The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-03
A MOSES AMONG EsKIMos.
The Aspiration of Edward Marsden, a
Native of the Arctic Land.


Edward Marsden, native Alaskan, or
more properly a Tsimpshean, born in Met
lakahtla, B. c., lectured at Y. M. c. A
yesterday afternoon before a large crowd
of young men on the needs of his people
in Alaska. Mr.. Marsdens parents were
converted to Christianity in 1853 His IA
Their, who became a native preacher after
his conversion, died when the boy was nine
years old. In 1882 there was trouble at Met
lakahtla on account of the English clergy
attempting absolute control of church and
civil matters among the Tsimpshean peo-
pie. In 1887 many thousands of the
Tsimpsheans left their native state and
formed a colony in southern Alaska under
the American flag. A year later Edward
Marsden entered the Sitka Industrial
School, and after completing the work
there came to this country and entered the
Lane Theological Seminary, at Cincinnati,
o. He will graduate this spring, after
which he expects to return to his people.
1t is his purpose to establish schools and
churches with the cooperation and assist
ance of the United States government, be-
sides which he will endeayor to teach his
people modern ideas in the arts of indus
tries, and aid them in establishing a civil
lied form of government.
In personal appearance Mr. Marsden is
rather striking. He has the low, stocky
stature of the Eskimo, combined with the
Isintelligent features of the Japanese He
speaks excellent English, and his discourse
shows the thoroughness with which his
studies have been pursued. In the years
that Mr.. Marsden has been in this country
he has studied not only theology but law
and medicine, besides which he has studied
municipal government and modern manu-
featuring methods. He is a good musician
and is acquainted with three or four lam
guageS.
He is deliberate in speaking. His manner
is earnest and forceful. Some of his ideas
are pretty bold and striking, in speaking
of the needs of his people. In this cate
CORY he places, first of all, the gospel of
Christ He believes that Christianity will
accomplish what Russian and English and
American war ships were not able to do
the civilization of his people. They also
need education, better methods in wrestling
sustenance from the land in which they
dwell and better laws and governments.
Mr.. Marsden opposes most strongly the
lqea that the people must De the wards of
the government, must be given food and
clothing.
Instead of sending them potatoes, blank
cts and money!" said he, send them saws
industry; teach them how to work and sup
port themselves. In every heather nation
1t is true there are some who will not work.
Let such die; the more OF this class that
die the better. If any man will not work
neither shall he eat ! know that this is
strong language, but 1 am convinced that
the true way is to encourage, and, if nee
essary, compel, the people TO look out for
themselves Nothing encourages pauperism
like training people TO believe that they
must be provided for. Those who sink into
pauperiSm are harder to reach and enlight-
en- than those who are required to work
for themselves Complete destruction is
the final end of a pauperized people. The
heather is slave to many things, to his
passions, his ancestors, his chief. his chill
dren his tribe and his superstitions. Like
all slaves he is easily seduced to do things
wrong. Hence he becomes the slave of
opium and liquor when they are thrust
upon him. Strange as it may seem to you,
the same ship that brings the missionary
brings also barrels and barrels of LIQUOR.
Hence we send up that cry: Send us the
missionary, but withhold the accursed
liquor
''The teaching of helthenism is: Thou
shalt love thyself, thy chief. thy tribe with
all thy heart. soul, mind and strength, but
thou shalt hate those who do not belong to
thy tribe Hence when one meets a man
OF another tribe there is a Tightening of
fists, a gnashing of teeth and the desire is
TO strike him down, put out his life Chris
tianity comes along and says: Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with al! thy soul,
mind and strength and thy neighbor as thy
self Christianity makes all men brothers.
What gladdens the heart of one gladdens
the heart of the other; what saddens one
saddens the other. There is no tightening