The Portland daily press., 1898-12-08
FRIENDS OF THE INDIAN.
Continued from Second Page.

Continued from Second Page.
taking into consideration the way they
had been cheated by the white man.
| The report of the Missionary branch
was read by Mrs. Brooks, the vice presi
dent, who gave the dates of the formation
of the forty-.i missions established in
the different states since "a. These
mi ssior aries by these means are brought
| in touch with seventy different tribes Of
| Indians.
| The report of the department. of special
education was read by Miss Brewer of
Stock bridge and told Of timely assistance
rendered to ambitious Indians who
or legal professions.
| Then Mrs. Quinton, who is an especial
| " easy and graceful presiding officer, in
PRODUCED the speaker of the evening, DR.
Abbot. He began by saying that there
| had besn great deal said of the injustice
of our people in regard to their treatment
of the Indians "1here is some measures
of justice in that statement but 1t has
really been more lack of foresight than
lack of Judgment on the part of our
country DR.. Abbott spoke of the con
dition of our country three hundred years
ago, and felt that the reservation sys.
tenn" was natural result of the ciroum-
stances Gin $780, said the speaker. "a
treaty was made in which all the territory
west of the Mississippi was granted to
| the Indians Then said DR.. Abbott,
edo we say that the Indians then pos
sessed its Hardly, can it be said that
they possessed it, when they didn't utilize
| it. So the reservation system grow up
and we helped to paupsrize them by
giving them rations, and, moreover
amnunitions to fight us. +" The Speaker
then ad led that barbarism has no law
which civilization Is bound to respect.
but that IS not saying that bar barism has
no right which civilization ought not to
| respect.
An explanation was made of the reser
walton system, and OF the necessity of
having the permission of government for
any sort of entrance into these "prison
yards From this point of view, DR..
Abbott gave the central thought of his
address by proving that there never was
any progression behind prison bars, and
| in order to earn freedom, men and
woman must have freedom. The res ult of
the freedom policy was brought up as to
TIL negroes, and on the whole, DR.. Alb
| bot ielt that the result was far better
THAI if taey had kept below the "black
| belt -
After presenting this phase of the ques-
| ton very forcibly, the speaker said that
the solution Of tho Indian problem lay in
| the annihilation of the reservation system
root and branch; and in allowing the
INDIANS the same liberty as is allowed the
| white man SO long as they do not infringe
| on the rights of their neighbors.
"Sscondly, this Indian should have
| iustice. Now he cannot sue and has no
rights in the court - "Why should he
NOT have common law?'' Furthermore
1 DR.. Abbott said, that if Indians required
special protection they should have it, as
other men have it. AS to selections for
the appointments on the Indian COM
mission, they may have good men. but
not experts on this question In this re-
spect said the speaker, we can follow the
example of England in the management
of her Indian affairs, because she does
not change her officers at every parlia
mentar, ell ction. Another thing to be
given the Indian should be education,
equipment for this freedom. Now we are
doing it. It's cheaper to educate him
than to shoot him. Then, finally, after he
has the education, he5 should be given
| the ballot. Thus should the government
treat the Indian, and now we are gradual
| ly moving in that line The reform in
the reservation system is nothing less
than abolIshment. Some Indians may be-
| come corrupt, some may require to be
| watched but freedom and self-restraint
were never learned without temptation. y
| he use of private enterprise in this
matter said the speaker is to educate pub
| lie opinion; because public opinion
| moves slowly. and private enterprise
| generally gives the initiative movement.
| In the same way, it gives symI athetic.
oh ilanthropic interest in these matters,
and therefore emphasizes the public
opinion, which finally brings about the
| result.
DR.. Abbott closed his address with
| special word to the women of America.
| whom he had no wish TO patronize he
said. but he spoke very earnestly of the
/ influence they possess in influencing the
ideal public opinion, which is SO
powerf I'll and far reaching in it's results.
Mrs. Quinton gave most taolful ap-
peal to those present to give something
towards this excellent work. and during
the passing Of the acoonms baskets
| she made last summer TO an Indian
mission. She added cordial INVITATION
49, ~ :. ...,,,e+,., RI he Drpsant -