The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-19
THE INDIAN SCHOOLS.
Struggle Between Morgan and
the Catholics Resumed.
GIBBONS AS 4 pEAcEMAkER.
Commissioner Says He Has Been SLAM
dered by Church school bnreau' sna
VIM Have No More Dealings with 1t.

WAsHrrcros crrY, July 1s.-In . letter
70 Father ChappeIie, vice president OF the
Catholic Missions bureau, giving the rea-
sons which influenced his action in break
inc contracts with that bureau, Commits
sioner Morgan says;
On entering upon my present duties ex-
pressed my preference for the government rather
than the contract system, as being more In har-
moay with the American idea OF edueation, oy
means of public schools. At the same time
stated that schools maintained by the govern
nsnt for the education OF Indians should %
strsctly non-sectarIan and non-partisan, and fur
tber that an apSropriation Of public funds to
sectsfiau institution, was In my opinion,
contrary TO the spirit II not the
letter OF the constitution and opposed 10 public
policy. Nv position on this question has been
vfolently ssxeiied By your bureau, false charges
preferred against me, and the most determined
but futile efforts made 70 prevent my confirms
ZION and 70 secure my displacement Those IN
your employ In the field and others, iusdgated
apparently by the attitude Of your bureau, have
endsavored. directly or Indirectly, 20 hinder the
efforts OF the government in its benefcent work
Of educating and civilizing the Indians through
tn own appropriate means. These influences
emanatiug from your bureau become, in some
respects at least hurtful, and ii is certainly not
n fault that the government schools have not
been crippled or even destroyed. While draw
ing hundreds OF thousands of dollars of govern
rnsnt funds TO build up aud sustain the mission
schools under your charge, your bureau has
thrown the whole weight OF It's influence against
the government upon whose bounty II sub
sists.
Further correspondence was made pub
lie this afternoon. Under date of July 3
Father Chappelie replied TO Morgan AS
sorting that each and every member OF
the bureau declared that he has no knowl-
edge of any kind relative to a newspaper
article rejecting on the commissioner.
The article was discussed in the presence
Of Mr. German, an employee of the bureau,
and the person alleged to have inspired it,
and the conclusion reached that no MEM
ber or employe Of the bureau has Alright to
make such an assault upon the Indian
Office or any other public Office; German
thereunon resigned his position in the
bureau. In conclusion Father Chappelle
says that the policy of congress, as under
stood by the bureau, Is In perfect harmony
with the objects of the bureau, to-wit: to
cid In perfecting the system of education
among the Indians as inaugurated by
President Grant when he established his
celebrated peace policy.
The commissioner has also received a
letter from Cardinal Gibbons, dated at
Cape May. in which the cardinal expresses
regret at the appearance of the news
paper article referred to, as he says
he Is very much opposed TO personal
attacks Of this character. Referring to
Commissioner Morgan's announcement of
his determination TO sever the relations
between the Indian Office and the bureau,
the cardinal submits that this is n very
grave step and one, he fears, that will be
ffaught with embarrassment and be pro-
ductivc of discord and trouble. The car
dinal trusts that the commissioner will re-
consider the matter and conclude to con-
'idnue the relations heretofore existing with
A. bureau.
ION July Is the commissioner sent
: nother letter to- Father Chappelle, in
which he says he sees no reason for any
modification of his act. He adds:
The assurance that the efforts of your bureau
IN the future will be a. they have been In the
pest--io cordially cooperate in harmony and in
esery proper manner with the Indian office, Ia a
Elite too suggestive, and promises anything but
friendly relations II l had read Director
Stephens offensive official letter OF April %
prior 10 the Interview with you, that interview,
Notwithstanding my desire for friendly CO.
operation with your bureau, would never have
been sought, and while that letter remains with
ont an apology and Stephen remains officially
connected with your bureau, any transactions
between Us viii be by courtesy aud not by right
have already signed several contracts with
Catholic schools which are apparently glad 10
enter into the new order OF things
In replying to the letter from Cardinal
Gibbons, Morgan says a brief and sum-
mary statement of his two letters to the
bureau can give but faint idea of the
enormity of the ofiense1 of the bureau
continued through nearly two years
oneiises which have been patiently en-
dured until forbearance is no longer a
virtue. The commissioner saws the posi-
ton taken that the bureau is not to be held
responsible for the action of its employees
or attaches unless these actions are Off
cially Endorsed by Ii, is not considered
fenabie by this office. and the position of
the bureau in declaring that "private
grievances OF officials should not in any
case be allowed to stand in the way. of the
due administration of public business en-
trusted to their charge" will hardly stand
the test of reason.
Assaults upon his personal character
could hardly have been pleasant but when
they went forth under the sanction of a
great bureau styling itself Christian, some
OF them embodied in an official communi-
cation to the United States Senate. they
cannot be regarded merely rs triiling per-
sonahnes. Many of them were laid before
the president by committee of bishops,
ana made the basis of a demand for the re-
moFai o. Commissioner Morgan. The
commissioner insists that he has been mis-
represented and misunderstood. lie had
not now aud never had the slightest anti
patty toward the Catholics, and his atti-
tnoe toward the Catholic schools, he in
sists' Is sutacientls eyinced by the largely
increased amounts conceded for the next
year. lie is prepared. as government
official, to sahiait his administration ~ Tho
office to the closest scrutiny and hear
equally the Representations insepsrabIe
from public life. euthe cannot be exnecte6
90 maintain harmonious relations viii
bureau snbsistlng on The hopntv 90 ,ha
government whose work il antaeonizes
and mlsrepresents and whose otliciaIs il
deiames
Bloody Riot on a Plantation.