The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-19
INDIAN EDUCATION.
DlScOntinuaGGe Of Contracts With The
Catholic Mission Bureau.

rather Chappelle, Nice-PreSident OF the
Catholic Mission Bureau, giving the reasons
which Influence his action in not longer
making contracts with that bureau. Com
missioner Morgan says:
On entering upon my present duties ex-
pressed my preference for the Government
rather than the contract system, a s being more
IN han mopy with the American Idea OF education
by means OF public schools. AT the same time
stated that schools maintained by the Govern
ment for The education OF Indians should be
strictly non sectarian and non. partisan; aud
further, that an appropriation of public funds to
seciarlan institutions was, in my opinion. con-
tTaIy 10 the spirit If no tile letter of the Consti-
lion and opposed TO public policy. My posi-
lion on the question has been violently as
saied by yonr bureau. False charges were
preferred against Inc and the most determined
but futile efforts made 10 prevent my confrma-
lion and 10 secure my displacement. Those in
your employ, In the field and others, inStigated
apparently by the attitude OF the bureau, have
endeavOred, directly or indirectly, to hinder the
efforts of the Government in Its benetcent work
of educating and ctvilizing the Indian through
Its own means. Influences emanating froIu your
bureau have been i'll some respects at least,
hurtfUl, and it is certainly not Its fault II the
Government schools have not been crippled or
even destroyed While drawing hundreds of
thousands OF dollars of Government funds TO
bulld up and sustain he mission schools under
your charge your bureau mas thrown the whole
weight of its influence against the Government,
upon whose bounty IL has subsisted.
REPLY TO MORGAN.
further correspondence was made public
this afternoon. Under date of July Sth
Father Chappelle, Vice-President of the
Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, re-
Piled to Morgan, asserting that each and
every member of the bureau declared that
he has no knowledge OF any kind relative to
the newspaper Article rejecting on the Com
mis- sioner. The article was later discussed
in the presence of MIR. 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 has right to make such an assault
upon the Indian Office or any other public
Office. German thereupon resigned his po-
sition in the bureau. In conclusion, Father
Chappelle says the policy of Congress as
understood by the bureau is in perfect har-
mony with the objects of the bureau, to wit:
To aid in perfecting system of ed ucation
among the Indians. inaugurated by Presi-
dent Grant when he established his cele-
brated peace policy.
LETTER FROM CARDINAL GIBBONS.
The Commis sioner also received letter
from Cardinal Gibbons, dated at Cape May,
in which the Cardinal expresses IegIet at
the appearance Of the newspaper article re-
ferred to, as he says he is very much op-
posed to personal attacks of this character.
Referring to Commissioner Morgan'S an
nouneed determination to sever the relations
existing between the Indian Office aud the
bureau. the Cardinal submits that this Is a
very grave step, and one that he fears will
be fraught with much embarrassment, and
productive of discord and trouble. The
Cardinal trusts the Commissioner will re-
consider the matter and conclude to continue
the relations heretofore existing with the
bureau.
THE NEW ARRANGEMENT.
July 18th the Commissioner sent another
letter to Father Chappelle in which he says
lie sees no reason for any modification of
his act. He adds: "Yonr assurance that
the efforts of your bureau in the future will
be, as in the past they have been, to cordi-
ally Cooperate in securing harmony in every
proper manner with the Indian Office is Il
little too suggestive and promises anything
but friendly relations. ii l had read Di-
rector Stephens offensive official letter OF
April. 29th prior 10 my interview with you
that Interview, notwithstanding my sincere
desire for friendly cooperation with your
bureau, would never have been sought, and
while that letter remains in this Office with
out apology aud Stephens remains officially
connected with your bureau, any official re-
lations between il and this Office will be by
courtesy and not by right 1 have already
signed several contracts with Catholic
schools which are apparently glad to enter
Into the new order of things"
ALLEGED oFFENsEs.
In replying to the letter from Cardina
Gibbons, the Commissioner says that brief
summary Of the statements of his two let
ters to the bureau can give but a faint idea
Of the enormty of the offenses of the bureau
continued through nearly two years /:
offenses which have been patiently endured
until forbearance is no longer virtue. The
Commissioner says the position that the
bureau is not to be held responsible for the
action OF its employees or attaches, unless
those actions are officially indorsed by it, Is
not considered teDable by his Office. and the
position of the bureau in declaring that
- stpriVatp prinyanpps Of officials mt
In any case be allowed to stand in the way of
the due administration of public business
intrusted to their charge" will hardly stand
the test of reason. Assaults upon him per-
sonally could readily have been passed, brt
when they went forth under the sanction of
great bureau, styling itself Christian,
some of them embodied in official commune
cation to the United States Senate, they can
not be regarded as merely triflng person.
alities.
MISREPRESENTED AND misunderstood.
Many OF them were laid before the Presi-
dent by committee OF bishops and made
the basis of a demand for the removal of
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The
Commissioner insists that lie has been ma
liciously misrepresented and misunder-
stood. lie has not now, and never has had,
the slightest antipathy toward the Catho-
lies, and his attitude toward the Catholic
contract schools, he insists, is sufficiently
evinced in the largely increased amounts
conceded for the next year. He is pre-
pared, be SAYS, as a Government official, to
submit his administration of Office to the
closest scrutiny and bear with equanimity
the misrepresentatlonS lnseparable from
public life, but he cannot be expected to
maintain harmonious relations with bu-
reau subslsting upon the bounty OF the Gov
ernment, whose work it autagoniZes and
misrei resents and whose officers it defames.