The Irish standard., 1896-02-29
INDIAN SCHOOLS.

In the house Of representatives this
week it was decided, after very spirited
debate, that none of the appropriations in
the Indian appropriation bill for Indian
schools should 60 to sectaTian schools.
The vote was SO to GA. The chief fight
against any appropriation for sectarian
schools was made by that heavenly, i. e.,
unearthly, Pigment Of past civilization,
known as the A. P. A, headed by Linton,
of Michigan. Without detailing the dis
cusssion it may be, sad that the whole
argument ostensibly against the appropri-
alton for sectarian schools was aimed in
directly at the Catholic church.
1t would be thought that those holding
the position of congressman for some
years would know something Of the ma
tion's affairs and particularly it would be
thought that those who spoke upon the
subject would hvae taken the pains to
inform themselves before doing so.
A hue and cry has been raised as to
the amount Of money the Catholic church
has been drawing from the public treas
ury for the support of sectarian Indian
schools, when the fact is the money is
not public money at all. but Indian money
belonging to the Indians absolutely as
pittance from the government for what
the white man deprived them of-thelr
possessions. It was to be used for the
benefit of the Indians in the most econom-
ical and satisfactory way. And while it
does not come out of the national treas
ury, neither does cent of it go into the
Catholic church, so that all this blatant
nonsense about such appropriations being
unrepublican, undemocrat:c, and I'M
American is only worthy Of the men who
uttered it during the discussion N the
House. The schools under the care Of
the church are paid small allowance
per capita per annum, every cent Of which
goes to feeding, clothing, nursing and
training the Indian children The build
ings, salaries of teachers, matrons, and all
facilities and improvements have been
contributed freely and generously by the
church without receiving penny in re-
turn. Up to over two years ago the Cath
ol:cs had contributed for this purpose
alone the sum Of over $1,500,000. Then
again a great deal is made of the fact
that Catholics have been receiving much
larger sums than those of other denon1ina-
items 1t is true. But the work they did
was vastly greater. They were all paid
in proportion to the labor performed.
And the other denominations, if they were
either wise or sensitive, would not thank
conyressmen for drawing attention to this
fact.
The UNCONVENTIONAL schools are better
and more economically managed than
are those OF the government. While the
government pays on most OF the contract
schools from sos to Sl25 and in only a
few cases $50 per capita per annum, and
this strictly for only those children who
actually attend schools, the government
schools cost at least $500, and often over
that amount, per capita per annum, in
addition to salaries of teachers, which
form a fixed charge whether the atten-
dance of pupils.be or 100. All the gov
eminent schools have been relatively ex-
pensiye and some of them very objec-
tionab.e.
Upon this subject the. Congressional
Record will show that, Mr.. Shively, a
congressman from Indiana, a Protestant
and a man of fairness and intelligence,
said on the floor of the house:
'sBut after all, Nh. Speaker, what is
there in the charge of sectarianism and
denominationalism against the contract
school? Under the contract system pri.
vate enterprise and zeal build the school
house and equip the school. Not dol
lar of the money appropriated for the
contract schools goes to the superinten-
dent; not dollar of it goes to any preach
er; not dollar Of it is paid to any em-
ploye; not dollar. of it goes for medical
attendance. Every dollar goes directly
| and xclusiYe1y TO feed, clothe ald shell
ter the Indian ldren while siyilis