Morning journal and courier., 1888-03-02
INDIAN RIGHTS Association.


Annual Meeting of the New Haven
Branch-Address by Secretary Her
bert welsh of the National AssocIa-
tioB.
The annual meeting of the New Haven
branch of the Indian Rights association was
held in the Center church chapel last night,
Rev. DR.. Smyth presiding. The following
officers were elected: President, Rev. DR..
Newman Smyth; vice president, Prof. VIM.
H, Brewer; secretary, s. A. Galpin; treasur-
er, Samuel Lord; executive committee, f..
Wsyland GFellowes, Prof. 81. w. Farnam,
George N. oFox, A. B. Hill, II. F. Tyler, Rev.
William Butrick and Prof. VIM. K. Town
send.
Herbert Welsh of Philadelphia, secretary
Of the National Indian Rights association, was
introduced and spoke at some length. He
said the association believes that the Indians
can be raised up to the level of the white
man and it is that which gives the association
an incentive to go ahead with its work
through success and failure. There is an
other powerful incentive-public sentiment.
This keeps up the spirits of the association
The government is slow in its action this
question. When you see an Indian who has
| reached manhood and in whom sense OF the
immortal soul has been instilled it makes up
| for all diseouragement. You of the Indian
Rights association find that you have a po-
tency which is magical in its effects.
| Mr.. Welsh told about the work he did in
behalf of the association in the matter of
| the confinement of Indians at Port Marion
/ in St. Augustine, where they had been sent
1 in direct violation to what the government
| officials at Washington had promised. He
| secured the facts in the case and laid them
before the officials. The matter was consid-
/ cred in cabinet meeting and the Indians
/ were rehearsed.
'tThis shows the power of small society
Il and also shows the character of our organi-
cation. The Indians were doing nothing,
and the great thought before us is that the
Indian is q man, and that simply for the
| government to feed him rations and not let
| him do any work for himself is very unwise,
and should not be tolerated. There is noth-
ing Of greater Importance than civil service
reform in behalf of the Indians. We have
| sixty Indian agents, and under each there are
blacksmiths, school teachers merchants, ply
sicians ETC. What we ask is that these shall
| be of good character and efficient. We ask
| that some reasonable test be made to show
the past record of these agents and what their
capabilities are. This is the essence of the
reform we ask These agents are appointed
by political men. The agent in Washington
feels he is under obligations to some relatives
or friends, who are Glamoring for the appoint
ment of their relatives and friends. And
what is the resuIt2 Men who are unfit to be
agents are appointed Take your own city
for instance, where a man WHO had been con
victed in your courts was appointed an agent
It took us five months to secure his removal
| We had to make two efforts in that direc-
l,Iion, for the first time the government
officials dismissed the facts, and the
second time made an excuse that
they wanted to give the man chance to re-
form. The government does nothing toward
helping us out in this matter. 1 have inves
tigated cases and signed my name to the facts
sent to the officials, but no notice would bt
taken of the matter I have visited the Pres
ident, and he admitted that many of the ap
pointments were unfortunate, and he would
thereafter be personally responsible for these
| appointments. Why, agents have been ap
pointed who have been addicted to the use
1 of liquor, and some of them could not ever
write.
GIN Southern California the indians wert
driven out of their villages, and the matter
was taken to the courts. The United States
government was appealed to, but it said il
had no money to give to help the Indians tc
defend their rights. We raised the money
but in the lower court the Indians we're beat
en-. In the Superior court it has been differ
ent, for in the last week I have received 6
telegram to the effect that the Indians were
victorious. This decision is far reaching in
l us result. 1t Is OF interest TO QumDSrl0Ss
Indians, for the real estate agents
were determined to drive the Indians out OF
their homes. In all the West the pressure
for the removal of the Indians is great and
we have to fight against large odds. 1t is
by facts that we are able to maintain our po-
sition and show that the government is moi
doing the right thing by the Indians. The
great question Is, shall the people stand by
the Dawes bill by which the Indians are tc
work and make homes for themselves Back
of all this is our belief in moral truths OF
Christianity, and through these we have
reached the Indians. He learns of civiliza
ton through the missionary Moral pripci.
pie among them is the all important point
don't see how we are to do this work I'm,
less the spirit of Christ nerves us on. It is
grand opportunity and an enormous re-
sponsibility. Think of their personality anG
their individual lives and that these are
placed in your hands, three hundred thou
sand who generally know nothing about
Christianity and have seen nothing but muir
der and ravages. Let us press our organiza
ton in every direction and add new mem
bers. We want twenty thousand dollars
year to carry on this work. Last year We
got ten thousand dollars, and four years age
one thousand dollars. These investigations
should be made in every reservation and tn.
appeals for right made in Washington"