New-York tribune., 1900-04-08
EDUCATION OF INDIANS.
LIVELY DEBATE ON THE SECTARIAN
SCHOOL QUESTION IN THE
SENATE

Government employment Of contract Indian schools
IN certain circumstances. under consideration.
TIE debate took wide range. the whole question
of sectarfan schools being discussed at length
The notable feature Of the debate was eloquent
eueech delivered in support OF the amendment by
" Vest OF Missouri. The amendment pend
ing when the Senate adjourned. the vote it
showing that no quorum was present.
soon after the Senate Mr.. Jones OF Ar
kansas offered The following resolution. which was
adopted.
that the Secretary OF the Treasury be directed 10
transmit the Senate statement Of the action Of
tas G- -e@i5ent Of Puerto Rico. alleged to have
been brought New-York under contract to lab
-o--asrordence in the case and that he be further
s,rected 70 inform the Senate what steps. II any
-o-rract Ia Dor law the person firm or corporation
entering into contract with said Cruz,
N- Chandler asked that the resolution respecting
,be seating OF Mr.. Quay be laid before the Senate
,1o Senator was prepared discuss the case and
M Chandler consented that IL should go until
Monday He gave notice. however that he should
axpect Senators who desired 10 speak on the sub
tecr 70 be prepared and that he probably would
ask on Monday that time be fixed for vote.
Mr. JONEs's AMENDMENT
consideration OF the Indian Appropriation bill
v,as resumed and discussion OF Government sup
mort for sectarfzn schools was precipitated by the
following amendment. offered by Mr.. Jones. of
Arkansas
-.s. ne Secretary Of the Interior may make
-o---ects with present contract schools for the
sducatior OF Indian pupils during the fiscal year
.-5frr T-lne ~ 1901. but shall only make such
--rt~srrs ar places where the Government has not
,-oriaed facilities FOR all the children of school
-1s.zfrc fHereat. and 70 an extent not exceeding
he ru-aber Of children il attendance al said
tract schools az the close OF the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1902
NJ Thurston. in charge Of the bill. opposed the
amendment taking the position that the Govern
7nent should provide its own schools. He depre-
Gated any reopening Of the question which, six
years ego. had been subject Of disturbance and
serious discussion throughout the country. The
matter be thought. had been settled az that time
by the adoption Of a policy OF reducing the ap
propriatons for contract schools 20 per cent each
wear until the contract schools were abandoned
entirely NJ. Thurston said he believed in re-
ngious education. and thought Il well that Indian
runtls should be brought up in the knowledge of
God He believed 1t better that the Indian chill
drsn should be educated in sectarian schools than
that they should have education al all, any
knowledge OF religion. He closed by saying that
The Secretary Of the Interior had advised the
mittee that Indian pupils could be provided for in
the Government schools. He deemed It the true
policy OF the Government 70 carry on Indian
schools without reference 10 any religious sect
He regarded any agitation Of the subject
wise
Mr. Jones made strong appeal for the adoption
OF his amendment He said IT was not a revival of
10 permit the Secretary of the Interior 10 enter
into contracts for the accommodation Of the
Indian pupils who cannot be accommodated in the
Government schools. He declared that II such an
amendment he had offered adopted.
twenty-six hundred Indian pupils would be with
school facilities after the present fiscal year.
as Il was well known that the Government schools
were entirely inadequate. He maintained that the
United States was morally bound 10 educate the
Indian children. Yet Il had failed to provide ade
guaue school facilities.
M Kyle expressed the opinion that the PROPOSE
ton involved a mixing of Church and State that
undesirable.
q don't believe it's a mixture OF Church and
State" said Mr Jones. This IS simply question
Of educating these children-a question OF Justice
M Teller said he assured that, even if the
amendment were put in the bill, II would not be
enacted into law. He thought, therefore, that the
Senate ought 10 endeavor provide some other
means Of educating the Indian children than that
suggested by the amendment
Mr.. Thurston said the contract schools were es-
tablished BY the Catholic Church for missionary
purposes and for the advancement OF a great
Christian purpose. The Commissioner of Indian
Affairs had authority now 10 purchase the build
lngs OF the contract schools but the Catholic
Church desiring TO continue the work of the
schools declined 10 sell them 10 the United States
We ready 10 buy these school buildings" said
Mr Thurston. when they are ready to sell them
al reasonable prices. I am satisfied in any event
o
Mr.. VEST EULOGIZES THE JEsUITs.
The discussion of the amendment was long and
took wide range. a stirring speech was delivered
by Mr.. Vest. Prefacing his remarks by the state
ment that he had always been a Protestant and
had sympathy with any Of the dogu1as Of the
Roman Catholic Church, he delivered a brilliant
eulogy Of the Jesuits for their work among the
tribute 10 Booker T. Washington for his great
Work among the colored people of the South. He
rO0 or 7ar 1n~T~a f1xr NJ aGt1iv
the negro problem he said bv feacIi3ey the coloreI
youth now 10 Ia Dor This was the true secret of
ne success OF The Catholics IN their work among
The Indians, They taught them how 10 work. This
great Undertaking had gone forward until. Mr..
vest said, the a p. A and the towards who are
for the continuance OF the work He was ashamed
he said, that americans should uphold such work
q a secret pohtlcal society de would denounce
7 Il were the last OF his life. He ridiculed
ne A P a for adopting a resolution demanding
cs lInpeacnrenf ror saying on the moor OF the
Senate what ne saying.
yesuts among the Flathead Indians. Il say now"
Ne continued. there is not in the whole country
the windows Of a Northern Pacific train II
passes through the reservation Of these Indians.
he Jesuits have rescued these Indians from degra-
work for love Of the indians but for the love of
SPEAK from personal observation. In my opinion
every dollar put by the Government into the Indian
Gay schools might well be thrown into%the
potomac River with lead weight attached,
mystic bower OF idoIatrv. @ nav Would 1 aceomDsh the
work for which IL appointed
REPLY OF Mr. LODGE
Il do not believe" said Mr. Lodge. in a brief
reply 10 Mr. Vest. that Il is right to tax
man 10 support another mans religion" On that
proposition Mr.. Lodge maintained 1t not right
70 appropriate Government money support any
branch of the Protestant Church. yet when ne op-
posed the payment of money for support of
NstAohc contract schools ne was called a ''bgot''
" - an insectivorous politician" Il was a plain and
,ifie principle. he said. that the public money
Sn0uld not be used for the support OF any sect