Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-08
THE ANNUAL INDIAN CIVILIZATION.
Meeting Of the Beard Of Indian Commis-
sioaers Regime.

MeconS OF the hooru q ln0Aan Comunte-
sioaers Regime.
LARGE NusBKR OF PERSONS rxrKRnsrRD N rm
EDUCATION AND cHnisrIAxrxISo OF THE RID
MEN PREsxxr-DNY xARxEsr SPEECHES MADE,
TELLING or GOOD WORK ALREADY DONE
The animal meeting of the board u Indian
commissioners was held this morning at 10
O'Clock in the parlors OF The Riggs House. The
meeting was really . conference between the
commissioners and the various missionary
boards that have workers in the Indian field.
When President Merrill e. Gates, who sue
ceeded Gen. Clinton b Fiske - president Of
the board, called the meeting 70 order there
was large attendance Of prominent people
who are interested in the Indian question.
THE ATTENDANCE.
The following members Of the board were
present: President Merrill z. Gates, president
| of Amherst Colleges Gen. E. whittlesey, score
tary. District Of Columbia; Vim. McMichacl,
New York: Joseph T. Jacobs Michigan, and
Hon. Philip @. Garrett, Philadelphia.
large number Of others were present
among them Senator Dawes, Hon. and Mrs. N.
u. Cutcheon, the commissioner Of Indian affairs
and Mrs. Morgan. Hon. Hmm Price, DIR. Rush
X. Shipper, Miss Grace Howard. missionary to
Cook. Miss Kate Foote, president washington
branch women's National Indian Asso-
ciation; Mrs R. S. Quinton, Rev.
Charles H. Small, Rev. B. n. Seymour,
7. @. Butler, chaplain, United States navy; Miss
Josephine NJ. Chester; Chas. w. Shelton, finan-
cial secretary Indian mission Of the American
Missionary Association. Birmingham, Conn.,;
Joshua w. Davis, vice president Boston Indian
| citizenship committee; Herbert Welsh, CORE
spending secretary Indian Rights Asso-
citation, Philadelphia; C. c. Painter, agent
of Indian Rights ASSOCIATION; J. w. Chick
ering, Rev. Geo. II. Corey, Rev. Dr. Hamlin,
Rev. DR.. Bartlett, Jos. ]. Janney, chairman
committee on Indian affairs, Baltimore yearly
meeting Society Of Friends; VIM, Wood, Levi
K. Brown, Mr.. T. W. Blackburn, chief of edu-
cation division, Indian Office, and Mrs. Black
burn; Rev. s. NJ. Newman, Mrs. J. c. Kinney,
president Connecticut Indian Association; Miss
Alice c. Fletcher, agent Indian bureau; Rev.
]. 8. Wynkoop. DR.. and Mrs. Craighead, Miss
Craighead and Rev. C. C. McCabe, secretary
N. E. Missionary Society, New York.
SENATOR DAWES TALK.
Senator Dawes was the first speaker Of the
| morning session. He said that it was q vital
question for the American people to settle
whether they would make of the Indian popu-
lation 100000 homeless, worthless, vagabond
tramps, or like number Of able, respectable
and self-sustaining citizens. He told Of what
had been done and is doing in Congress
In the matter, and expressed himself Is strongly
opposed to the proposed transfer Of the Indians
from the care of the Interior Department to
the army. He did not think that the army
could properly care for the training and teach
ing OF the Indians nor look out for their in
terests as ought to be done.
GEN. CUTcHEoN BELIEVES IN SCHOOLS.
Gen. Cutcheon in an address supported the
present system of eastern schools, Hampton,
Carlisle, &C., and thought that the Indian chill
dren should be brought as closely possible
into contact with the best civilization of the
east and sent back home as missionaries to
their own people in the west.
We ought not to expect the Indians to be-
come civilized all at once. As well place part
ridge eggs under a setting hen and expect her
to hatch out chickens as to expect the Indians
to become civilized in a single generation after
brief acquaintanceship with white teachers
and agents. 1t took centuries for the white
people to emerge into the full light of cviliza-
ton and we should not ask too much Of the
Indian.
PRESIDENT GATES SPEECH.
President Gates in his speech to the meeting
referred at length to the recent lamentable
conflict at Wounded Knee" He told of one
Indian who was picked up on the battlefield
with bullet in his heart. The ball had gone
through tract in the warrior pocket entitled
the kingdom of God has come nigh thee"
This was the true secret of the work with the
Indians, to bring the kingdom of God nigh to
them. In the excitement Of the present troub-
les we should not lose ourselves in a gust Of
passion and forget reason, because a
carried away by fanaticism and the
belief that they have been deceived
In the promises made them, have rushed into
battle. The Indians are as worthy of care at
tention and Christian charity nov they we're
three months ago. Gen. Grant had recognized
the necessity for the aid of the religious
bodies in civilizing the Indian and SO called
into being this system Of conferences between
the commissioners and representatives of the
religious denominations that have missionaries
in the field engaged in church and school
work.
DIR. M'vICKAR's VISITS.
Rev. DR.. N. Macvickar Of the Baptist Home
Missionary Society told of the work Of that or
ganization and Of the visits he had made to the
schools and missions in the Indian territory.
He thought, after years of experience as a
teacher, that the proper foundation for the
education OF the Indian ID the study of the
Bible and its teachings.
He was opposed to the education of the In
are the dominant feature in Indian life now and
the Indians can be reached through them
alone.
MISSIONARY WORK IN DAKOTA.
DR.. Strictly of the Congregational American
Missionary Association told of the work in Da-
kota along the line of the present disturbances.
The missionary school at Rosebud agency has
been broken up, as well MS the schools near Fort
Sully and Fort Yates. Among the native police
who went to arrest Sitting Bull was
Little Eagle, one of the deacons of the
church. He regretted that the order to
arrest Sitting Bull came on Sunday.
as it prevented him from going to church
Little Eagle had son, Harry Little Eagle. a
remarkably pious boy,:swho recently died On
his death bed the boy prayed that the Lord
would keep plenty of work for him above for
he had SO little time to labor here.
This remark converted the father and made
Of that Indian thorough Christian man. Lit
tie Eagle was killed in attempting to arrest Sit
ting Bull.
In referring TO the present troubles in Da-
kota President Gates said that the reluctance
of the older chiefs and warriors to Weld to the
advances of civilization is the fundamental
factor in the present trouble, aided by the
ghost idea and the charges they make of lack
Of good faith. As to the results of this war
he said that the missionaries are all hopeful
and thought that If there Is no lack of faith
and energy the schools and missionary work
would continue with renewed life.
The representative of the Episcopal Church
Missions, Rev. DR.. w. &. Langford, said that
the present difficulties did not arise from any
mere change Of agents, but was the recoil Of
the Indians and their protest agains the form
aXvorvcr1