Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-02-27
PLAIN T.1LK,
A Fort Yates Correspondent Scores Faith Ell
Craft and Comes to the Defense of In.
dian Commissioner Morgan,

malicious attack made on Commissioner
Morgan by a Catholic priest, Father Craft,
through the press of the country, is a dis
grace not only to Father Craft. whose mis-
sion Ought to be peace and good will, in
stead of stirring up religious strife and
bigOtry, but also TO the Catholics of the
United States as well. for their press is al.
ways open to publish his articles. The
Catholics and their press are not so much
to blame, because they are ignorant on this
ticles as truth. SO, as a Roman Catholic,
who loves his religion for the sake OF his
own soul, and not, like very many who are
trying to breed religious strife, for the sake
OF dollars and cents or to work off their ha-
tired and bile on Mr.. Morgan. l will make a
few statements OF which know something
about. When Mr.. Morgan was appointed
by the president. the Catholic bureau made
a hard fight to prevent his confirmation.
They used all means in their power, even
to assall his character and war record to
defeat his combinations; but they got badly
left. He was confirmed and is ignorant to
this day that, while the Catholic bureau and
press were working against him, others.
just as good Catholics, were working for
him. Such was the fact, your correspond
ent being among the number. And why
was all this done? Simply because MI.
Morgan was a Fr 'testant minister and was
going to make some radical changes in the
oSioOi oJceSlu dulOIIS VIC 1lluldllS, anu IL
was for this very reason and no other that
those Catholics helped Mr.. Morgan to be
confirmed.
Now it may not have been Just the right
thing for Mr.. Harrison to have appointed
a Protestant minister to the Indian com.
missionership, but Mr.. Harrison had the
right to appoint whom he pleased and at
some future time some other president
may appoint a Catholic priest for the same
position. What will the Catholics have
to say then when the Protestant press
will villify their man? Can they Justly
say they do not deserve 1t.
Now, do not wish to say any:
never had occasion to write against a
priest before and | only do so now to ell
tighten my fellow Catholics upon the adj
mlnistratiOn OF General Morgan. | know
the fair minded Catholics will believe me
when say | am a working man with no
object in saying a good word for Mr.. Nor
gan, but because will never see a wrong
| gan has made the best Indian commits
sioner we have ever had and | have
known them all during the past sixteen
years. He is not a politician; nor did he
accept the position for the salary attached,
but for the purpose of being in a position
to help the Indians and as far as in his
power he has nobly done 81.
The appropriation bill did not pass last
year until September, put the Indians did
not miss an issue of ratiOnS by the DELAY
AS MI. Morgan instructed his agents in al
vance TO purchase supplies in open market.
He also instructed his agents to purchase
all the beef cattle the Indians had, at con-
own freight to haul at double the figures it
could be delivered by contractors, and in
this way he has given them hundreds of
thousands OF dOllars which used to go to
outside parties and was a total loss to the
Indians. Maybe this is the reason he is
making himself enemies. Well, it certain
~ is for the benefit of the Indians, and |
know myself that Mr.. Morgan has appoint
ed Roman Catholic school teachers to
positions in the service. not, | suppose, be-
cause of their religious belief, but because
OF their efficiency, and the great radical
changes he was going to make in the
schools he did not0 carry out, am sorry
ter SO violent an attack by the Catholics or
that lie was handicapped by Secretary No
bic. | believe the latter was the case.
But OF all reforms most needed in the In
dian service, the reform in the educational
department ought to be the first on the list,
as our present system is only a farce: but
At this time L 40 not wish to say anything
upon this subject, only to say Mr.. Morgan
is not responsible for it. Ii anyone replies
to this, | will then explain to your readers
what | mean, and | believe they will be
sorry to have called out the explanation.
| hope, for the sake of charity and good
will and also for the sake of our holy re-
ligiOn, those grOundless ISLANDERS on Mr..
Morgan will cease. l am as ready to stand
up for my religion az any man; but it must
be for the right, and l now ask the protest
ant citizens of the country to believe that
one bigoted priest does not constitute the
expression of the Roman Catholics of
America, for no more liberal sect exists TO-,
day for fairness in all things and for good
will toward all men than the Roman Cath
Ole. Although abused of times by bigOts
themselves, yet they do not hold all prot
estants responsible for this; but are always
ready to forgive, and now: as Mr.. Morgan
is doing his utmost for the welfare of the
Indians, he should have the support
he has. He occupies a very thankless po-
Sition, a. he has to stand the blame of
everything which may happen to the
Indian. He is even held responsible for
the failure OF crops mon them, for their
own cursed, lazy habits. tor this present
Messiah craze, and a hundred and one
others equally as absurd. He is doing all
the appropriation. Congress is then re-
sponsible, but no one blames congress.
Some members of congress hold the COM
missioner respOnaible-the Ones probably
who voted to cut down his estimate for the
year. Mr.. Morgan has enough to do to at.
tend to the affairs of his office, without
being bothered by the press. He has
nc time to reply to the attack made upon
him. He knows he is innocent. because
they dare not bring charges against him,
which is proof that it is all buncombe and
IS done for al object, and that object is
malice, and unworthy of a Catholic priest,
who is supposed to be a representative of
Jesus Christ here below. So wishing good
will TO all and malice toward none l re-
remain, Your humble servant.
A ROMAN CATHOIlC.
Fort Yates, n. D., Feb. q.