The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-10-19

ANOTHER ISLANDER RERUrED.
Senator Gall Writes Letter Explaining
his vote Appropriatlng Money for
Educating the Indians.

Educating the Indians.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. IL, 1894.
To the Editor of the Banner.
have been requested by some good
friends to make a statement respecting
certain of my votes, as to which some
persons of the Baptist church had ex-
pressed a disapproval, which they
termed my votes In support of Catho-
lie schools on Indian Reservations.
Respecting these persons as citizens of
character and lovers of truth, adj
dress this letter to them through the
public press In order that they may
be corrected In their impressions, and
that others may know the truth in re-
gard to it.
preface what desire to say with
the statement that portions of my
family have been prominent Baptists,
that i, myself, grew up in constant as
ISOLATION with that church, and with
IT. ministers and members whom /
respect aud esteem. Baptist and
Methodist, and indeed all churches
aud their ministers and membership,
are main pillars of our government,
and they hold religious tolerance to be
one of their essential principles, and
Of this the great majority of the Bap-
list churches have been leading
teachers and defenders.
/ have never voted for appropria-
tions for Catholic schools or Protestant
schools on the Indian Reservation or
anywhere else. l have voted for APP
propriations for schools which were
taught by sectarians who were Catho-
lies or Professionals, without reference
TO their religious views, the contracts
being made by the proper authorities
Of the government. The following ex-
tract from my speech upon this SUBJ
ject In the senate on tie 10th day of
July, 1894, will be found to explain
the position which / have always oc-
cupied and the views which / have
expressed upon the subject:
schools have been contracted for under an es-
tablished policy of the government having no
kind Of reference to any form of the religious
belief not contracts with Episcopalians nor
with Presbyterians, nor with congregationaiists.
nor Catholics, but contracts with any kind Of as
ISOLATION Of character, and conducted by men
capable Of educating these psopie to educate
such a number Of these people as from year to
year they may undertake to take care of; but in
no case where there adequate education,
and in case now where there are adequate OPP
portunities for education in government schools
do understand that there has been any appro-
priation whatever. am fully in accord with the
sentiment of the religious denominations on the
subject thqt church aud state should be entirely
separate.
To this statement of mine Mr.. Gal
llnger, q senator from New Hamp-
shire, who is leading advocate. for
the abolition of the contract schools
and the separation of the Indian
schools from all sectarian influences,
made this statement, as follows:
am disposed to believe that the statement
made BY the Senator from Florida is abso-
iuteiy correct. The Senator from Connecticut
who with myself is opposed to appropriating
money for sectarian schools either in the Indian
Territory or elsewhere in the United States, has
made very lucid statement covering that point,
saying that in his opinion we can not with jus
tice or propriety abandon the contract system at
the present time.
The debate upon this subject con-
tains the following further statement
from me:
Mr. President, there is not member of the
committee ON appropriations who does not agree
with the senator from New Hampshire [Mr.
callngerl that whenever 1t is possible to do so,
in Difference to the growing public sentiment of
this country. Il would be better that all Indian
schools should be under the direct control Of the
government He does not difer from the COM
mittee Ia that respect, nor the committe from
him. The public opinion Of this country Of the
great masses Of the religious people Of all
churches Is opposed, believe. TO the policy of
seciarian schools
The contracts made were certainly obligatory,
and the existing contracts are now obligatory
they are not made by the committee on appro-
priations. they are not made by the senate; they
are not made by the house Of representatives;
they have been made by the Executive, the ad-
minislrative department Of the government.
nishop whippie was sent there, and being there
a missionary to the Indians. he found that the
interests Of honest administration could best be
conserved BY citizen OF the United States OF
character, and probably because Of his religious
character and associations.
So the committee have no responsibility what
ever for these provisions in the bill, and believe
every member Of the committee is favorable to
the idea Of an entire separation Of these schools
from all sectarian or religious connections, but
they lave no authority in this matter unless
they encroach upon the administration of the
government in its executive functions and arbi-
trarily set aside the contracts which have been
made.
For myself, am entirely of the opinion that
these schools ought not to be sectarian, just as
Bishop whipplc was Of that opinions but we find
ourselves in this condition, and the committee
disclaim any responsibility whatever for these
appropriations They are made in pursuance o.
laws which are obligatory on us and on the house,
and 10 pay money contracted for and recon-
mended BY the proper executive authority.
You will, therefore, perceive that
al statements which have been made
by any authority whatever, of my
voting for appropriations for abe sup
port Of Catholic schools Is entirely I'M
true, and further, that / have express
ed IN public debate my entire concur
renee with the views Of the Baptist
church and of other religious denomi-
nations
So far rs the legislative department
OF the government is concerned it has
nothing 10 do with the contract
schools. except to appropriate the
money TO pay the contracts made by
the proper authorities Of the govern
ment. Il Is true that the legislative
department Of the government has
power to abolish these schools entire.
IL and 1l,n oofflnI s.oIforr ~ the N0V-