The Portland daily press., 1884-01-30
The Indian auestiou.

Mrs, Amelia s. Quinton OF Philadelphia,
general secretary of the Women's National In
dian Association, addressed good-szed au-
dience, majority of whom were ladies, ct the
vestry of the Free Street Baptist Church yes
terday afternoon, under the auspices OF the
Women's Indian Association OF Portland.
Several of the clergymen Of the city were also
present
Mrs. Quinton is a lady rather above medium
height, with dark hair, bright eyes, graceful
figure, and pleasing manner. .She was suffer
ing somewhat from cold yesterday. She be-
gan her remarks by explaining the object Of
the Association which she stated to be two
fold: First, to awaken or strengthen the public
sentiment which shall aid government in its
adoption Of policy which with due regard to
the principles of equity and justice involved
in past treaties with Indian tribes, shall,
where needs be gradually, but surely, lead to
the final abolition of the jury system, By CIV
ing to all Indians not now under the Indian
government of the Indian Territory the same
law protection, common school education, and
citizenship, as are enjoyed by other races
among us, and second by educational or mis-
sion york, or both, for and among Indians to
hasten as much as is in our power their civili-
cation, christianization and enfranchisement.
The lines of work pursued by this Associa-
ton, the speaker said, "shall be the circulation
of literature adapted to its object, the circula-
ton of memorials to Congress; the securing
popular meetings and articles for the press,
which shall promote the growth of right senti-
ment concerning our national duty to Indians,
and the qd0ntinO 0f anah ofhar 90
are, In the judgment of the executive board,
best adapted to accomplish the educational
and missionary work contemplated. A list of
the various committees was read. The speaker
then gave an idea of the missionary work I'M
dertaken by the Association. 1t will be the
pioneer school and mission work among the
sixty-eight tribes of Indians within our ma
tional limits who have, according to the re-
port of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs for
1882, neither church nor missionary The As
ISOLATION aims to get government aid for this
work, and has already received encouragement
in this direction. Government can furnish us
disused barracks, or other houses or new
buildings for school purposes, and give US
transportation for our missionary teachers, and
make appropriations for school expenses. A
national union of Christian women can most
fitly ask such help, and Congress, it is be-
lieved, will vote the needed funds Che kind
of work to be done will be teaching children to
speak, read and write English; to work and
become self-supporting; teaching young pa
rents and others how to make comfortable and
attractive homes out of scanty materials;
teaching the women how to cook the foods of
civilization; and how to care for their chill
dren, and most surely, teaching all within
reach, in the simplest way, redeeming Chris
tian truths"
The speaker. then gave sketch OF our post
Indian policy which was defined to be that of
oppression and determination, and also of the
present policy which was the following out
Secretary Teller's plans as illustrated by the
history OF the Cheyenne Indians. She showed
1t is the intention Of the government to take
10000 Indian children lin accordance with the
plan stated in missionary work) and give them
four years course at the cost of one average
year of Indian expense In the past. Also to
make strong appeal to Congress for appropri-
ations and make an endeavor to have the In
dams hold their lands in severalty, as the ma
iority of tribes, especially those in the North
west. so desire.
At the close of the address a collection was
taken up.