The record-union., 1896-02-27

support Of Indian schools under any
church management in whole or in part
The people may congratulate them
selves upon this triumph. for it is moth
ing less, since the fight against with
drawal of this support has been waged
persistently for many years. The senti-
ment of the American people has, how
ever, been steadily augmenting in favor
of absolute severance Of any relation, or
State. So jealous are the people of any
priestly encroachment upon any insti-
tuition in whole or in part maintained
cut of the general treasury that it is
now safe to predict the very early date
when the proposed amendment to the
Constitution will be submitted by Con-
gress, and be adopted with practical
unanimity by the Legislatures of all
the States of the Union.
The pessimists who have feared for
the stability of American institutions
may find in the recited facts reasons for
changing their belief, and coming over
to the patriotic view which looks upon
the National heart as sound and
rythmical in its beat for the perpetuity
ct free institutions
1t may be of interest at this point
to refer to the condition of affairs re-
garding the Indian schools of the Gov
ernment in their relation to ecclesi-
asticism for the decade closing with
this year. From the reports of the
Department of the Interior we find that
between 1856 and 1896, inclusive
eleven years., Indian Contract Schools
o. the Government under church con-
troll drew from the treasury So, 147, ,292.
OF that sum no less than SO, ,430, 147
went to one denomination alone.
The highest tide of outgo to a church
was in 1892, when no less than $611,-
$40 was paid out to be handled by
priests and teachers of churches. In
recent years, in response to the appeals
of the American League, and because
they were convinced that it was bad
policy for church and State to con-
tinue the system, the Methodists, Pres
byterians, Congregationalists, Episco-
palians, Quakers, Unitarians and Lu-
therans withdrew their claims upon the
Government, and resolved to proselyte
among the Indians independent of any
aid from the Government under the
cloak of educating the savage.
From 1889 to 1893, the Commissioner
of Indian Affairs called the attention
of Congress persistently to the danger
Gus practice of making sectarian ap-
propriations for Indian education, and
urged Congress to extend the common
school system to the Indian schools and
cut them free from any shadow of
church control or domination. In the
last Congress the Secretary Of the In
terror was instructed to withhold ap-
propriations for the sectarian schools
SO far as the making of any new con-
tracts would be involved.
This was clear indication of the drift
CT public sentiment. 1t has now cul-
minated in absolute cutting off of the
churches from receipt of any aid from
the Government And this action un-
questionably the Senate will approve.
The outcome of the whole matter, we
repeat. is cause for congratulation. It
is no assault upon churches or priests;
it is not in enmity to religion; it is not
to be construed as unfrfendliness to the
work of missionaries among Indian
tribes. On the contrary, it is simply
the assertion of simple, wise and
clear principle, namely, that it is in
imical to free institT tions to have any
church or sect mingle with the affairs
of government, or receive, directly or
under cover, any money from the pub
lie treasury to further sectarian work
1t means that no impediment shall be
placed in the path of the free progress
and proselyting of any sect or anyone
in behalf of religious creed, but that
churches shall conduct their missionary
campaigns alone and unaided by the
treasury of State or Nation.
The Gan DiaUa1i styEit1,