The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-19
WITH MORGAN.
Open Rupture Between the Indian
Commissioner and the Cath
Ollie Bureau.
His Opposition to the Contract
School System at the Bot
tom of It.
Justification OF His Action Made to the
President-Sugnr Production in This
Country.

IEoblucuU-SukhF III luIS
Country.
WASHINGTON, July 18.-In letter to
Father Chappelle, vice president of the
Catholic missions bureau, giving the rea-
sons which influenced his action in no
longer making contracts with that bureau,
Indian Commissioner Morgan says: "On
upon my present duties / expressed
my preference for the government rather
than the contract system as being in har-
mony with the American idea of education
by means of public schools. At the same
time | stated that schools maintained by
the government for the education of In
iians should be strictly non-sectarian and
and, further, that the ap-
propriatlon of funds to sectarian institu-
tions was. in my opinion, contrary to the
spirit if not the letter, of the constitution,
and opposed to public policy. My position
on the question was violently assaled by
your bureau. False charges were preferred
against me, and most determined but
futile efforts made to prevent my eontirma-
tion and to secure my displacement Those
in your employ in the field, and others in
stigatcd apparently by the attitude of the
bureau, have endeavored, directly or in
directly, to hinder the efforts of the gov
ernment in its benetcent work of educat-
ing and civilizing the Indians through its
own appropriate means.
''These Influences, emanating from your
own bureau, have been, in some respects at
least, hurtful and it is certainly not its
fault that government schools have not
been crippled or even destroyed. While
drawing hundreds of thousands of dollars
of government funds to build up and sus-
tain mission schools under your charge,
your bureau has thrown the whole weight
of its influence against the government
upon whose bounty it subsisted."
Under date of July =, Father Chappelle,
vice. president of the bureau of Catholic
Indian missions, replied to Morgan, assert.
ing that each and every member of the bu-
reau declaredsthat he has no knowledge of
any kind relative to newspaper articles re-
Hecting on the commissioner. The article
was later discussed in the presence of Mr..
German, an employe of the bureau and the
person alleged to have inspired it, and the
conclusion was reached that no member or
employe of the bureau had a right to make
such assault upon the Indian office or any
other public office. German thereupon re-.
signed his position in the bureau. In con-
clusion Father Chappelle says the policy of
congress as understood by the bureau is
in perfect harmony with the objects of the
Indian bureau, to wit, to aid i'll perfecting
the system of education among Indians in
augurated by President Grant when he es-
tablished his celebrated peace policy.
The commissioners also received a letter
from Cardinal Gibbons, dated at Cape
May, ill which the cardinal expresses re-
greet at the appearance of the newspaper
article referred to, as he says he is very
much opposed to personal attacks of this
character. Referring to Commissioner
Morgan'S announced determination to
sever relations between the Indian office
and the bureau, the cardinal submits that
this is a very grave step, and one. he fears,
that will be fraught with much embarrass-
ment and productive of discord and
trouble. The ca dinal trusts the commits
sioner will reconsider the matter and con-
clude to continue the relations heretofore
existing with the bureau.
July 10 the commissioner sent another let
ter to Father Chappelle, in which he saws he
SECS no reason for modification of his act. He
adds "Your assurance that the
efforts efforts Of your bureau in the
future will be as in the past they have
been, to cordially cooperate in harmony in
every proper manner with the Indian office,
is little too suggestive and promises any
thing but friendly relations. If | had read
Director STEPHENS official letter of April %,
prior to my interview with you, that inter
view, notwithstanding my sincere desire for
friendly cooperation with your bureau,
would never hive been sought, and while
that letter remains in the files of this office
without apology, and Stephens remains
officially connected with your bureau, any
official relations between it and this office
will be by courtesy and not by right. have
already signed several contracts with Gath
olic schools, which are apparently glad to
enter into the new order of things"
In replying to the letter from Cardinal
Gibbons, the commissioner SAWS the brief
and summary statements of his two letters
to the bureau can give but n faint idea of
the enormity of the ofenses of the bureau.
continued through nearly two vears-of-
fenses which have been patiently endured
until forbenrance is no longer VII tue.
The commissioner says the position that
the bureau ls not to be held responsible for
the action of its employees or attaches. un-
less those actions are officially indorsed by
it. IS not considered tenable by the
bureau in declaring that the private
grievances of officials should not in any
case be allowed to stand i'll the way of the
due administration of business entrusted TO
their charge will hardly stand the test of
reason Assaults upon him personally
could hardly have been pleasing. but when
they went forth under the sanction of n
great bureau styling itself Christian some
of them embodied i'll on official communion
tion to the United States senate, thew can.
not be regarded as merely triiiing PERSONAL
tiles. Many of them were laid before the
president by the committee of bishops and
made the basis of a demand for the removal
of the commissioners of Indian affairs.
The commissioner insists that he has
been mallciOuslv miSrepreSentel and mis-