St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-01-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Annual Meeting of the Board of Indian
issi


Commissioners.
Friend Stone: 1t was my privilege
to attend the annual meeting of the
Board of Indian commissioners, in the
parlors of the Riggs House, Washing
ton, on Friday last. Gen. Clinton b.
Fisk (for whom the University in
Nashville was namely is the president
of the board and presided at this
meeting. Reports were received con-
corning the work accomplished at the
various agencies, showing that great
progress has been made in educating
and civilizing the "poOr Indian" In
some places a number of conversions
/ are reported and n general readiness,
or eagerness rather, manifested for the
"messenger with the Book from the
Great Spirit" The report of the work
accomplished in Alaska is simply mar
velous, and the story told by returned
missionary of the Presby terian board
was listened to with rapt atten-
ton. With this the interest seemed to
centre in what DR.. Strictly had to say
about the work accomplished by the
American Missionary Association, and
i'm Gen. Armstrong, the promoter and
organizer of that most wonderful train
ing school, the Hampton Institute. He
was the first or one of the first to dem
onstrate that the Indian can be tanned,
educated and trained to be an Ameri-
can citizen He introduced to the
meeting bright young Indian from
the Omaha tribe, now student at
Hampton, who spoke in a clear, forci-
BILE manner, setting forth the needs and
desires of "my people," He is Chris
tian and is preparing himself to go
back and teach his "people" the way
of civilization and Christianity.
The order of the Tnterior depart
mentn of our government, made last
year, forbidding the use of the Indian
language, or of Bibles or other books
translated into any of the Indian
tongues, to be used in any of the gov
eminent schools, also the mission
schools established, controlled, and
supported by our various missionary
societies, was severely criticized and
condemned. 1t was decided by the
Board of Indian commissioners to wait
upon the new Secretary of the Interior,
Gen. Villas, first, to establish, it posi-
BILE pleasant relations between the
Board and the Department, and then
upon the commissioner, Mr.. Atkins, to
lay the facts before him concerning the
great damage his order has done, in
closing up already about twenty hith-
erto prosperous schools, and induce
him if possible to change his order.
On Saturday as an invited guest, |
ACCOMPANIED the Board, some ten or
twelve in all, to Mr.. Villas Office where
we were very cordially received. Gen.
Fisk briefly stated the object of the
visit and introduced DIR. Strictly, who
more fully set forth the work in hand,
speaking of the very pleasant relations
which had existed in the past, and ex-
pressed the hope that it might continue
under the new administration. (Mr.
Villas succeeds Mr.. Lamar and enters
Upon the duties of his office today.)
Mr. Villas replied in quite lengthy
address, and gave NEST hearty assn
rance of his warm sympathy in the
work of the Board, and that it should
be his aim to appoint none as Indian
agents but honest, faithful and efficient
men, and who would work in harmony
with the Board. The visit was very
satisfactory.
A committee then waited upon Com
missioner Atkins, who met them very
cordially. To make the matter brief,
the committee were very successful in
inducing Mr.. Atkins then and there to
pen an order revokiDg the one issued
last year, so far as it pertains to any
schools, or educational or religious
work carried on by any of the religious
or missionary societies. This is great
triumph and one that will be hailed
with Joy by all who are interested in
the work among the Indians. This
will re open the schools closed by the
former order, and send joy to the hearts
of the laborers in the field. The new
order will be published as soon as GER
tain formalties, called here cred tape"
are gone through with. This no doubt
would have been done before had it
not been for the dread a superior has
of "sitting down" upon subordinate.
1t S, ems that Mr.. Atkins has been sick
for some time and has had aff1iction in
the loss of his wife, and has been alb
sent much of the time from his Office,
and this first order was made by clerk
in his absence-Of course over the
signature. The clerk
was not il sympathy with Christian
work. Yours truly, F.F
Washington, d. c., Jan. is, '9o.