The Alaska daily empire., 1916-03-29

two years OEo. rho cnlfNnco pA tuo Government hero saved him. and ot the aano time calmod down and controlled Che growing indignant fecllnEs or the Afctiak0htla Indians against Fothor Dun- can.
 The attitude Of tho Metlalzohtla pco- plc toward Father Duncan lookD oa II they arc ungratoful to him. Wc arc well aware that this "a how tho public Hencr- aiiy view tho situation here But this is not tho caHc ot nll. Very Tar From it Whorccnn you find on the whole American conthivnt ony tribe Of Indians thot does not record it7 HineerS eh,.ile1 lt Go its friend and bcnciactori One nat urai characteristic of the Indian ia that Inc mover forrcta any one that has made a sacrifice in his behalf ls our school- boy story of Pocohontns protecting an endangered line and helpless white man an invented story?
 But the present attitude or the Met lalsahtla Indians toward Father. Duncan haa been uniustly created and nurhed by Father Duncan himfeiL he coliu havc easily nipped thl9 in tho bud by rccornizlnc tho growth. tho manhood ma tho ndvancod and changing condi- dona of hia Indian people. But hc did not do GO. He gave plenty or oppor- tunitlca for tho unfortunate situation 70 take root and grow. lt was In hia DOW CT to make things right, but he dia not do eo Ie dld not wish nor try 70 DO it The carbunclc has been allowed to grOW without medical attention, ano to- day it iH very painful to Father Duncan and painful to the Metlakahtn lnuianh' The correct solution of the Metlai5ahtin trouble I'm tho Judgment Of this Coun- oli. md in tho Judgment Of the preced- Ing similar body. is the speedy and com nIeto retirement of Father Duncan from tho Metlaigahtia work, and his absence from Annette Island.
 The stories of cannlballam, tho at- temntcd murder Of Father Duncan by the Indians. and similar stories iike thnt, os rocordod bv 8Ir. Carpenter. cause much qmusement among the MeualiansiA in- finna. especially among tho Tow old men tnat arc stlll living, and who were young men whom Father Duncan nrat came to Fort Simpson. B. C.. m leo.. 4nese oie mon brand Father Duncona stories Hf n stretch of the human Imagination. They arc O. mere fabrication, e9peciaiy the connihal stories.
 From Lower California 10 the Arctic regions on the Pacific Coast, In the dAyt ,f the early Spanish explorers, In the invs of Vancouver md Vitu1 Boring iono- beforo Fnthor Duncan and his COG workers came. history does not recoro n single instance of conniholism among Inc Indian tribes Of the Wholc coast tn. reports of both American and brl,lsih travellers and geogrophors do not spean of the cannibollstic life and pracuces ,f my Of these Indians. Father Dun- ,an's cannibal stories. as we read In Mr cnrpontcr's article and In tho books tna' ar0 published concerning talncr Dun, -an oro in Inc with Dr. COOK "eSeu' of our Aiaal,a Mount Mckinley. Of few wears ago. Afuittudcs rcad md believed pr. Cook; but the bubble which | for a time appeared genuine knocked against something and it burst
 We do not deny that we were Aoathen people when Father Duncan first came to ua. We were p9u' NeIs bad. We were bad in exactly the sams ,vov that tho other tribes Of North | American Indians were bad. Many ol our customs were hideous. The inuoduc' | ton Of rum and firearms nmonf ua os white people added a great deal 70 oul ! degradation.
 Father Duncan together with the oth' sr English missionaries and teacneri that camo with him at the time 9id z rood work among ue. All this Delonsi ! Co their. credit. We have over ana oFel egnln thanked them for their good wor. We have been very faithful ana true e'
 it must be remembered. however, thoi it was tho sclf-sacriflce or mony a poo | Christian i'm England that made possible | Inc gathering of funds Tor tne pesinhlni ,f tho work in 1857 and which wos cnr .ied on uu the fall of 1882 when Fathci Duncan wau discharged by the Churci Missionary Society And the Indians ,hemsclvCa did very well In leaving tn' vays Of their fathers 20 quickly ens 70 easily. end become odopLed 70 tn, new condition of things. The 5rlusi ! government brought Father Duncan ron Vncinnd on a wnrship and landed hin m Briush Columbia. protected him al Inc way through, clothed him wltn in'iE sterial authority. and tho Metlakahtl' Indians Co tell the truth. wfre alli'oo ~ literally whipped Into the kinedom O Heaven and kept there by force O
 We wish to conclude thcae words b' saving that since we came into inl country ln 1887, we hovc learned to livl ,n5 resnoct the flag that floats over u .odav. We are grateful to the American l authorities and people that have heipe' is and are helping us.
 Aside from craving for higher an' Nottcr ChriGtian life. we are lonflnB TO 1 ,hose thinrg in school that make ou individual usefulness and efficiency - .hoge thnrs that build up good charac l ,or md kindio the flame of patriotism m my onc's life Give uH a good scnooi ! md VIC cnn Hhow Go you thnt an lnolN ms iuat as much ability Co do e rev rood things for hls country. and be hum Nle about his attachments, as any otn ,r race under tho American flng..
 yVo are alqo anxious for the lmowledH' 7f nm honest business. For many ve9r' -vo engaged In huaincss with Fathe
 
 soirg with him. But i'm a whlte man Ne ho saint or scondrcl. the love O money ls the root of nll evil Thls go iho best of him in spite Of his grea name. With the holp of some fhrew' ,av-,era i'm Oregon and Voahinrton. h' -obbled un tho whole thing We ar' loft entirely pcnnilcsg today. and the Tn .orior Department can testify to this wc shali have to start over ogain a, ve dld in 1887. but this time VIC want Soncst. onen and honorable business transactions
 Yes. we ore craving for these and a 'ow other things. Give them Go uh. or .o oorn them ourqeIvoq. This is tho ear- rest cry of the Indians of MetlaSahtla
 EDWARD MARsDEN.
 SNcrofarv or the Council
 Of Motlakahtla. Aaska. March 17. 1916.