The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-12-30
THE INDIAN BUREAU AND THE
CHURCHES.

One of the tests of Democratic interest
in the movement to keep church and
State wide apart will be made under the
coming administration in the treatment
of the indian Bureau. General Harri-
sons administration found the Indian
Bureau in a bad condition, much priest
ridden and its means largely diverted to
sectarian control. 1t leaves the Bureau
very near to being perfectly Independent
Of any church or sect, for most of the In
dian schools will soon be non-priest-
ridden, and the entire Indian admins
tration will be taken out of politics and
wrenched from the grasp of bosses, trick
sters and spectators. In short, it has
put the Indian Department into line
with the best thought concerning it. But
to do so it had to antagonize
churches and make bitter enemies of the
men who profit out of Indian affairs.
Very soon, under the impetus given the
movement by General Harrison's adj
ministration, the Government appropria-
tons to Indian schools maintained bv
religious societies will be withdrawn, as
the Government schools are prepared to
take the place of such sectarian schools
if the religious bodies do not maintain
them wholly out of their own funds.
AT a recent meeting of the American
Missionary Society of Hartford the BODY
became so convinced that the bond be-
tween the Government and the Indian
church schools would be severed that it
voted to turn to other sources than the
Government for the support needed. But
this result was not attained until long
and acrimonious debate had been in
dulged in, which ended with the passage
Of these resolutions:
WHEREAS. The system known as contract
schools" in connection with Indian work is
open to very serious abuse: and whereas Gov
eminent schools have now reached position
as 10 equipment, methods and efficiency
where the common school education among
the Indians may he safely and advisedlv in.
trusted 10 them; therefore
RcSOtced, That public money extended jpon
the education OF Indians ought to be expended
exclusively by Government officers upon
Government schools.
ReSotUed, That the practice OF apDropriatiDo
publlc money for the support Of sectarian
schools among Indians ought hencef0rth to
cease.
In this connection. it is but fair to saw
that the Baptist and Methodist Churches
have never accepted any Government
money in support of their work among
American Indians, and that since the
agitation began of abolition of Gov
eminent aid, the Presbyterian General
Assembly, May %, 1892. and the Episco
pal Convention, October 10, 1892, voted to
decline to receive Government aid in
connection with Indian schools. They
will not discontinue mission work
among Indians, nor does any one ask
any such abandonment, but for such
work the church must hereafter look to
other than Government sources.
1t is here well to call attention to the
fact that under President Hayes the pol
icy was inaugurated of subduing the In
dams by education and industry rather
than by arms and agents. The first an
preparation to the educational end was
$4,000, the second year $4,000, the third
$4,000 and so on, until, under President
Harrison, $4,000 in the last year. has
been given to support schools, besides
other expenditures to fit out the Indian
with the utensils of agriculture, and the
tools of trades. The Indian has been
taught to work, given land in severaIty:
freed from taxation on his land for twen-
ty-five years and guaranteed secure in
its possession against the wiles, liens and
mortgage temptations of white tricksters.
The Government set out to make civil
lied beings out of the Indians, and to
treat them precisely as citizens are
treated, and visit upon them the same
penalties.
Thus far eminent success has crowned
this effort and the Indian training schools
are rapidly and surely withdrawing the
Indian from the warpath and the wilds
TO peace, industry and civilization, and
proving that he can be made a useful,
active unit in society. The rule of the
Chief has been almost wholly broken;