The Press., 1885-02-05
{From Harper's Weekly.) "SELF-CONSTITUTED FRIENDS"

dion Appropriation Bill, denied that the committee had last year neglected the starving Indians in Montana. He said that the total amount asked for had been promptly forwarded to them. The Indian Rights Association, however, states on the 23d of December, 1884, that "so far as we can now gather from Professor Painters personal Investigations, upwards of four hundred of these people died, during the past season, of starvation, owing to the failure of congress to appropriate supplies in time" The correspondent of the New York Tribune gives the details.
 .'The house was fully informed about the destitute condition of the Montana Indians by the indian bureau as early as December 19, 1883, when the reports of Inspector How ard and Agent Armstrong were laid before that bod. Inspector Towards report show led that the Crow Indians would be without beef and bacon after December 20, 1883, and out of four by Februars 16; 1884. The defi- ciency asked for on account of the Crow In- dians alone was $78, 11O For the other Mon tana agencies, to: keep the Indians from starv- ing, an appropriation of $50, 900, was asked on December 1883. It was not until January 23 that" MT. Ellis, from the apl ropriations committee, reported a joint resolution to ap- propriate $a0, GOO. The senate increased the amount to $1O0, ,OOO, and on January 31 the house refused to concur in the amendment. This was done on MT. Ellis's motion, despite the opposition of Delegate Maginnis, ot A,on- tana, who had visited the tribes few months before, and thoroughly understood the neces- sites of the situation. He and MT. Chace of Rhode Island, also pointed out that the de- partment had estimated that sum exceeding $1O0, 900 even would be required to prevent suffering. The disagreement between the fxrn f1ark 1a1o joint resolution did not become law until Februar, S."
 The Indian Rights Association now says that unless prompt steps be taken there is great dangar of a recurrence of this sad state of affairs. MT. Ellis complains tha, gross misrepresentations of his action have been made in an open letter by
 "one Mir. c. C. Painter be ieve member of the Indian Rights Association, one of those self constituted friends of the Indian, coming here, by what credentials I dosnot know, ap- bearing frequently before ths Committee, and urging us to discharge our duty sg
 But MT. Ellis as good American must certainly be aware that 1t is the.s'sef-con- stituted friends of reform who secure them. If great public measures should wait for congress to begin agitation for them, progress would be painfully slow. It was the "self. constituted friends" of emancipation who began the movement which ended in universal freedom in this country, and more recently the "self-con- stitut+d friends" of reform who secured the passage of the civil service reform bill. It is men who think so strongly that Il thing ought to be done that they are will ing to organize and work for it, who cause it to be done. If the ''self-constituted friends" of g wise electoral count law, or of bankrupt law, or of the relief of the federal courts, or of any other important measure, should organize and agitate, tive of the people should sheer at such movements, for they are the truest indica- tors of popular opinion and the national demand. Petitions are but the representa- tions of sself-constituted friends" of the measures demanded.
 It is the common remark of shrewd ob- servers in Washington that the sentiment of the country is not truly reflected in con- gress. It is therefore of the highest inn -pOrtance that congress should be brough constantly in contact with. that opinion by communication with those whose interest, in particular questions and study of them have fitted them to express that opinion and justify it. To regard such citizens as impertinent interlopers is both insolent and foolish, and to sheer at them is as gross an offense as to sheer at petitioners. The Indian Rights Association knows, by personal investigation, the needs of the Indians, and it's suggestions, whether for immediate relief, or special laws, or gen. eral policy, are worthy of the most careful and resp. ctful attention. They are '''self- constituted friends" of the. Indians because the Indians apparently had, no other friends of any kind and the very fact of Mir. Ellis's explanation shows conscious ness. that there is now a public opinion up- on the subjeet-an opinion of which the association is the orgauiztd expression, andssof which congress artag wisely take heed. ., ~,