The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-10-10
OUR INDIAN SCHOOLS.
A Free Discussion of the Red MA,

= Nv .a"tnSssOh VI INC kkfu NAH.
LAKE MoHoNK, October 9Th,
committee reported to-day from tn,
business committee. the platform
recommended Yesterday. aud an-
nounced that in It's modified form. h
had received the unanimous approve
OF the committee. A general di sous
sion of the different points
OF tho platform was then COM
menced. IL was opened by DIR.
Lyman Abbott who touched on the
question of setting aside evil. He
said: mo one desired TO break any
treaties, the breaking of which
would bring him profit, but If we
have made contracts that are work
ing injury to others bad promise H.
better broken than kept. lie is
never right to do wrong, not even II
you have agreed to do wrong. IL a
tr'aly 10 found to require wrong
doing 1t should be laid aside. If we
have tied milestone around the neck
of an Indian by treaty cord
1t should be our first duty
to cut the cord.' DIR. Abbott
spoke also of the evil of the reserya-
ton system, as blocking all c.viliza.
ton and urged its speedy abolition.
Mr.. John Hobert, superintendent of
Indian schools, under Secretary La
mar, responded to call upon him.
His address had reference to the man.
agcment of Indian educational affairs,
under the present administration.
He said Senator Dawes and DIR. Alb
bolt were approaching the same point
from opposite directions. The sena-
tor would do good by waiting and
keeping his word, while the doctor
would keep faith, by waiting and
not keeping his word, but each
sincerely desired to benefit the
red man. On entering office
as n democrat he found the educa.
tional interest of the country pro-
crossing, but under no system.
There were various kinds of schools,
OH the reservations and of, but the
teachers had not, as rule, been
selected for their fitness, but rather
to help tho agent piece out his salary,
or for political reasons. The agent
could make his wife and daughter
teachers or his son farmer, or
could make appointments to please
hho VI tuG IiltlIlDtE
congress, he has received his APP
pointment from. "How" was asked
was this to be remedied."
Fortunately he had entered tho office
under civil-servic administration,
and he could not remove teacher
because he was republican, but
when vacancy occurs because of
resignation, death, or offensive parti-
sanship, no proposed to appoint a
competent democrat. His policy was
to make no removals because of poll
tics but ever SO many removals for
inefiiciency. He had not made many
changes, but II Is new administra.
ton, and he proposed to thoroughly
change the old plans by which the
whole business had been controlled
by party politics, and he knew that
the conference would be graft
fed that hereafter, for the first
time, they could rejoice In the
separation of work OF Indian edu-
cation from politics. After good
teachers he proposed to secure pupils
by compelling the heads of families
TO send their children to school or
lose their rations. He did not think
much of teaching boys trades which
they could not utilize. After educa
ting the boys he suggested teaching
them cattle raising and allowing them
to contract with white men 10 take
herds on their reservations and re-
turn them when called for. All the
work on reservations ought to be
done by Indians. He also favored as
sisting them to raise cattle for them
selves.
Oberly said In conclusion: 81 hope
to make some radical changes, for |
believe that only through the school.
house can the Indian be led into the
light of civilization The address
was punctuated with frequent ap-
plause, and at Its conclusion the new
superintendent received warm words
of praise for his avowed policy, from
General Armstrong. Commissioner
McMichael and Senator Dawes. The
resolutions were then adopted unani-
mously.
Honorable Erastus Brooks of
fcrred resolutions concerning the
death of Mrs. Helen Hunt Jackson,
tributes were paid to her memory
and TO her work In behalf Of the In
dlans, and resolutions were un-
animously adopted.
On motion of Mr.. Obcrly the presi.
dent Of the conference was authoriz-
cd to appoint q committee of five
gentlemen and four ladies who
should prepare an address in which
the resolutions in relation 10 the
Indian cause should be incorporated 10
DO presented TO president Cleveland