The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-19

wAsrrVGToN. July 1S.-CommissioHer
MORGAN has received letter from Father
CbaDpell. vice president Of the bureau OF
Catholic missions, in reply to that sent py
the commissioner giving notice tnaC Ihe
Indian office declines to enter into further
contracts with the bureau for the educa-
t;or of Indian children. The letter says
that the officers of the bureau requested
nersonaI interview with the commissioner,
and that be replied that he would receive
a communication in writing, but that he
failed TO see that anything would be ac-
complished by personal interview. Inc
letter then says, IN effect, that the pureaCi tHl
expresses its deep regret that heretofore
nuhlic officer should decline to hold per
sonal interview with persons having I'M
rortant public business TO transact. IL
saws that each and every mem Der OF tue
bureau declares that he had no knowledge
relative to the newspaper article rei1ectlng
on the commissioner, which the latter hdu
said emanated from the bureau.
The letter calls the attention OF the com
missioner TO the previous harmonious re-
lations always existing between the
bureau and the Indian Office, and says
that this is the first instance 10 Whlch
the commission has felt called upon 70
deny that friendly relations between III
and the bureau do exist. But the bureau
IS of the opinion that the causes alleged
TO exist by the commissioner as reasons
for his intention to sever the heretofore eX-
listing relations are chiefly, If not entirely,
of personal character on the part OF the
commissioner, and that there does not eA-
list any valid cause TO substantially sever
official relations. In conclusion the letter
saws that the bureau respectfully submits
TO the commissioner that the policy ot
ronpress-as il understands the same TO
be from its last Indian appropriation act
is in perfect harmony with the obJecC
of the creation Of this bureau and It's due
organization under the laws OF congress.
The commissioner also received letter,
dated July II. from Cardinal Gibbons, in
which the latter expresses regret at the
appearance Of the newspaper article re
ferred to, as he SAYS he is much opposed to
personal attacks of this character The
cardinal continues:
81 am not acquainted with the author
of the article, who was an employe OF the
Catholic bureau, but whose connection
Herewith is ! am advised, in deference TO
your wish. now ended. | regret the pub
fication all the more, since ] understand
that prior to its appearance an agreement
had been reached whereby mutually
friendly relations were apparently insured
between vour Office aud the Catholic bu-
reau, and that following its appearance
you had deemed it proper 10 announce a
discrimination TO completely sever rela-
tions between your Office and that bureau
7,v declining to enter into contracts with
ct for the education Of Indian children.
This, ] submit, is very grave step,
and one, I fear. which will be frauGht
with much embarrassment for all con-
cerned for the great and necessary work
of educating our Indian wards, and result
iii many complications aud conditions that
can he productive only OF discord and
trouble. l am clearly of the opinion that
st viii be a mistake to carry out your in
terticn. and therefore trust that you will
reconsider the matter and conclude 20 CON
tinue the relations heretofore existing be
tween your Office and the Catholic
bureau
The commissioner, on July -. sent an
other letter to Father Chappelle, III
answer to the latter's letter, in which he
says that he has given Father Chappelle's
letter serious consideration and sees no
reason for anv modification of his act. The
commissioners letter, in concluding, says
ALLOW ne to say further shat If had
read Stephens' offensive official letter of
April % prior TO the interview with you,
that interview, Notwithstanding my very
sincere desire for friendly cooperation
with your bureau, would have never have
been sought, and that while that letter re
mains in the files of this office without an
apology, apd he remains officially con-
nected with your bureau, any official rela-
tions between il and this Office will be by
courtesy and not by right. ! have already
signed several contracts with Catholic
schools, which are apparently glad to en-
ter into the new order OF things"
Replying to the letter from Cardinal
Gibbons, Commissioner Morgan says that
the proposition that the bureau is not to
TO he held responsible for the action of its
employees or attaches unless those actions
are officially endorsed by il, Is not con-
sidered tenable, and tho position of the
bureau in declaring that private griev-
ances of officials should not be allowed TO
stand in the way &C thedue administration
of public business entrusted to their
charge, VIII hardly stand the test of re-
vision" The assaults upon his personal
character could, he says, have hardly boen
pleasant; but when they went forth
under the sanction Cf a great bureau
they certainly cannot be regarded
as merely triting personalities, personal
grievances. Many of them were laid be-
fore the president and made the basis for
the removal Of the commissioner OF Indian
affairs" The commissioner says he had
never the slightest antipathv toward
Catholics lie j. prepared, as a govern
mCnt official, 10 submit his administra-
tion of affairs to the closest scrutiny. and
TO bear with eQuanimity the misrepre-
sentations inseparable from public life.
but he says that he cannot be expected TO
maintain harmonious relations with a
great bureau subsistlng upon the bounty
of the government whose work il antac-
Onized and misrepresented and whose
officers il DETAINED.