New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-25
THEINDIAN BUREAUS WORK
AN ABLE AND INTELLIGENT ADMINlSTKA'
TON.
WARM PRAISE FOR COMMISSIONER MohoA"
FROM Mr.. HERBERT WELSH
d Tr

Nforran Of Indian Affairs and the ouilooA
under his management for Indian educauo" -
civilization. General Morgan entered upon Ms 90
on July l, 1889. RE has been, therefore, !" O"'
four months-too short time to chaplo W" "a
predict with any certainty the results which hs ~
ninis,ration will secure but sufficiently long 10 Oh.
title a careful observer TO speak with precision Va
the policy of the Commissioner. and of the aphV o.
viGor which have already marked us ~ 49,.
For many years before his entrance upon pubic 'I md
era Morgan took deep interest In lnuiah 'a' che
in all humane and wise efforts for the elevation Oh %
Indian from a baIbarOus 10 a civilized cohul''
has taken pains TO keep himself thoroughly iniorin
not only of The wrongs which the Indians have s
fered resulting from the ignorance or neglect VI
Government in the past. but OF such Pfa0"
measures as were best adapted to meet iutufo
cies He has therefore, had an excellent preiln'. 49,
training TO fit him for the responsibilities VIM VIM -
greatly increased public interest in Indian atars no
already laid upon the shoulders of those 10 "noH
official care of the Indian IS committed b.
General Morgan is in entire sympathy with inc 10
lief that the Indian Bureau should be nfted ou' ~
what Is populary called politics that s," -,
which appointment TO office Is primarily ue'e'' and
Marty service, and secondariy py chaIaO -
efficiency The spois system has peoh III. ',,,l
curse of the service in the past, ana 'ne - en-
source of its plumbers, IT'S wasteiuihess an1
efficiency That the present Commissioner shou'u no.
cor his face against making appointments anu
novals I'm those places under his control Tor any ~
right reasons should be cause for conei 10
among all friends Of the Indians ana shou'' .I.do
them a unit in his support. In vie" ol NE 49,, On
in This matter It is TO be regretted that OIL! w n
ro,ntment Of school employees and minor oHeoi' "
, rsorratlons has been entrusted TO him. While wv
cboice Of Indian Agents and Inspectors Ies's W."
s,,ncrior authority Undivided responsibility Jul ~
appolntment of all Government ofiicaiS uPo" .,
reservations would greatly increase uho on'0" -,
the service Within the sphere OF MS au'"D
General Morgan has proved the sincerity Vi MS -,
fessions or reform by the rules which ne mas
rerarding the selection of teachers in the Inuia'
-hooIe musicians farmers and other emploSO
rt have been publicly noticed before this, anu i'h
,ora-1 securing TO the service none but eho'o
employees and preventing Pa'l'a" 49, T.,
But the great hope for the future ol ' -.
dian TO which General Morgans ahmihiS.r". -
10 "a his scheme for the education OF all liu'@'
-. Tho unsvstematic and incOherent efforts Vi
mo- (.ovsrnment in this fundamental work have lo"s
| -, +ho cause Of deep regret to laborers LOT Iuu'a
! civilization Ii was clear 10 all mat Il i Pa
.acoto : 600 or 1000 Indian children, it would pay
| still better 10 educate the entire NUMBER lo ouu'
! less than the whole extravasant economy 49,.
The work however, has been done hl.nof~
| ,oorlv and partially, because public sentiment mas
20, boon strnup enough TO elicit sufficient approprls-
/ ,i - money from Congress; because the schooi
| cmpIoyes appointed under the spells system VI Sp
polntment were, the whole, ta'lsi'oIE "iO ~
! trained body: and because no commissioner V"ms
also TO the spoils system') has been long e'oueH
in Office 10 digest prepare, and carry OUT sSs'oH
Of education suited to the needs OF the lhuiah' Uo"
eral Morgan who has been fitted for 1t by his long
raining I'm connection With the public schools h4s
| botb prepared and presented 10 the pubic such
! cbcnc first A. Mohonk and afterv ard through ue
| wide medium OF the press. The Commissioner pAa
aims to give the blessings OF cducaton Chrl'uah anu
Industrial to all Indian children VINO can DC proutH
! t,it a., reacb and Il, solve the Indian problem BY
tho ONLY practicable mcans-educail"h- 10 CoHi"'
tho futre by educating the present generation Ills
! cbeme will ask from Congress only sufficient money
| IN meet the necessities of the wOrk-probaby not
more than s4OO for new school buildings, S1oooO
for renairs of old buildings SO 600 for supervision,
- 800 600 for maintenance. In the execution OF
such a scheme for the education OF Indian children
the sympathy and assistance Of all religious bodies
Protestant and Catholic, could he enlisted 1t should
be the channel through which the enlightened charity
Of the Nation should flow bless poor and scattered
people whom II has driven hitherto by past injustice
/ into an attitude Of sullen resistance.
The Commissioners scheme is not chimerical, but
practical II is 50 far as the peculiar needs Of the
! Indian service permit. in harmony with the plan OF
popuar education known as public school system,
but it differs from that i'll far as 1t will permit
| fhat religious instruction which public school
system does not provide since in the case Of white
children hmc training presuPpOses ~ to be given
| 10 the Indian. The door will be open for each
| Christian body TO carry its Interpretation OF the
Gospel for the spiritual enlightenment Of the Indian
child and for the exercise Of that Christian charity
which is usually the most persuasive exponent Of
| creed.
To one who has impartially and patiently followed
| the course of events in the solution Of the Indian
robem for nearly decade past, the administration of
Indian affairs by the present Commissioner seems full
| If hope 1t promises n0n-partisah ana I'M
partial management Of the service; the elevation OF
the Bureau from the low plane OF political dlchcr ana
| horter 10 the rank of an institution with dtgnihed
philantbropic aims and thorough business manage
ment 1t promises 10 unite the unofficial friends Of
he Indians in comI act body in cordial relations and
| co-operation with the Government. and earnestly
striving side by side with it TO accomplish nope
result lor TIE good Of humanity and the honor Of
| the National name As evidence Of the i'm
partially Of this testimony to General Morgan and 10
| the prospects Of his Indian management 1t may De
well to state that the writer OF this letter was t9e
| author and prosecutor Of effort last winter TO
secure on account Of official merit the retention Of his
| Democratic predecessor in Office.
IL is necessary 10 make allusion 10 the threatened
| opposition 10 General Morgans confirmation from
two entirely separate reported by the news
papers 1t is said that the confirmation Of General
Morgan will be opposed by certain Senators because
| he has refused TO make appointments III the Ihu4in
service az their dicatiOn, but has Insisted upon
selecting persons for given places upon his own
Judgment OF their fitness II the charge be true II Is
/ whence that I'm this regard General Morgan j. inc
| nan for the place and should be confirmed IN H..
he second accusation. which is serious j. ulat INC
| Commissioner has dismissed from the Indian oeFNr'
Roman Catholics because OF their faith When ms
ruiAOr came 10 my ears last summer wrote al ohcc
| 10 Cardinal Gibbons, asking whether u we're true
aud stating that If it were the Indian Rights Asp
citation would oppose such policy a. hostile 70 tne
American theory of government subsequent cafelul
investigation convinced me that the charge was uh,
| founded. / can best answer IL by quoting 6cnerdi
Nlorgan's statement: ] have not dismissed any one
from the Indian service for either religious or political
reasons. Every dismissal has been made for cause
and the records Of the Office will show for what cause
| What consideration has been shown the Roman
| Catholic Church during the present admnislrallol
| NAV be gathered from the fact that, accOulht 10
official reports under the contract school system ueS
have this year received Sj5O.49l ont of a tOtai
L - HlL iIn NO I