New-York tribune., 1886-04-03
THE RIGHTS OF INDIANS.
SEEKING TO AWAKEN PUBLIC FEELING
LARGE MEETING IN ASSOCIATION HALL - DIR.
HALL, BISHOP POTTER AND OTHERS HEARD.

|
desire 70 atone in some for the wrong which
these poor people have suffered at the hands OF civilized
Americans met last evening in Association Hall. lstensd
to interesting addresses the subject and finally adopt
cd unanimously set Of resolutions, which will be for
warded President and the Secretary OF the Inter-
ior In tho movement which found expression In last
nights meeting Mrs John Jacob AstOr has borne lead
ing part. large and enthusiastic audience which
hlcd nall bore witness the energy which she has
shown in the work The object OF the meeting to
expression public opinion the Indian question
and As far possible TO turn public opinion IN the
proper channels The resolutions were extremely
cOmmitta feared that TO advocate beforehand
any particular plan for improving the condition Of tho
Indians might mar the harmony OF the meeting. Tho
resolutions therefore, simply expressed the deep inter-
et OF those present in the condition Of the Indan tribes
and their desre the OF whatever legislation
will improve this condition. The resolutions, however,
explicitly ndorsed the plan which has so often been
urged OF giving lands TO the Indians seyeraty Tho
general OF tho speeches favor Of the
mondations contained in the Presdents message whero
a commission is suggested consist OF six members
three OF them to be Army otbcers To this commission
President would give supervision OF In dian Affairs,
instructng them report IN what lands could
advantageousy be gisen to families in severalty; in
what cases the tribes fitted to receive the rghts ot
citizenship and how reservations could be consolidated
or diminished IN size.
| The President himself sent letter expressing his
sympathy with the objects OF the meeting letter was
alsO read from George William Curtis who hal been
asked to preside but whose health prevented him from
doing. On the wall back OF the platform hung
large sign bearing the following sentence. which well
expressed the sentiments Of those present: The con-
OF the people demands that the Indians within
boundaries shall bs fay and honestly treated tho
wards OF tho Government" Among those who sat on tho
platform were Judge Charles r. DAILY, Bishop Henry
c. Potter DIR. John Hall, DR.. william NJ TAYLOR,
Herbert Welsh, Chauncey VI. Depcw. Dr. Orrnston
Francis c. Barlow. Dr. Macarthur. Judge Lawrence
o.. f,,lI,, ain of fHtlla
school ana f. HopkIn'on smith Among Others present
EdWar oot nii hoa ami Daniel huntington Bshp Pot:
ter proposed Judge DAILY as chairman ahd D II Ill pro
posed f. HOpknson smith rs secretary or the meeting
Both were elected In opening the meeting e1-Chef
Justice Dily sand:
We are to consider the question Of humane gov
eminent for the Indians The Indian question has at
tracted attention for century. but without receiving
ought to preserve tribal that they dis
nct people, idle dangerous and vicious and that there
fore they ought TO he removed far possible from
hannts of civilization. But We forget what hss been
our conduct in contests with the Indians t har often
been characterized by the most brutal cruelty me re-
suit Of this policy has been to maintain constant sts
prove their condition tn condition OF he settlers
whom they The qucs ston suggests t-ef whether
could not have absorbed the Indians "a other peoples
We been by their conquerors Ihs wouhi have Deen
easy. at the time OF the settlement OF TINS Govrrnnent
their numbers small compared TO our three mill
ions But the instinct OF the Anslo-saxon race with re-
gard to the Indians has been to push them nrh rwrrt
civilization. II there not examples 10 the con-
tary We might conclnd. hat TINS tr atment Is lnsy %
%,f and more human policy succeeds Canad. mas com
paratIvey little trouble with the Indians. Mexico has
civilized ouehilf of her Indians
Justice DAILY then introduced Bishop Henry C. Potter.
who moved the following resolutions:
stThat this assembly lamens pas apathy and %ron; IN
OF tue indian tribes aud emphasizes the ob
Eaop %ptn rh b f ae isHn rx Of c 1ensao
-hat ms a. Sc ably recon benevolent efforts
on Tejocss in the gr by
sye II" A%n' c 90 saaSs @Sn p F ito hr % Vare oa -
and htted = give aem lands IN seye'a,y y 9' noy "
mena 1ns% o Hs soci 'q fd rishfs tse 10
naa s h caGaa 81 TOT resident Of the
| states ana the secretary o. tie Interior
Bishop Potter aisJ read the letter from Mr' Curts'
who egreted his inability attend but rejocei that
there was stroug public sentiment In favor lustc- to
the Indians which allowed the hope that the selfish pol
icy of the United states with regard 10 the Indians
throughout been Characterized as Century
of snonor" would soon be reversed The Bishop next
read this letter from President Cevel'nd:
| EXECUTIVE MANSION wAsHISGroS March 81, lSs'.
DEAR MADAM Ihase cove your INVITA- ion 20 nteha IA
s %oe nsr a2SSnCilg more Sr@ pcy tn government
% % the e 1%s tS accept 9s SnT % but from
Of my 4so o he Ts paat S dcat
question which ha' the az enio1 am Ok
tod" Good results ttend the simple cont mrlaoa
tion na ana bsve there mmsae ;es
all sire-he civilization OF the Indian anu his mVest'
rHe aursiion m seems 10 me- What the most
eici Mt which can now be adopted me at n fe
OF aud adhere to ne per
r YOUR invitation the seting and the ,sp,ny ot Your
TO Ms JOHN j. AsroR Ne'c York
After reading these letters Bishop Potter saii
The Indian, by his preoceupancy was the rishtfa!
owner Of this country Now ne !, without rTH @ eacspt
that he should he pn upon precisely the same level as
Just as it is afforded chdren In the public schools.
so that when he comes TO manhood he may
anG" and be %'" defended from the wrongs 4
is asked where the warrant IN of the b or
for any policy by the Government is 10 be found
m4nt has been made first OF all the direction
educating MIN oMsS GsSon mora Of tsI"s n
precisely as you and are trusted The
good ass winch 6e i have BEEN driven
OF them by process as cruel as mas oeeh persist
ent.
tions He thought that the educational work At II amp
ton and Carlisle showed what cyillzng Influences could
10 for the Indians, demonstrating that Indians are
capable OF rising the dignity OF citizenship and appre-
ciating Its responsibilities.
Dr. John Hall next introduced. Ho said in sub
stance:
| LADIES AND GENTITMEN: came but lately to this
country ami hence ought not to speak OF our early his
tory But since have been here. have experienced
40 much Kindness that feel a legitimate desire to
ond these resolutions and call upon you az 70 JON IN
trying ameOrae the condition OF these Indian tribes
There were two ace with which we Americans have
had deal and to which long denied the rights ot
ciElLeshp. Inc question ol nus
sett ed al au enormous cost blood and lhs
terrible experience should be admOntion 10 US that
onr Ontnued enslavrment OF the other may lead
| To- similar result These Indian tribes originally
The friends OF the settlers they ed from
fathers such treatment that they finally ready 70
themselves with the enemies OF the Unite states
when the struggle eame with the moTher iuIry Aud
this was natural. Had the Indians been permitted
intarminglr with the whites they might have been
civilized by such contact But the legislation OF tho
Colonles limited the Intercourse between tho Indians
the coonst TO the FUR traie. thus driving the RED
into woods. cutting them of from schools aad
looming them TO continued oarOarism =,
Now to brief. have three suggestions to make In
secondiug these First, 10 the East have
no reason self for present humane
feeugs nor for blaming too much the conducs
OF the white the West for the practices OF which
the white guilty III the West are no
worse than those Of winch ones fathers were gully
Int EIsf Sfuin = mlrh