New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-19
DISCUSS INDIAN LIFE.
Lake Mohonk Conference Opened
DR.. Lyn1dn Abbott Speaks.

Lake Mohonk n. Y, Oct. 1S.-The Lake Mo
honk Conference of Friends of the Indians and
Other Dependent Peoples was opened to-day by
Alfred K Smiley. The Rev. DR. Lyman Alb
bott was presiding officer.
In his opening address the Rev d.. Lyman
Abbott took up the Indian problem, and after tell
ips of the dangers which confront the nations
wards. outlined what he thought necessary for
their welfare, saying. in part:
To protect the Indian in his right TO person, to
property to the family and to reputation and to
give him such instruction that his intellect
strength will not suffice unless his passions are
trained to come to heel by vigorous win and
the will has been made the servant of tender con-
science. We cannot put the Indian back under the
dnaian Bureau we would not IL We could and we
bis place in life and to discuss its joys by simply
instructng his intellect in the laws of nature and
Under slavery the negro was denied the funda-
reputation Emancipation gave these rights to him.
and reconstruction assumed that If he had po-
self The political power was given to him, and it
both he and his white companions did not suffer
as much from the reconstruction period as from the
preceding period Of slavery
For the present unsatisfactory state OF the Indian
Dr. Abbott offered remedy four suggestions.
in part follows
First-We must do for the Indian what we are
beginning to do for our public schools in the States
ouaIifcations IN tbe tsanher We can 40 sometbn
TO create a public opinion which shall keep the
Indian school out of political influence and which
snail give to them teachers imbUed with the spirit
OF a General Armstrong and Booker Washington,
and thus make the government schools morally and
inspira tionally we'll Intellectually edUcative
Second--We can do for the Indian what, under
the inspiration of Booker T. Washington, we are
beginning to do for the colored race, and what.
under wise leadership, beginning TO do in
the North for the children in our towns and cities:
We can make the schools instruments for industrial
education The first duty Of every man to the
community is support himself. The hand should
the eye to something else than to read the printed
page Nor is T. easy to suggest any better way
of developing such fundamental moral qualities as
obedience. industry. Temperance and self-control
than through a wisely ordered industrial educa-
tior.
Third-we can look for Some Indian who will
do for his race what Booker T. Washington has
done for the colored
FOurth-We can. here at Lake MohOnk, lay before
the Christian churches their opportunity and sum-
mon them to enter upon their duty. The mere
preaching Of the Gospel Sundays to Indian con-
gregatons does not fulfil that duty: the con-
duct of parochial schools does not fulfil it. vent
ure to suggest to this conference that 1t appoint
a committee to set before the churches the OPP
portunity and the necessity for enlargement OF
their work. 1t is needed among the Indians; It is
needed no less among the white populations which
surround the Indians The leaders in the churches
eager enter this work. The laity are
apathetic because they are ignorant Such state
ment issued from this conference might be used by
the officers of all the churches Roman Cathono
and Protestant, orthodox and liberal. to dissent
nate knowledge and arouse enthusiasm among the
congrega tions. The greatest work in the immediate
future for the Indian is to be done not by the
government, but by the churches of Christ II the
American people fail in their task-the civilization
OF the Indian-it will be largely the fault OF the
churches If the task is accomplished the honor
of the achievement will be largely theirs