Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-28

A Reply to Rev. DIR. Fullerton
To the Editor of the Register:
SIR-To-day's REGISTER contains GER
tain remarks Of Rev. DR.. Fullerton in
reference to the Indian schools which
are calculated to poison the minds OF
your readers against the Roman Catho-
tic church. As an antitode, permit me
to place before your readers a few
facts and queries.
First-It was at the urgent Solicita-
ton Of the Government that contract
schools for the education Of the Indi-
ans were built and furnished by the
various Christian denominations.
Nay, l may qualiIy
this policy as prominently a Meth
odist movement, since it was President
Grant, inspired by his spiritual direc-
tor, Bishop Newman of the M. b.
Church, who inaugurated it. II it is
un-American, the adoption of this I'M
American policy must be attributed to
the influence of the Methodist church.
Second-Large sums Of mopCy were
contributed by American Catholics
for the erection and fitting up Of
suitable school buildings, since the gov
eminent furnished no money except for
tuition Of pupils in the day schools, and
the board and tuition of pupils In board
ing-schools. To my own knowledge the
Drexel family, of Philadelphia, con-
tributed for this purpose over one hun
dred thousand dollars in one year. Now
if the government support guaranteed
to these schools is Withdrawn, will the
Methodist ministers insist on restitution
being made for the construction
and furnishing of schools, which, in
that contingency, will be useless? The
money was expended on the faith OF the
government; can it in justice disown
its obligations?
Third-That system of schooling the
Indians should commend itself TO every
honest-minded American, which Is the
cheapest and at the same time the most
effective; but we have the testimony of
the congressional committees charged
with investigating this Indian school
question, that the contract schools cost
the Government less than the Govern
ment schools, and that the work of edu-
cation is far superior-and this, they
boldly declare, is the case with the
Catholic schools especially.
Fourth-Granting that DR.. Fuller
toms figures are correct, that Catholics
have received much larger appropria-
tions than any other or all other de-
nominations - was DR.. f. honest
enough in making his statement to
give the reason ? Did he
tell his hearers that the Government
contracts to pay so much per capita for
the pupils education, and that there
fore the reason why Catholics have re-
ceived more than others is because they
have been more active and Jealous in
doing the work which the Government
called on all Christian denominations to
engage in? Is it to be charged against
US as fault-a mark OF dislOyalty-
that we have so generously responded
10 the appeal of our country, especially
when the success Of our work has re-
ceived the unstinted approval of those
whom Congress delegated to examine
and report upon this very matter?
Fifth-Your readers are told by Rev.
DR.. Fullerton that the Methodists have
not only abandoned, but condemned the
policy of receiving government aid for
their Indian schools. To this pious res
olution, Mr.. Editor, 1 venture to offer
an amendment, II the Methodists,
under an awakened conScience-a con-
science made more susceptible to the
dictates of justice by the superior zeal
shown by the Catholic clergy for the
welfare, temporal and spiritual, Of the
Indians, now believe il wrong to re-
ceive government appropriations for
their Indian schools, was it not
always wrong? If so, sug-
Qest this amendment to their
pious resolution: make restitution to
the government Of the money paid you
in past years for the education Of the
Indian children"
Sixth-Mr. Editor, l am not so sure
that the money paid through the gov
eminent for the education of the Indian
children can be correctly called an ap-
preparation from the United States
treasury. When the government seized
the land of the Indians, did it not
promise them in return a certain amount
for their support and the enucation OF
their children? If this is so, then the
money paid for the support of their
school is their own money, and
surely they should have something to
say in the distribution of it. If they
prefer denominational schools, will our
Methodist fellow-citizens refuse them
their just demand?
Finally, Mr.. Editor, Roman Catholics
have no reason 10 be ashamed when
their loyalty is contraSted with that Of
the followers of John Wesley. When
the Catholic MoyIan was leading the
undisciplined calvary of the revolution
against the royal troops; when
the Catholic Barry was sweeping the
English navy from the seas; when
Catholic France was sending her Catho-
lie legions differed by Catholic noble
men to the aid OF the all-but conquered
patriots; when Rev. John Carroll, Su-
perior of the then Catholic Clergy of
America, was engaged in securing the
cooperation, or at least the neutrality
of Catholic Canada; what was John
Wesley, the founder Of Methodism,
doing? He was championing the
cause Of England against her
rebelIious coloniSts, and offering him
self TO raise regiment to put down the
rebellion. (See O'Connell's letters to
the Methodist ministers.) During the
past century of our glorious Republic
the record Of the Roman Catholics is
proof sufficient that Rev. DR.. Fuller
toms insinuations against their loyalty
are wantonly gratuitous.
JOHN. ]. KAN,
Bishop Of Wheeling.
Wheeling, EsbrIoIy "a, 1898.