The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-19

ZatiOn uiuer TIC laws OIL Congress tO-Wtt:
Aid In per.ecting system OF education
among the Indians as heretofore duly in
eugurated by that great soldier. pure,
patriotic and true friend of the Indian and
whose practical experience IN Indian man.
agement was great, President Grant, when
he established his celebrated peace policy
in which, at his official invitation. the
friends and founders of this bureau have
been Jealous co-laborers for the twenty
years last past.
CARDINAL GIBBONS CHAGRINKD.
The Commissioner also received o letter
dated Cape May, n. j., May Is. from Cardi-
nal Gibbons. in which the latter expresses
regret at the appearance of the newspaper
article referred to. as he says he is very
much opposed to personal attacks of this
character. The Cardinal continues:
II am not acquainted with the author of
the article. tho was an emplOye OF the
Catholic bureau. but whose connection
therewieh is, 1 am advised. in Difference to
lication of this article all the more. since
understand that. prior to its appearance.
an agreement had been reached whereby
mutual friendly relations were APP
aud the Catholic bureau. of which fact
j learned with much satisfaction-and
that. following it's appearance you had
deemed 1t proper to announce determine
ton to completely sever the relations be-
tween your Office and that bureau by de-
clining to enter into contracts with it for
the education of Indian children. This.
submit. Is very grave step, and one that
l fear will be fraught with much
embarrassment EN- to all concerned IN in
educating our Indian wards, and result in
many complications and conditions that
can be productive only of discOrd and
trouble. am clearly of the opinion that
t,s. vr,tc tyx
tentIon. and. therefore, l trust that you
will reconsider the matter and conclude to
continue the relations heretofore existing
between your Office AID the Catholic
bureau.
From the assurance given by the Cath
olic bureau, feel sure that you will not in
the future regret having complied with
this request. Its desire. as am pleased to
note. is to do everything that is right and
proper to bring about harmony, and for my
self, will say that Will use my influence
TO prevent anyone connected with that bu-
reau INDUCING In attacks upon you or
malev olent or personal character. / had
very pleasant and quite long talk with
the President yesterday. but did rot allude
to the matter"
NO THRILLING MATTER.
In replying to the letter from Cardinal
Gibbons the Commissioner says that the
brief and summary statements of his two
letters to the bureau can give but faint
idea of the enormity of the offenses of
the bureau, continued through nearly two
years, which offenses have been patiently
endured until forbearance is no longer
q virtue. Regarding the matter of the
refusal or personal interview
with the bnreau officers, the Com.
intended. He simply preferred to have all
that was said on the subject in writing. for
which, he SAYS, he gave every opportunity.
! The Commissioner says that the position
that the bureau is not to be held responsible
Tor the action of its employees. or attaches,
unless those actions are officially Endorsed
by 1T, is not considered tenable by the
office, and the position of the bureau, in
declari ing that private grievances Of Off
stand in the way of the due administration
of public business intrusted to their
charge" will hardly stand the test Of rea-
son.
The assaults upon his character could. he
says. have hardly been pleasing, but when
they went forth under the sanction of a
great bureau. styling itself Christian, when
some of them were embodied in an official
communication and sent in the name of
the bureau to the United States Senate
which document lies before me as i write
others hurled at me in an official letter and
all accompanied by severe denuDciaticns
of the entire administration of Indian af-
fairs. they certainly cannot be regarded as
merely trlfiing personalities, personal
grievances, as the bureau is pleased TO call
them. Many of them were LAID before the
President by committee of bishops and
made the basis of demand for the removal
of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs"
The Commissioner insists that be had
been malloiOusly misrepresent ted and misun-s
derstood. He had not and never had the
slightest antipatby towards the Catholics,
friends members of that communion. His
attitude toward the Catholic contract
schools. he insists. Is sufficiently evlnced
By the largely increased amounts conceded
to them for next year. The great advance
in appropriations for Indian educa-
ton. the increased efficiency of the
service. the hearty support &C.
corded his administration by the
President, the Secretary, and the public
generally. the Commissioners says, IL a suf-
ticient refutation of the charges. He is
prepared. he says, as a government official,
to bmit his administration Of the office
to the closest scrutiny. and bear with
equanimity the misrepresentation insepa-
rable from public life; but he says that he
cannot be expected TO maintain harmoni-
Gus relations with great bureau subsist-
ing upon the bounty of the government
whose work it antagonizes and mlsrepre-
sents and whose officers it defames.
HOLDS TO HIS POSITION.
The Commissioner on July Is, sent an
other letter to Father Chappelle, in answer
to the latter's letter OF the Sth inst. in
which he says that he has given Father
Chappelle's letter serious consideration aud
sees no reason for any modification of his
act.
The Commissioners letter continued:
"YOur assurance that the efforts OF your bu-
reau in the future would be as in the past
they have ever been, to cordially cooperate
in harmony in every proper manner with
the Indian Office in it's endeavors. ETC., is q
little too suggestive, and promises anything
but friendly relations. will not enter into
any discussion, at this time. of the several
points of your communication, but wish to
offer an apology for the Inadvertance of the
Z typewriter In using the word president
instead of director when mentioning
overlooked.
ALLOW me to say further that il had
read Mr.. Stephan's offensive official letter
of April 20, prior to the interview with
you. that interview, notwithstanding my
very sincere desire for friendly co-opera-
tion with your bureau. would never have
been sought and that while that letter re-
mains In the files of this Office without
apology, and he remains officially con-
nected with your bureau, any official rela-
tions between it and this office will be by
courtesy and not by right As to this &C.
tion OF originating new causes of contention
can only say that this Office stands ready
to meet them as they may arise. / have al
ready signed several contracts with the
Catholic schools. which are apparently glad
to enter into the new order Of things.
In closing. permit me to say that. although
l, OF course. cannot be cOgnizant OF how
much you may have known personally of
hat huo hnA rnir hnr