National Republican., 1884-04-12
Character and Work Of the Womans Ma
tional Indian Association.
The Absurdity Of a Three-Headed Dis
trct Government,
A Sufragist Refers 10 the Albany Riots and Points a
Moral.
Picture OF tho "worst PoIiced City In
the Union.o
In khr ElIinr.

The character and work Of the Women's
National Indian association arc not as we'll
known as they deserve to be. For three years
the association has been quietly doing its
work, endesvoring to aid, as far as possible,
in rectifying the wrong that the Indian has
suffered in the past, and in securing to him
his rights and privileges in the future.
Beginning with a very few our women
have responded to the enterprise in an un-
looked-for degree, as If wo were q conscience
smitten nation, and were glad of the oppor-
tunity to do something to throw off tho
burden. With central society in Philadel-
phia, there are auxiliaries in twelve different
states and the District of Columbia. Of this
latter organization Mrs. Senator Hawley is
the president.
The object of these different branches of
the work has boen from tho first simple, al
though very comprehensive-to awaken and
increase an interest in those sorely wronged
and oppressed people, and in oil womanly
ways to influence in their behalf even con-
gress, with whom lies the power to effectually
aid and protect the Indian.
1t Is matter, therefore, of congratulation
that the association finds itself able to assume
the responsibility of sending out teachers to
tho uncared- for tribes, to live among them,
and to begin their work for them in their own
homes-if they can be said to have such.
Probably 1t has surprised the friends of the
enterprise that such success has attended
their efforts as to call for the following reso-
lutions, which were adopted at their last an
nual meeting:
Resolued That our missionary work shall be
done In tribes where no other missionary society
Is slaboring; that we will If possible, secure goy-
and that we will, as soon as in the judgment of
our executive board the school or mission Is in
good working order, resign 1t to the care Of that
eynnReliCal missionary gOCiety having n station
nearest If willing to pledge itself to accept the
station aud do there faithful work.
An extract from the general secretary g
report, also adopted at this annual meeting,
further defines this missionary work:
1t will be pioneer school and mission work
among the sixty.eight tribes Of Indians within
our national limits who have, according to the
report of the commissioner of Indian affairs for
1882 neither church nor missionary.
2. The association aims to get government aid
for this work, and has already received encour.
nIsh us disused barracks or other houses or new
buildings for school purposes and gives us trans
portation for our missionary teachers, and make
appropriations for school expenses. national
union OF Christian women can most fitly ask such
help, and congress, it is believed, will vote the
g. The kind of work to be done: This will be
teaching children to speak, read, aud write
English; to work aud become self.supportng
comfortable and attractive homes out OF scanty
materials teaching the women how to cook the
children, and, most surely teaching all within
reach, in the simplest way, redeeming Christian
truths.
In answer to,these Resolutions" two ladies
have offered themselves as teachers, and will
probably 60 to their fields before long. An
other lady, also from our scity, has very re-
Gently expressed her esire for the work
but has not yet been appointed to any specia
location. Under the advice of Gen. S. G
Armstrong and Maj. ID. M. Riordan, the agen
appointed by the government for this tribe
Navajoes. This is tribe of unusual bright
ness, "and second to none In power and dis
position to improve" The station is at Fort
Defiance in New Mexico.
In no position could 1t be more important
that teacher be peculiarly qualified for q
work. 1t demands q large share Of common
sense, real interest in the work, appreciatinl
the fact that to teach the Indian the great
truths of Christianity it is not necessary tc
begin by attacking his religion. For, low
sunken as he is, he has q religion, to which
all else in his life bends, and which he will
never give up until he feels it is not enough
for him. 1t is only by gaining his confidence
by giving him an example of home life in
cleanliness and order and industry, and
little by little as opportunity arises, planting
in the softened ground The good seed that
the results needed can be secured.
1t would seem as If at first 1t must be
almost essential that not women alone, but
men able to teach the out of door industries,
should enter upon this work. We shall
confdentially hope for such laborers to carry
forward what has now been begun. But t
accomplish it will require money. And her,
comes the serious question: How shall W,
obtain 1t? j. l.. G.