, 1877-11-23

These things were done, and no
efforts were made to prevent it.
And yet white men were arrested ,
confined and prosecuted, on charge
of having introduced and drunk It
Wrangel bottle Of liquor. All at
tcmpts by the military to check the
manufacture of liquor by the Indians
were farce, and consisted Of pre-
tended restrictions on our merchants
and traders from selling molasses and
sugar.
have never known \ military
man to speak well Of Alaska. They
all seemed to have become sound on
arrival here, aud were certainly de-
ploring their fate of being stationed
in such a detestable place.
The future welfare of this country,
and the best interests Of the people
in it, demand that we have no more
military rule, but, that instead, civil
authority, judicial power and law be
tried.
Our Indians here, are not a band
of cut throats and pirates that re-
quires bayonets and brass guns to
keep them in subjection!
Here at Wrangel, the Indians, al
though greatly demoralized, are
somewhat civilized, and after many
efforts a school has been established
on a permanent basis at this place.
The Presbyterian Board of Missions,
having taken the matter in hand, a
lady by the name of Mcfarland has
been sent here, and she has now a
daily attendance at school of about
sixty Indians, old and young, most
of whom have mastered the alphabet
and many of whom can read senten
ces composed Of words OF one sylla-
ble.
This speaks volumns for the In
dians of Alaska, especially when it is
remembered that all the Indians Of
this Territory, desire teachers and
preachers sent among them.
AIaska's wealth will justify a little
legislation in her behalf.
During the past year, mineral has
been discovered in this Territory,
that will, l traly believe, revolu-
tionzs the Pacific coast. Alaska
fish are being looked after, and with
in a few years, "Alaska canned
salmon" will be exported to all parts
of the world. Disbelievers may
croak as much as they please, but
these things are IS inevitable as the
rising of the sun.
Aside from all this is the Cassiar
mines in British Columbia. This
season has developed the fact that
Cassiar is an extensive gold country
that will last for years.
The year "7S" will bring near
three thousand men thither, perhaps
more, all of whom must pass through
Wraugcl.
| have seen nine hundred miners
in this town at one time, few days
ago four hundred were here
awaiting ocean steamers.
Liquor smuggled into this port,
and that made here Can be had at all
times, and yet in the absence of law
but few men have been drunk, and
no one seriously hurt.
But the present quietness cannot
always reign. Peace is not secure
among Eve hundred whites and a
thousand Indians, with no authority
except a Deputy Collector of Gus
toms, and he devoid Of all legal pow
er to act in case of trouble.
The fact of no serious trouble hav-
ing occurred, the outside world must
not imagine quietness reigns su-
preme at Wrangel.
Far from it. l am daily besct by
white men and by Indians, who come
with all sorts of complaints, many of
which are of a criminal nature.
The aggrieved asks for justice.
| can but advise. But advice will
not always suffice. Justice is de
manded, aud unless something is
done whereby che guilty can be tried
and punished, trouble will occur, and
that of a serious nature.
Will not the present Congress
do something for us5
Or must we be compelled to or
ganize ourselves into a committee Of
safety, aud make and execute our
own laws. Time alone will tell.
/. G. DENNIS,