The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1894-11-03

tract system, against which Mr.. Morgan
so savagely inveighs, was called into
operation, by a Republican administra
tion, without any suggestion from the
Catholic people, and without any dicta-
ton from Rome. After listening to the
secretary of the American Baptist mis-
sionary Society, preclaiming with alarm
the danger to our American institutions
because the Catholics bad drawn from
the national treasury s3,OC0,L00 in the
past 10 years, and the Baptists had not
gotten fair chance to get even with the
Catholics one would imagine that this
whole contract system was most cum
ningly planned scheme Of Rome to take
Uncle Sans money and give him moth
ing in return.
During Mr.. Morgan's term of office, he,
as the commissioner for Indian affairs,
was responsible for the payment OF a
large portion of this cum. If it were
not just and proper to pay these sums OF
money for Indian education; if the pay
ment of such sums was in any way ille-
gal, or unjust, why did not this good,
conscientious Baptist protect the sacred
interests of his country, and refuse to
permit those dlsloyal Papists to fatten at
the public crib?
Mr.. Morgan has very carefully omitted
the very valid reasons why the govern
ernment, or the contract schools in charge
of Catholics, received larger appropria-
tions than the schools under non-C Catho-
lie contract, viz: that the government pays
out it's money for some duty done, or
service rendered, not to some particular
sect, but to the people. If the Catholics
who are, and have been. engaged in
teaching the Indians, have not faithfully
performed their duty, or have not ron
dered service to the nation, in accord
ance with stipulated contracts, they are
not entitled to compensation, and those
who award it to them, under sLch cir-
cumstances, are false to their duty.
IF Catholics have received more
money from the general government, as
they have, for Indian education, it is
simply because they have done the most
work, and educated the greatest number
Of Indian children.
"The money paid out by the general
government is not For the support of the
contract of the Catholic catechism, or for
sectarian instruction of any kind. [
quote from speech delivered on the
floor of congress, March 3, 1891, 10y MIR.
ShivelY, Protestant gentleman, from
Mr., Morgan's own state: But, after all
Mr.. Speaker, said MIR. Shiyely, what is
there in the charge Of sectarianism and
denominationsiism against the contract
schools? Under the contract system,
private enterprise and zeal built the
schoolhouse end equipped the school.
"How about the government school?
The sum appr, plated is used to procure
the land and erect the building. Then We
select cor. Of teachers, al! to be paid
for out Of the public treasury; we equip
the school with bibles and hymn books,
paid for out of the public treasury; then
we put the school in charge of some po-
litica] theologian, or theological politi
clan, who receives his salary from the
public treasury. This superintendent
impresses his peculiar views of religion,
whether Methodist, Presbyterian, Catho-
lie or Baptist, On the school, all at the
expense of the public treasury, and
yet there are honest but mistaken zealots
on the one hand and sniveling bigots on
the other who approve all this and at
the same tine bewail demominationsl-
ism in contract schools.
"Our Catholic people have expended
out of their own private means over l.
5O0,O0 in the building and equipment
of schools. Gen. Morgan, when in Office,
constantly assumed towards the con-
tract schools in charge Of Catholics a
most unfriend]y attitude. The same
spirit of unfairness that be now mani
tests against everything Catholic direct
ed his official acts while Mr. Harrison
! retained him in the Office of Indian COM
missioner, in spite of the earnest protest
OF members of his cabinet as we'll as of
those Of others high in the councils of
the Republican party. We need not be
surprised at the result. This malicious
and bigoted fanatic succeeded in keep
ing the Indian department in state OF
constant turmoil, frequently attempted
to thwart the plain instructions of con-
Rrees, and was often rebuked by his su-
perior officer, Hon j. W. Noble, secre.
tary of the interior. His reckless state.
fment about the stealing of coal from the
government at the Devils Lake agency,
which has been refuted beyond all ques-
ton, is sufficient evidence OF his unfit
ness for any position Of public trust.
stOur Catholic missionaries have never
Invaded territory occupied by any Pro-
testant denomin alton, they have never
been guilty Of holding up to the ridicule
! Of the public the honest efforts OF their
Protestant brethern to oivilize and edu-