The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-04-04
FATHER CRAFTS ADVICE.

FATHER CRAFTS ADVICE.
Rev. Father Francis Craft who was
wounded in the battle of Wounded
Knee during the recent Indian troubles,
has written letter to a friend in Prov
idence. r. L. in which he points out the
danger OF more serious trouble unless
the Indians are placed under control OF
the war department. The good priest
who has administered to the wants Of
these poor Indians for many years. de-
plOres the present ruinous and un.
just system which. he says, will sobn-
er or later result in another out
break. His own words Will tell the
story, and we will give an extract from
the letter in question: LAS the case
stands now. the cause of the trouble
still exists and the Indians and whites
are at the mercy of any rascal who
finds it to his interest to annoy and en-
danger them. The only thing that
stands in the way Of speedy and per-
manent settlement Of all difficulties bV
an immediate transfer OF the Indians to
the war department, is the desire of
politicians to retain the plumber, AS
those politicians arc In our power, we
American citizens should use that DOW
er to turn them out of the offices they
have abused to our loss and disgrace
With the people rests the remedy and
on them remains the blame it they will
not bestlr themselves. Every word that
[ have said for the past year has been
verified and more than verified. and l
think it is now time for Americans to
say what they are going to do. The
American people are responsible If
they fail to act at once. for evils that
will certainly follow, Heaven grant
that may not DOW be making another
prediction, to be lightly disregarded
and terribly verified. 1t the Indians
are not to be transferred to the war de
partment, but are 10 be further robbed
and abused, / suppose l. must prepare
for another dose OF lead and ste6l,
which will, hope, be more effective
than the last. am heartily sick and
tired of witnessing mlserles that Can
not correct. aud sharing the suffering
of the unfortunate Indians and brave
soldiers who are forced into conflict
and then slandered by the cowardly
politicians who slaughtered Them
Never were truer words spoken than
those Of Father Graft, No Vne eau dc.
nv, in fact every one admits, that
with Che indian agents and their allies
rests the responsibility of our Indian
troubles. These agents receive enough
froln the government every year to feed
and clothe all the Indians under their
charge, but do they do it? NO; they
rob the Indians OF what Ia rightfully
theirs, and the country at large ia much
incensed against those men whenever
the Indians demand redress. AS Faith
er Craft says tho people could remedy
The Evil if they wished. but they do not
We believe with Father Graft that the
proper place for the Indians is under
the protecting wing OF the war depart
ment where hungry agents cannot steal
their allowances. The people Of South
Dakota could do d great deal towards
settling this vexed question ii thew
would petition President Harrison to
remove tie agents and instruct tho Sec
rotary OF war to assume supervision OF
the red man. South Dakota got some
very unsavory advertising last fall, and
it would be much to tha states credit
if it should take the Initiative, land force
some action in this matter. There is
no question about the unsettled cOndi-
ton of the Indians, and, like Father
Craft, we believe it is only matter Of q
short time when there will be another
uprising. Lot the President remove the
plundering politicians aud all will be
we'll. We hope Father Crafts words Of
warning will not fall on deaf ears,