The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-05-28


policy. lie inaugurated new polfey and called 1T
q peace policy" in contradstincion to the exter-
mination policy, and invited representatives OF
nearly all churches to come to Washington and
deliberate with him how to formulate and carry
out his design.
The Nethodists, Presbyterians, Congregations
slists. Epscopalians, in short, almost all Protest
ant denominations, responded.
Peaceful Invasion
Our church was most worthily and appropriate
" represented by of the most ilustrious names
in the history of Indian missionary work-a man
of superb spiritual grandeur and assured death
less fame-Father De Smet The conclusion ar
rived at was that all these denominations should
make and peaceful invasion of the Indian
country, erect schools and through the Christian
izing agencies of this new crusade lead the red
man to a knowledge of God and the dignity OF
citizenship. The president pledged the solemn
word of the administration that the government
would pay for every Indian child educated Act
ing on this pledge which, emanatng from such
an august source and given IN such holy cause,
was naturally looked upon as sacred and ire
vocable The Catholic church in her eagerness for
the uplifting and thirst for the salvation of the
Indian lost not a moment to carry out the gov
ernments wishes. In twenty-five years we erected
and equipped schools which cost than
one million five hundred dollars. This be 1t re-
nembered, having always In mind the promise of
the United States government to support them.
Our success in educating, Christianzing and
] might almost add miraculous. Our schools were
thronged, our missionary churches crowded. Like
an incessant stream, the regenerating water of
baptism flowing over the bowed heads of
transformed saYages-noW meek, docile, pure, de-
vout Christians The dawn of new era appeared
on the horizon. Hope and courage filled the heart
of the Indian gratitude and thanksgiving the
heart of the just white man. The solution of the
Indian question was found at last.
Unexpected Danger
But suddenly our whole work was confronted
By an unexpected danger, danger which in few
months threatened to blast the hopes and prayers
of twenty-five years of self-sacrifcing work.
While Catholics were living in state of false and
delusive security, their hearts gladdened by the
astounding results obtained by Catholic mis-
sionaries, stealthy, insdious influence under
mining work.
Bigotry and fanaticsm invaded the halls of con-
gress and the senate, even the executive mansion,
and clamored that more appropriations should |
be given to sectaran or denominational schools. |
1t was the work of the A. 2. A. allied with the un
successful and discouraged sects whose work I
among the Indians was a crushing failure. With |
shame and humiliation we must make the con-
fe sion that terrorized congress, panic-stricken
senate, yielded to this monstrous demand, and in
1895 revoked the appropriations given TO
Catholic Indian schools
1t was not claimed that these schools were in
efficient, that their teachers were incapable and
unsuccessful, that the Indians disliked the one and
avoided the other, that their influence was not
deeper and more far-reaching than of all other
schools. No; such claim could not be made
and if made, established. The published reports of
the Indian commissioners, of the school superin-
tendents, of the Indian agents. the testimony of
senators and congressman, national records be it
remembered, bear eloquent and lasting tribute TO
the unprecedented work accomplished by the
Catholic Indian school,
Sole Crime Was Success.
The only reason that could be alleged against
them was that they were-Catholic. Their only
crime was their success. Had they failed as hope
lessly as did the Protestant denominations, had
our schools been summed, deserted like theirs, no
protest no outcry would have been made.
Imagine the plight of our archbishops, the con-
sternation of our missionaries, the sorrow of our
Indians. when this ruthless act Of legislation first
flashed through their dazed minds What was to
be donel Who to do it! The church found
itself with schools valued at nearly two million
Of dollars, with 1000 dependent. helpless Indian
children with unprovided missionaries nuns and
teachers
At this critical moment, when no help was in
view and the closing of our schools and abandon
ment of their pupils seemed imminent, God in His
Infinite mercy sent an angel of hope. TO that
saddened meeting of archbishops in Washington
came the message from holy woman If the
Unlted States government viii no longer support
our Catholic Indian schools, she, by the help of
God, would do so, until such time when the church
can do so herself. This woman, who has not only
given her wealth, but her life, renounced all So
cial distinction and worldly ambition, made her
self by solemn the very servant of the most
lowly and despised of men, the red man and the
black man-was the Rev. Mother Katharine Drexel.
She looms up in times as the noblest exponent
of a true, consecrated Catholic womanhood that
the age can show.
Her name and charity are enshrined in the
heart of the poor Indian so that she has already
become part of his language, he calling her hot
"Woman-who-has-p on the In
dian" She alone seemingly carries the Red
Mans burden; she alone stands between the wrath
of just God and the iniquity of an unjust nation
to Ger reparaton for century of "spoaton, out
rage and murder" Since 1S5 she has literally
supported our Indian schools
1t may be asked-Do we not take up an an
nual collection in all our churches for the Indian
and Negro missions! Yes; and it is only with
shame and modification that we dare confess the
result The twelve million members of the Cath
Ollie church in the United States contribute an
nualy about $4,000 for the Indian and Negro
missions! Part goes to the Society for the Propl-
cation of the Faith which, until 1870, practically
supported our Indian missions; part goes to the
Negro work. and the balance about $22 900, goes
to the Indians. And with this the archbishops