New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-03
INDIAN CONTRACT SCHOOLS
DISCUSSED AT THE CONFERENCE AT LAKE
MOHONK.
LETTERS FROM GENERAL FRANCIS A. WALKER
AND BISHOP wHIPPLE IN FAVOR OF MAIN
TANNING THE CONTRACT SCHOOL
sYsTEM-THE ADVERSE ARGUMENT.


was made by the Rev. Mr.. Corlldge, an educated
Indian, a. X. Smiley welcomed the guests to tho
seventh annual Mohonk Conference and nominated
General Clinton b. Fisk for president General FISK
on taking the chair expressed his qualification at the
size and character Of the conference. An organization
was perfected by the election OF j. W. DAVIS, OF
Boston, and j. C. Kinney of Hartford as secretaries,
and Augustus Tabor. OF NewYork, as treasurer, and
as a committee on platform the Rev. DIS. Lyman Ao-
bolt j. NJ. Buckley William Hayes Ward. Professor
Francis Wayand, James Wood, Mrs. Sarah l. Kinney
and Miss Katie FoOte The opening addresS was
review Of the progress of the year by General Elisha
whitelesey secretary of the Board of Indian Com
missioners.
The principal paper OF the day was by the Indian
Commissioner Mr.. Morgan. giving the outline OF
what may be regarded as HIS policy. lie declared
that the responsibility for the education OF the Indians
must rest the Nation, and stated that the present
system of Government schools Is capable, under wise
direction of accomplishing all that can be desired
Mr. Morgan said the only instruction he received
from the President TO conduct his Office SO as 10
satisfy the Christian and philanthropc sentiment OF
the country.
He was followed by DIR. Abbott, General Armstrong
General o. o. Howard General John Eaton, late Com
missioner of Education Mrs. Hles, OF Michigan anu
ex-Presldent Hayes Mr.. Hayes closed his speech
by saying O. cannot but hope the day VIII soon
come when that other weaker race-not OF 2ooooo Du
of 6,0OO ,O0O-shall have some such organization as
this to assist it in its efforts to rise TO the stature OF
full American citizenship" The sentiment was
warmly applauded.
At the evening session there was an animated dis
cussIon of Commissioner Morgans paper on education
for Indians especially over the recommendation In IL
that the Government should provide non-sectarlan
education The contract and mission schools were
warmly defended by Herbert WEIGH, Mr.. J. '" DAVIS,
OF Boston, the Rev. DIS. stIeeby ana Hlioert anu
Others The suggestions Of Mr.. Morgan were ably
Of fha
and Or. Lyman Abbott.
Perhaps the most important question before
the conference is that Of socai"d
contract schools 1t was discussed last year VIII
yigor hut some felt that the vote reached was not
satisf ctory expression. The interest is heishtehea
because the Commissioner of Indian Affairs has de
clared his intention only the existing con-
tracts and make no ones, although people are
ready with money TO put up school buildings Tor
Indians, and an average Of only 12,OOO out OF the
10000 red-skinned children OF school age are Eo"
under Instruction. But not only arc contract SCHOOLS
to be limited, but it is understood to Dc the COM
missoner's policy gradually to withdraw Government
aid from them, leaving the churches 10 educate
Indians wholly their own resources, the Goverhmen'
meanwhile TO push purely public schools TIL they
shall do about all the work
Contract schools thus built up ana equipped
with apparatus and teachers by religious societies.
which have the advantage Of entire freedom from
political influence; changes of Administrator mahlhs
no difference whatever thom, though they usually
1evoluonize the Government schools They receive An
annual allowance from the Government ior each
pupil ranging from $I0s 10 $167. They have done
by far the best educational work that has Deeh zone
for Indians. Last year the Roman Catholics drew
from the United States Treasury S347,OOO OF the
$4,000 devoted to church work among hdlahs'
Every denomination Will, henceforth, have fair
chance and now, it Is insisted by their friends
fS he push
as well as Government schools, both equally and
most earnestly While there thirty thousand
little Western savagcs uneducaed they say there can
he no church jealousy; there is only good feeling
among all the workers on the frontier ouarreiing Is
unknown All devoted to the work.
An honest and able argument Is made against con
tract schools on the ground that they Violate 'ie
princple of not giving public aid TO sectaran Schools
II is met by the statement that the Government Is
trustee tho money belonging TO the lullahs nolh 'e
sales of lands and due from rights surlendereu oy te
that aiding contract schools is wholly different rom
aiding sectarian schools In the States; thar as trustee
the Government is bound to give Indians the best
schools that can be found and that one questions
the superiority Of church schemes, with which have
been identified many Of the most noble and DEVOTED
men and women Of the country. 1t Is claimed that
rs guardian the Government IS in duty bound TO
provide religious instruction for its Indian wards as
much as il does for its soldiers and sailors; as the
and asylums. When tho Indian child has had an
American chid's chances in childhood, let him have
the American chd's schooling, and that time will
come by and-by, but now In virtue of the tremendous
disadvantage Of the young Indians. give them the
best influence Dc had, and that IS TO be found In
contract schools.
In connection with this discussion two letters have
been brought to the conference one IS from General
Francis A. Walker, president Of the Boston School Of
Technology, Commissioner of Indian AIalrs, dis
cussng the right duty Of the Government to
contract schools and the other from the veteran mis-
Minnesota, who has by lifelong labor for Indians
won the right to speak for them. General Walkers
Hampton School, and Is as follows;
IL seems clear 10 me that so far as the funds applied
to the education Of Indians under the care Of the GOV
ernment are 10 be considered as rustfunds held by
the Government for their benefit. moneys duo
rellnquished, the Government is bound as trustee TO
use these funds 10 the very best advantage for the
ects stipulated, without any Interior purpose and with
out reference TO any other considerations whatsoever
al thc use III hee uaus TO SuPpPr indian children
better educational result than can be otherwise OBJ
tanned, the Government Is false to its duties as
trustee If it fails TO take that course. No political
considerations, Independent Of the best good Of the
into tho treatment Of the subject. No matter what
objections might exist to the support Of the eetaran
apply to the present case. Even the funds ap-
piled TO the education of Indians obtained wholly by
objections which exist TO the Of public moneys for
the support Of sectarian schools in communities like
ours held here.
The test should apply would be this Does the
Government send Indian children 10 be educated at
these schools for the benefit Of the denominations
maintaining them, or for the good OF the Indian
chidren If the latter is the case seems TO me that
no objection in the nature Of principle applies
education thus given the children distinctly be1ter
than that which they would obtain In agency schools
subject as they are. 70 political control aud to fire,
| qucnt changes Of teachers! On this point / am not
qualified TO speak think you hold that such Is fhe
! case II So the duty Of the Government Is clear
TO appropriate public moneys for establishing and
maintaining sectar.an schools for the sake of having
sectarlan schools, would according 10 nv vay nj
thinking, Dc altogether wrong. 10 make use OF good
| schools already existing and partly maintained nv
| private contributions. even though under sartaran
control involves no departure from sound pripchles