful IN
treating with the Indians than tho Catholic priests
Rev. Father RaveiIle, OF st. Dominick's Church. in
this city, priest of French extraction and we'll
known pety, passed three years OF bis life long
ago as missionary among the Sioux In conversation
to-day no expressed himself without the least reserve
on the Indian question, and mado some statements in
the way of plan to civllize them which worthy
Of general circulation.
"Of course, " said Father Raveille, swe can begin
with the admission that the past treatment OF tho
Indians has very misguided and brought tho very
worst Of results. The work Is not done by people
sufficiently disinterosted and hence bad faith, or
rather faith all, has been the result The Indian
for instance, is driven reserva vation
He begins to feel q little like homo there cuIi-
the land, and along comes the white man. fences
some Of this land, and then forces treaty granting
this land, which has beon already seized. Vast
amounts OF annuity money arc squandered or stolen
that The Indians are not given even tho consolation
OF beng paid for what take. All this is wrongn
"what would your idea bc9' we asked.
swell, thero are two very simple rules:-First,
hnd out the Indians tastes and inciinations;
second, lead hcm up TO civilization by methods that
do not conflict violently with these tastes and
inclinations. Let me illustrate IRON my own care
iul observation. While l was among the Sioux I
saw that Quo great step would be gained II We
could do something TO break up their tribal organza
uon-tnat is make them forget the authority
tna lofa A hFin all k<~...
tribes into some such American brotherhood Of feeling
and pursuits AS We enjoy in our citizenship so long
they remain obsinately clam ish IL will be
teach them the principles OF democratic civilization
They must drop all this just as our f0rc do whom
they become naturazed They will not entirely
their warlike Instincts while they have these
tribal divisions, ruled by chiefs VINO elevated on
account OF Their prowess on the warpatn. tried the
experiment At Devips Lake, where there were three
trlpss having thor agency. Lilte Fisn, one OF the
Sioux warriors, believed In the pIan ana lent
uaDie assistance. II worked to charm. and these
different tribes gradually forgot TO draw the tribe lines
closely ana mingled on level in everything. I un-
derstana The dicuty Of this work. because tho tribal
feeling mas been iostercd lor generations; but l am
equally confident that It Is OF the very nrst i'm porlane
accomplish this result and believe u could, with
Judcious management be reached inside OF nfiy years.
or two generations SO perfectly that scarcely vesge
oil II would remain"
"wbat, then, about tho religious education OF the
trioess"
Il was about to mention that" said the father
"You know that Tor three hundred years the Catholic
priests have been employed Ia that Indian held They
have so conducted themselves to win the conde
OF the people, and you will hnd In most OF the tribes
tradition 10 that elect SO strong that they ask lor
priests OF the Catholic iath. Personally have the
greatest regard and affection Tor all missionaries who
so there TO labor, and many OF them, Bishop WhippIe
included, are my warm frienda l do think however,
that the indian should DO unfettcred IN the
choice OF his religion as any white citizen OF the
country. Much III feeling has been gondered among
them by their wishes In these matters being dIsre-
garded. cannot see what right the government has
10 force the Indians At any agency to accept spiritual
adviser they do not want Tho SIOUX at the present
Conference. have made particular request Tor Catho
lie prests TO be their teachers and they will naturally
feol disappointed II others are sont them. The policy
In this respect should be changed"
What plan would you adopt" wo then asked. 10 re-
duce the lndian 10 domestic creaturef"
THAT "iii answer by an anecdote One bitter cold
night, while vas with the Sioux up near tho Canada
line, we'll known chief, named Left Bear, came
SAID " him:-'Look st me here in this room. Len
Bear. Soc what civilization do. The wind the
praries sharp; the snow deep, but here IS stove
that warns the air. Here is bod, whore can sleep
and not freeze. Here 10 my table, VI th books so can
read aud learn Is this mol much better Than roaming
about without homer Ho repeated all these advan-
tages approvingly. But said he, with splendid ar
ABOUT him, you not tree. You moi pu your house
on your back go somo place when you want
change That is tho Indian instinct In nutshell IL
has It's freedom, ITS fascination, ana centuries Eave
made II strong But there be no progress IN civil
lizatIon I'll that Domadic spirit goDe The Cheroxees
and Creeks have lost it, and must The otner tribes
Give them reservations good land and let them un-
derstaud they are TO have an abiding home there.
They will soon learn 10 stay IN one place conentedy