The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-04
REV. DIR. ouNNINauAM


Defends Ills Friend, the Rev, j, sheldon
jackson, OF Alaska,
TOthe Editor fhs Iaielgmetr.
sR;-0ne Of your reporters having had
an interview with Mr., George R, Tingle,
the United States Treasury Agent in
charge OF the seal fisheries on St, Paul
Island, Alaska, made the following state.
ment IN your, yayer Yesterday:
mt, Tingla proposes while here to
right some evils That have existed in the
way Of tmpositions on the Government,
Il he can, There lisa man in Alaska. j,
Sheldon Jackson, by name, who has pro-
ylded "soft snap" for himself and some
friends by getting an appropriation Of
S45 OOO passed through Congress for the
Alaskan Educational BuFeau"-a big
sum and big name for practically
nothing, except to give Jackson and
srlends good salaries and enable them to
live In q country whero they can work
some seal operations on the sly. OaeOt
JaCkson's friends, Parker by name, sent
there as q teacher, only has two pupils
and they are his children, ono OF whom
is baby. He will cost the Government
about 81 200 this year, The natives are
controlled by the Greek, Catholic Church,
add will have nothing to do with the
teachers sent out by this Government.
Mr. Tlngle has already interested several
CongTessmen in this matter"
wish to correct a false and injurious
impression which tho above statement
win give In regard TO one OF the noblPst
and best men living, The man, Sheldon
Jackson, mentioned, is Rev, Sheldon Jack
son, D, D., one OF the most useful minis
ters Of the Presbyterian church, and his
name and character are without stain
among his Christian brethren in this
country, He is y member OF the Presby-
terry Of Alaska, and his address Ia Sitka,
and he has done more for the good OF the
people OF that country than any other, or
Rll other men put together. tits a SLAM
der to say that "hO has provided soft
snap for himself and some friends by get
ting an appropriation Of $4,000 passed
through Congress for the Alaskan Educa-
ttonal Bureau'-a big sum and big name
for practically nothing, except to give
jackson and friends good salaries and en-
able them 10 live In Il country where they
can work some seal operations on the sly"
Dr.. jackson is there as q missionary OF
the Presbyterian church, and ne does
nothing ION the sly" He Is not that kind
Of man. l have known him intimately
since We were boys together in the ACad.
emy, and his church has confidence In
him and In the prosecution OF the great
work Of enucaIion and eyangelizAtion in
Alaska.
There is not word OF truth in the as.
gertlon, zone Of JaCkson's friends, Parker
by name, sent there as a teacher, only has
two pupils and they are his children, one
OF whom ls baby" The public and the
country may rest assured that Rev. Dr..
Jackson Is no party to such business. l
am familiar with his work, and the work
oil our missionaries and teachers there,
and l know that the Government In
Washington Ia grateful TO him for the in
formation he has given sbout that dis
tant territory aud the assistance he has
rendered in establishing educational in
stitutions. He Is not there as an adven.
turer, nor for "the oaves and fishes" but
he Is there as philanthropist, and a
Christian minister, lAborlng for the tenn
poral aud spiritual welfare OF the native
people OF that territory now under the su-
pervision OF the Governmento OF the United
States, would no more think OF attribu.
ting sinister and unworthy motives to
him than to Rev, DR.. Mcclure or Rev.
Mr.. Swope, Of our own city. The fact Ia
that he and the missionaries there have
been "a terror to evil doers," and this Is
the secret OF the enmity against them.
The Government Of the United States
might rejoice to have dozen more such
men of sterling principles in Alaska as
Rev. DR.. Sheldon Jackson.
DAVID A. CUNNINGHAM.
Wheeling, West Va, Sept 8. 1856.