The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-08

hats worn by all the most civilized leaders
Of fashion quite beautiful though the wear
ers Of course have no doubt that they
are 20.
The indiana Of Montana, 1 presume, speak
in more than one tongue2
Yes. they speak eight different languages.
The difference is one not merely of dialects,
but OF language, 80 that the priest has to
compose prayers and. catechisms. diction-
aries and Rrammars as he learned them
from the mouths Of the Indians.
Your clergy and the means of education
are, no doubt, being increased?
Yes. When went to Montana IN 1888
there were only three secular priests and
eight Jesuits there. Now we have eleven
secular priests and seventeen Jesuits.
now there are seventeen. There were four
hospitals; now there are six. There was
then merely one mission with schools
for Indians; now there are i've,
and besides the schools .
number Of churches have been erected.
There are $50 children at school amongst
the Flatheads, ITO amongst the Blackfeet,
40 amongst the Gros Ventres and Asina-
boies, $50 amongst the Crows, and fifty
amongst the Cheyennes. We have also our
schools amongst the white population. who
number altogether close on 200, 600, about
one-eiehth of them being Catholics.
Do you get any aid from the American
dams?
We receive aid for our schools when We
carry on the work of education at a cheaper
rate than others. That is the only shape in
which we receive assistance in civilizing the
Indians.
Much has been written Of the cruelty
shown towards the Indians by officials Of
ports true?
am glad you touched on that point, be-
cause wish to give my opinion on it. As q
rule, the government itself endeavors to be
justy but ! must say that az q rule the
agents It employs have been unjust towards
is very often looked upon as Synonymous
with that of road agent-that is, the man
who calls upon the traveller to stand and de-
liver. The POPULATION and dishonesty of
agents have frequently been the cause
Of outbreaks amongst the Indians.
misappropriations Of an agent were the
cause Of zoo Blackfeet dying Of starvation
in Montana. But know also that when
the Cheyennes were in state of famine,
and made an appeal through the governor
to the government at Washington, an i'm
sl1, 600 for the relief Of the Cheyennes.
Are the Indians, when converted, good
Catholics?
Decidedly. They recognize and acknovl-
edge the necessity of authority in spiritual
matters, and have the greatest confidence
in the priest. For instance, Old Wolf,
chief of the Cheyennes, who is just now
under instruction, told me that though all
others deceived him, he knew the priest
never would. His word" said he, lis
as firm and steadfast as the everlasting
mountain, which is the same to our fathers
and to u.s."
The number Of the Indians in America is,
it is said, rather rapidly diminishing.
Yes, from some cause or other the Indian
population of America is rather rapidly di-
minishing, yet great deal of good may be
done amongst them. Even in the interior
of the country there are thousands of In
dians who ought to be rescued from barha-
rism and made Christian. But men aud
means are necessary to be able to carry on
the work.
As to the white Catholics in your diocese,
they, no doubt. are genetous in supporting
the missions amongst the Indian brethren?
That is So. As rules our Catholics in
Montana are live CATHOLICS, who are ready
to make sacrifices Tor their religion. We
have got good mixture of Europeans, in
Guiding large and fine class of 1rishmen
who, in Montana as in every other land, are
proud of their faith and their country.