Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-31
CATHOLICS AND INDIANS.
Archbishop Ireland Confers With Gen. Nor.
gan on the School Question


Archbishop ireland Confers With Gen. Nor
gan on the School Question
Archbishop Ireland Of ST. Paul, Mimi, called
| on Indian Commissioner Morgan yesterday and
had conference with him in regard to the re-
lations between the Indian bureau and the
Catholic Indian schools Owing to friction
between the Indian bureau and the Catholic
board OF missions Gen. Morgan recently de-
cided to sever official relations with that bu-
reau and make contracts directly with the In
dian schools Archbishop Ireland's call on the
commissioner had direct reference 70 this
change. Assistant Commissioner Belt was
present during the conference and took part
in it
The archbishop at the outset said that he did
not see that 1t was important whether the con-
or not.
The commissioner said he was prepared to
in an advance Of not less than $40, 900 for
the Catholic schools over last year, and to con-
year.
The subject Of schools was talked over at
length. One result of the conference was the
preparation by the commissioner for publica-
saon OF the following paragraph:
me commissioner of Indian AFFAIRS has re-
ceaveo absolute and satisfactory assurances
snat no part Of the money received by the
bureau OF Catholic Indian missions from the
government has been used for the expenses OF
the bureau, but that the entire amount SO re-
ceived has been Endorsed over to and used by
shs respective schools
SATISFACTORY TO THE COMMISSIONER.
During the conference Archbishop Ireland
said: "Some Of the papers have been claiming
that BY recognizing the Catholic bureau in any
shape or form the administration would be Civ
Ing to Catholics privileges which il does not
give TO Protestant schools, because Protestant
schools are dealt with directly by the Indian
bureau and Catholic schools would be dealt
with by an intermediary. l must say that the
fact OF having the bureau take hold OF our con-
tracts and deal directly with the schools was .
suggestion OF the government itself under the
old administration. / remember Mr.. Oberly
death by dfty or sixty representatives Of Cath
ollc schools Why can't you have some parties
here that will look after all Of thatr I said:
We have our bureau here. 1t really came
from the government Itself. Al the same time
we took 1t up then willingly, hoping to expedite
matters. VI course, now, when l say this
about the bureau suppose it will continue do
ing its general work. The bureau has no idea
OF dissolving itsef in any form. As to the
signing Of the contracts, that is given up. But
the bureau will continue and look after general
interests ~ sort OF general agent / suppose
If there is any special legislation they would
like they may try as citizens, &C. Or, if there
lie any special difficulty in any place, that they
could remedy all that But the schools will
deal directly with you"
THAT" said the commissioner, sis entirely
satisfactory to me-"
THE COMMISSIONERS ATTITUDE.
The commissioner said: 81 want to say
Just one or two words. In the first place
have not consciously, since 1 have been here
do II
mated against Catholics. In the second place,
have no antipathy to Catholics. In the third
place. if had any personal luminosity would
feel that had no righs as q government Off
cial, representing the people Of the United
States, to use it. In the next place, / believe,
ment schools, and 1 do not believe, as / have
said over and over again, in appropriating pub
lie funds for any church or churches. Now, SO
far as the Catholic schools are concerned, am
only anxious that they should do the work
while they continue to do II for the govern
ment in the best possible way"
Archbishop Ireland-They must do that
The commissioner will help them to that,
and shall be glad at any time to have any
suggestions in the way Of helping them to do
their work better thar they have done it here
toforo. So far as my administration of the
Office is concerned and in dealing with the gov
srnmsnt schools where Catholics are employed
In them, have studiously sought to avoid do
ing anything that would be properly inter-
preted - showing hostility to the Catholic
teachers. On the other hand have kept
many teachers in the public schools who were
Catholics when / would not have kept them had
they been Protestants, and have sought after
Catholics in order that might put them in the
government service. l have recently ap-
pointed Mrs. King, who was teacher at Santa
Fs. 1gave her public school at her request,
and have within the last ten days dismissed q
Protestant teacher from Boston and put in her
stead, at q salary Of so00 per ennum, q Catholic
lady, Mrs. Orr. l am only too anxious to have
Catholics have their share Of the public school
work. want to say for Your information thar
1 was principal Of two large normal schools,
where large proportion Of my pupils were
Catholics. At Providence, at one time, one
fourth, Is per cent, of all my pupils were Cath
olics, and the last work that did as principal
Of the normal school before coming to Wash
ington was to find place for one Of my Cath
ole graduates to teach, and was so xious to
put them in the schools that the superintend-
emit Of schools at Providence said: Morgan, I
think you are very partial to Catholics" lsaid:
These girls were graduated under me and
look out for them"
Some time was taken up with the discussion
Of the details relative to the management Of
several schools conducted by the Catholics