New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-27
MALAY OR INDIAN?
>. ,rpry TO DIR. PARKHITRsTs THANKS
GIVING SERMON FROM 7. J. MORGAN.
rosNr5 COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
DEFENDS THE GOVERNMENTS TREAT
MENr OF THE REDMEN.

DEFENDS THE GOVERNMENTS TREAT
MEHr OF THE REDMEN.
r. ire Editor ~ The Tribune.
c,r. In your issue OF Friday. November e.. IS
-. n. the Thanksgiving sermon OF the Rev. Or.
rCnsr;es H. Parkhurst, in which occurs the follow
- statement: Il would rather be a Malay subject
80 snain than re American Indian subject 10 the
.-,6isn Bureau. So long as It Is an understood
ming that office Is spoils may we'll pray TO be
reuyered from the responsibility OF governing de-
tendencies"
7 have profound respect for DR.. Parkhurst and
s,preciate very highly the great work that he has
done IN this city. especially in the creation OF
healthy public sentiment regarding municipal adj
lu,n;s7 ration. I also understand in View of his
.,nercnce his dread OF colonial expansion l
,e,osnize also the shortcomings OF the United
e.a;es Government as represented in the Indian
s,urea, in It's relations to the Indians. did what
roud 70 take the Office entirely Of politics. and
] regret very much that the present Administra-
zion has not seen 1T 10 put the bureau still
n,rher plane than IL found it, I think. however.
that the statement Of Or. Parkhurst in It's un-
rualifed form ought not go unnoticed.
BY Malay" suppose IS meant any inhabant Of
che Philippine Islands; and assume that Or. Park
hurst means by his statemsnt to institute A COM
-arson between SPANS treatment Of the Philip
rnes and our treatment OF the Indians. ] do not
,aise the question. Would Dr. Parkhurst rather 10
A, MALAY" or Indian? as I DO not suppose that
f. involved Let Us glance then for moment at
what me fair statement as to the
difference in tho Spanish method OF dealing with the
Philippines and our method Of dealing with the
Indians.
First-Span has derived from the Philippine ISL
ends large revenue by system OF taxation which
has borne very heavily upon the inhabitants She
has sought force from them the largest possible
amount % money. and has Fpent upon them Tor
Their own benefit mere pittance.
W. he Indians subjects
~ taxation or sources of revenue On the other
hand We have treated them wards and have
bestowed upon them sratuities large sums 81
money When have taken their land II mas
been by agreement and We have paid them Tor 1t
large sums o. money I'm the aggregate. large
part ~ the present expense OF the Indian Bureau
IS incurred in the payment TO them Of stated annual
sums IN fulfment Of treaty stipuisuons
Let ne give one single illustration: The Usage
indians now living in Indian Territory. remnant
now o. about fifteen hundred reople. hold In com
mon large reservation on which they live, where
tney have for the most part comfortable homes.
extensive farms. stocked with cattle ana horses
end supplied with a fair amount OF Agricultural
implements From this land alone II would be
POSSIBLE for them 10 obtain abundant subsist-
euce: with proper industry no Indian would suffer
want But in addition 10 this landed estate-in the
use OF which they are protected by the Govern
r0ent-there IS 10 their credit in the Treasury or
the United States $S.oo1oo. on which the Govern
them
The sum Of 10000 Besides this The Gov
eminent maintains for them large. well-equipped
boarding schools a good many white men have
thought II well 10 go among these Osages. marry
their daughters and identify themselves with the
tribe IN order 10 share ina their wealth II an IN
stance similar this can be pointed out by Dr.
Parkhurst in SPANS treatment OF the Malays
should he exceedingly interested in reading IT,
Sooond-The FIVE so-called civilized tribes-Cher-
okees Creeks. Choctaws. C-lickssaws and Semino!es
in the Indian Territory have for many years
maintained their position nations each tribe
having its own autonomy. its landed estate. It's sys-
ten OF legislation. administration. courts and
shoots under tie protectorate OF the United States
The Government Is seeking through the dawes
Commission prevail upon these people 10 sur
render their autonomy and identity themselves with
the people OF the United States as citizens. DO
not know OF any similar instance OF absolute self
government among the Malays under Spanish pro-
lection II there sucn Will DR.. Parkhurst kindly
indicate it?
Tbird-Any and every Indian has the privilege OF
separating from the tribe. assuming civilized habits
ac,enting auoiments OF land ana becoming citizen
a. The United States. with the full enjoyment OF all
ordinary privileges Of citizenship ana with some
special sategua rds ard exemptions which his white
fe.low-citizens do not enjoy. had supposed until
read Dr. Parkhwst's statement that the priv
fege which the Indians enjoy under the Indian
Bureau OF becoming fu-fedged American citizens
~ their own volition-thoussnGs OF whom are
svaNing themselves OF the opportun!ty-was con-
dtion OF things superior to anything which obtains
IN the Philippine Islands under Spanish rule
Fourth-The United States. through the Indian
Bureau. is maintaining among the Indians OF this
country a system Of public boarding schools at a
cost OF about s. 100 annually. in which there are
now enrolled no less than twenty-four thousand
Indian pupils who are fed. clothed, Instructed and
rsed when sick IT the expense Of the United
States This school system, which has grown up
1915 is %
ample provision for all Indian children Of school
age OF bic health who can be induced TO at
tend and while it is still imperfect 1t is neverthe-
less an embodiment Of a National spirit OF phhan-
thropv. generosity lberality toward the Indians
winch mas few If any parallels in the world From
ne hest information that | have been able to
obtain Spain has adopted such scheme Of edu-
cs,.on for the Malays under her control. and had
supposed that the outlook for the Indian boy ana
Cir. who can receive free Of cost the advantages
offered in these great Government schools, where
they receive not only common English education
b., an Industrial training and where there is open
10 them on leaving school the choice Of occupation
and o.: residence anywhere in the United States,
was possibly superior to thar OF the Malay under
spanish rule. VIII By Parkhurst kindly correct
= mistaken?
Tifh--It is commonly understood. and had sup
posed it was correct that the inhabitants Of the
Philippine Islands have been plundered and OPP
pressed ', the so-calcd religious orders 10 a very
extreme degree and that there is practically no
span thing among them as religious liberty CA
To other hand tho Indian Bureau docs not seek 10
Impose upon the Indians any form Of religion but
give, them the utmost freedom Of action in re-
Ie.ols matters and offers every facility to any
ari AL religious denominations for the prosecution
among them OF missionary work
For hose and COR other reasons when might
mention confess that for myself should rather
he an Indian under the Indian Bureau than
Malay subject 10 Spain. J. ). MORGAN
Ex-Commissioner OF Indian Affairs
New-York Nov. PC. 1895