The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-04-13


Latter PROM pre~ldent cleveland in Reply
10 Resolutions of the Methodist Epi>c"-
pal Church Of i~'hiladrlphin ~ "e1sss'n
% the Instruction ~ sndissss.
wAsHixoTox. AprilA-Prcsident cleve-
land has written the following letter N
respons % resolutions adopted ~ tne
annual conference Of the thodi Epis-
copal Church In Philadelphia last month";
respecting the use Of the Dakota binic'
and teaching native languages IN the IN
dian schools:
wAsnrxoroS. D. q, March - isSS
REV. JAMES NonRow y. D.. fntLApkLf"iA.
PA -Ns NJ y SIR: lhave received rom you
certain resolutions passed AZ the annual con-
ference az the Methodist Epi>copai Shuren'
held n Philadelphia. on tho Nth inst.
am not Informed how 20 address . response
"a the Officers OF the conference, who have
signed these resolutions, and for that reason
transmit my reply 20 you The action taken ~
this assembiage Of Christian men. nns t',"''s
surprised and disappointed me. They declare;
tina: this conference earnestly protests
against the recent action OF the Government n
~ lud,ng the usc Of the native languages = the
education Of the Indians. and especially the cx-
clusion OF tho Dakota Bible among those tribes
where IL was formerly used. That wine an-
hitting that there are advantages IN teachins
English 70 the NAl1N<t W ~
ceive all religious instruction In that languages
would practically hinder their receiving y In
me most effective way. The line Of power
travels with the human heart, and the heart OF
the Indian Is In his language. That u y IN mar
mony With the genius OF our counsry-a trcc
Church in q free S~tate-thnt the operations o.
al missionary societies should DC untfa"He'ee
BY State interference
The rules OF the Indian Bureau upon the SUD
tcct r,fcrrci n are As follows.
No text books In the yernacular Will DC AZ
loved m any school where children are placed
under contract, or where the Government 9 IN
tributes, In any manner whatever 70 me sup
port OF the school No oral instruction IN tne
yernacular will be allowed a. such schools. Ine
entire curriculum must be In the English Ian
guage.
Z The vernacular may be used In the mis-
sionary schools only for oral instruction N
morals and religion. where II Il deemed 70 DC
an auxiliary 70 the English language IN convey
Inc such instruction, and only native Indian
teachers will be permitted 70 otherwise yea 2
IN any Indian vernacular. and these native
teachers will only be allowed so 10 teach In
schools not supported Ia whole or IN part ~
the Government and at remote points wnere
there are no Government or contract schools
where the English Language - taught.
These native teachers are only allowed 20
teach IN the vernacular. with a view Of reach
ing those Indians who can not have the advan-
taRes OF instruction in English. and SUCH IN
/ s~truction must give way 70 the Engltsh-teacn-
inc schools rs soon rs they are estaolisneo
where the Indians can have access 20 them
A limited theological class OF young men
NAV be ira ned In the yernacular NJ any purely
| missionary school, supported exclusively ~
/ missionary societies. the object being 70 pro
pare them for the ministry, whose suosequens
work shall be ,onfned TO preaching, unless
they are employed - teachers ia remotes set
Elements where English schools Are inacees-
sible.
4 These rules are not intended 70 prevent the
po<session or use by any Indian OF the Bible
published in the vcrnacuiar. but sncn posses
sion oruse shall not interfere with the teach.
ing OF the English language 70 tho extent ana
the manner hcreinbesore directed.
The Government SEE ks In lis managemento OF
the Indians 70 civiiixc them and 70 prepare
7 them for that contact with the world which nee
essarily accompanies civilization Manifestiy
nothing Il more important 10 the Indian rom
this point Of view, than : knowledge OF the
English language. All the efforts Of those nav
ing the matter IN charge tend 20 the ultimate
mixture OF the Indians with our other people.
thus making one community equal in all those
things which pertain 70 American citizenship
mt this ought not 70 be done while the Indians
are entirely ignorant OF the English language
II seems 70 me Il would be . cruel mockery %
send them out into the world without THIS
shield from imposition. and without this weap'
on 20 force their way 70 selfsupport and noe
pendence.
Nothing can Be more consistent. then. than
70 insist upon the teaching OF English IN our
Indian schools. II will not do 70 permit these
wards n the Nation. IN their preparation 20 ~.
come their own masters. 20 indulge n .nsis
barbarous language because u - easier fos
them. or because It pleases them.
The action Of the conference. therefore. SUI,
prises me. n " II they mean 70 protest against
such exclusion ~ Is prescribed in the o YER II
viii ~ obserycd that "text looks in the sernnc
MAR are what are prohibited and "oral ~
struction,' the -entise curriculum must De "
English. These are terms used 70 ueune tnt
Elements az an ordinary secular education, and
40 not refer 70 religious Or moral teacnfnE
Secular teaching u the object Of the ordinar,
M obiertson 70 reading q chapter in IN.
Rihie IN English o. IN Dakotan. u Engl'si
could not be understood a. the daly optnsn,
s.gn,nts a secular schools. II NAV De-. TOO. tina
ire uec OF the words In the vcrnacular may %
sometimes necessary 20 AID In communicasln
4 knowledge OF the English language: nu, w
nee a. the vcrnacuInr N uld not be encouraged
or continued beyond the limit OF such neces-l
~. and the text books" the ',oral instrns
ton. y in . general sense. ara the "currfcuium'
certainly should be IN English.
n missionary schools. moral and religious ~
strucf,on may he given In the vernacniar, e
40 auxiiary to Ene h,,e IN ~ des,raSSilitv ~ som
,rst~uc.ion IN morals and religion Is recof
niycd. the extreme value ~ learning tne -
eiish language IL not lost sight q.
And the provision which follows. tnat ONT
native teachers shall "~othcr~i-e" that - e,
ccrf for moral or religious instruction.b tenc
me vernacular. and only In remote places. an
unffi Covernment or contract schools are ~
sahl1shed. Is In exact keeping with the purnos
n the Government 10 exclude the Inuian inf
onares from schools so far a. y co1s'suef
WITH 4 due regard for the continuance 81 NOR,
and religious teaching In the missionaf
schools. and exccrt in such cases ~ the excl
! sion would result in the entire neglect o. scc'
, lar or other instruction.
Provision Il made IN the rules Tor theolog'ci
training Of young men IN missionary scn"o
, poseessjon and use OF the Bible 20 TAT a.
does mi interfere with the secular Enrlis
t. teachin0 insisted upon II especially secured.
, II can not believe that these rules OF the u
dian bureau were at hand when the resolution
before me were adopted. Ifthey were. I tnln
they we're strangely misunderstood tnougn y
mild admission that there are advantages
, tca.hing English " the Indians Indicate ~
> there n 4 wide difference between those VI
' aDDear cautiously 10 make such m admission
and the many Others interested IN Indian -
= proveueut who deem such teaching the par
!. mount object OF immediate effort
y The rules referred 20 have been modined ~
b changed in their phrascology 20 meet the viev
y or good men who seek 70 aid the Governmel
IN is benevolent intention until Y was ~
= posed their meaning was quite plain ana tne
purpose satisfactory. There need Pc no e.
that n their execution they y II ~ all inferfe
with the plans Of those who sensinly dcsi