The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-23
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Pension for Deafness.


The original bill introduced by Senator Harri-
son, No. 1104, was $50 per month for total deaf
ness in both ears and $50 for total deafness in
one ear, and severe in the other, approaching
total If the officials of the Pension Office admit
that total deafness is quite as much of
a disability as the loss of an arm
or leg. why do they make the difference in the
rating! The rating for the loss of an arm be-
| low the elbow is $50 per month, and above the
elbow $50 per month, the same for the loss of
| leg below or above the knee. Why this injustice
and discriminating when they admit of the same
disability in total deafness and amputated cases?
L am unable to wheco the fairness and
equity of the rate comes in. if the total loss of
hearing is much of disa5ilityas the loss of an
| arm or leg, let the lawmakers be fair and give
| the same rating to the totally deaf l would
much rather be deprived of the loss of both legs
| than TO be In my present condition-tOtally deaf.
With malice towards none. but let justice be
done to those who are equally deserving.
| WALLACE FOSTER,
| Late CAPTAIN Thirteenth Indiana Volunteers,
totally deaf.
To Washington and the Old North State.
70 the Editor of the indianapolis JournaI
Washington even during recess has a contin-
| ual succession of interesting events. The In
| dian question is constantly coming to the front
! in new dress Men and women are distinct
| lively divided in their opinions about what is the
best way to treat the question. Captain Pratt
of Carlisle, sustained by the Indian Rights AS
ISOLATION (chieAy woman's. organization with
| headquarters in Philadelphia), advocates the
| policy of recognizing the rights of the Indian
to be awarded full citizenship, with all its moral
| and political obligations. at once, and that we
| should treat him as we do the emigrant from
| Europe. Give him lands set him to work, and
| put him at once upon self e1ertion for support.
| The Indian Protection Association. with he ad
! quarters at Washington, say: Not so; regard
| him as ward of the government keep the
white man away from him, except the agent and
missionary, give him instruction in industry and
| schools. leave treaties unbroken, award a home
| to each family, assign him and his family sufi-
cheney of lands. and let him work out an order of
| Indian civilization the best he
l think we do best to keep in the middle of
| the road" Give the Indian ample assignment of
| land for him and his, furnish him with imple
ments of labor, make all his real estate not nego
| table to whites for generation at least, sell
| such lands as he cannot use, and fund the pro-
| ceeds for educational purposes-treat him fairly
| and honestly, give him ADEQUATE judicial tribu-
| mails for his protection. affix adequate penalties
| for the eDcroachments of bad whites
and intoxicating drinks, sustain within the
| bands good industrial schools, and give
| adequate aid for building churches and press
him earnestly forward in industrial pursuits and
| put him into public service fast he can
| show fitness for it, and he will become white
man on the speediest line
| 1t may be asked how can we set aside treaties
| honestlyR My answer is in the same way
| guardian makes sale Of the lands of his ward;
| submitting the desirabity of such sale to the
| court, and, If 1t is found best the sale is Cr-
| dered. The people of 1867 may have more
| wisdom and sagacty, and understand the in
terests of the Indian better than the people that
made the treaties years ago. Treat the Indian
1
people like the Indian should be treated. Make
both equal before the law, and the
problem is solved. Wards cannot sell
| lands till they are Of age, nor
then, if they are incompetent to do business.
So let us treat the Indian, doing Justly and low
| ing mercy. The Superintendent of Indian Edu
| cation, in the Indian Bureau at Washington,
| was chosen for his fitness for the place by
| President Cleveland He has filed the place of
| Superintendent of Public Instruction in the
| State OF New York, and is evidently we'll ac-
| quainted with the theory and practice of mod
ern school work. He is DESTROYS to press for
| ward the interests of Indian schools. His work
| is large and difficult The life and future
of a race depends on whaS is done for them in
| this and the next generation.
! While in Washington l had the pleasure of
| witnessing the arrival of William Booth, the
| General of the Salvation Army He 10 tall
/ somewhat slender, unique man of great mag
| netic force His appeals earnest, pointed,
| logical, evangelic in faith, and accompanied
| with as comic gestures and action John B.
| Cough. and more oddly and ouaintness than
| Lorenzo Dow. The scarlet vest military cap.
| and brass band, with drum and great variety
| of martial music, gives strain to the mind to
| reconcile his appliances to reach the unsaved
| with the teachings. precepts and life of the
| Prince of Peace But when we see the
| earnestness, devotion and solemnitv of
| his fellow-workers, is ready to rejoice
| if people can be saved by even such appliances
| as he is pleased to use He seems very sure the
| ohalia uipp Mill he ID NkDr;~
tianity and his people Will have a large share in
! the work.
Taking the IL p NJ. train for Carolina found
myself ready for breakfast at Danville, Va, and
| reached Greensborough at 10 A. NJ, where | re-
manned Sabbath till next morning train.
| and had very entertaining visit at Friends
Academy, at New Garden, which is under the
superintendency of Prof Joseph Moore, formerly
of Earlham College 1t near the battle-ground
| of Green and CORVALLIS, one hundred years
| ago. TIE old Friends yearly meeting house was
| a hospital for the wounded, and the dead were
| buried In their graveyard. A large mound
| under an oak still shows where friends and foes
| found common resting place under the same
| sod when the strife of battle was ended Next
| afternoon took me over the Blue Ridge by rail
| to Asheville. About twenty-five miles east of the
| city we come to the Mountain Hotel, where
| fountain, under pressure of six hundred feet of
| water. sends its column of spray upward about
| one hundred feet. The road here, by very in
| genlous engineering over trestles and through
| tunnels takes nine miles with short curves and
grade of one hundred and fifty feet to the mile,
to make three. Passing SHOWN the Ducktown
| road to Charleston we must go over the Balsom
| noun tains. one mile high. The grade is here
237 feet per mile, and, I am told, the highest
| railroad pass in America. The entire length of
this road is in the midst of wild. lnountanou
| country, along valleys, precipices, through tun-
| nels, seeking valuable forests iron, copper,
gold. lead and mica, and other minerals of
| value
| found the Eastarn training and dav schools
| in excellent condition and all rejoiced to see me-
| These Indian children the most loving crea-
/ lures have ever met with when once they know
| you are their friends The girls and boys are
| ready and cheerful in their work, whatever is as
| signed them. They obedient and learn quite
as readily white children. 1t takes time to
teach them our language and modes of thought
| A teacher succeeds only by patience and perse-