Year: 1873

remain at peace is to teach them to

 work; there is no reason why they should not voluntarily or by compul- sion earn their own living. The second duty is to educate them, and this education should be as free from sectarian influence as our common f1ee-schools. The third duty should be to invite all religious denomina- tions to aid in their moral and religious reform by sending their missionaries among them and doing all the good they can. Let not the question be asked again by an Agent of the gov ernment if he should prohibit any Christian denomination from preach ing to Indians who are disposed to listen and be taught. Let the Ind ians be as free to worship God, and to receive instruction upon this subject from any who may desire to teach them as the whites are, and let relig- ious denominations vie with each

 other to see which can do the most good. The premature attempt by any to convert them will only result in failure. As we'll might you undertake to prcmulgate religion among the wild beasts of the forest as among the

 wild unconquered savages. With such, nothing but the military arm of the government can have any force and with that branch of the service let them be left until they show signs of civilization to such an extent as to be willing to work for their own SUD- port; then throw the doors wide open and ask all the Christian denom- nations to go among them and do

 what they can to lead them to a

 higher and better life. "But," says

 our jealous Christian, "ours Is the true

 Church, hence it is right that it should

 be selected in preference to others, and as 1t costs money to do this work 1t is just and economical that the government should pay the salaries of agents &c.,, to us" This assertion and belief on the part of religious bigots that tours is the true Church." have led thousands of victims to the burning stake and that same principal will do 1t again should the Church ever get supreme control. Scarcely preacher of the Gospel but refers with pride to the noble missionary work that has been done in the Sandwich Islands and other heathen lands by the Church. If they are correct in the valuation of their services then they have done far more good with heathens abroad than at home, and without receiving the power or pay of agencies, superintendencies and con- tracts from the government Would it not be we'll then to follow in the footsteps they have trod Tn foreign heather lands and see if they cannot do an equal amount of good in their own country and in similar way. Already the Church is being brought into disrepute in this Indian business. It is charged and believed by many that the funds they have at their dis posal are coveted far more than the souls of the poor savages they are ex- pected to convert. They are more or less brought in contact with the boil ing, fomenting cauldron of politics blows are given and received, the peo- pie see and feel that although church. men they are still flesh and blood and have all the weaknesses of the human race; the root of all evil causes many g brother to fall who might otherwise remain pillar in the church, and disguise it as you may it is pollut- ing and dragging what have been considered the sacred robes of the Church into the filthy pool of poli- tics. So far as Arizona is concerned. under its management not a be- nighted soul has yet been converted. The Indians have not been stimulated to industry, and they are going down lower and lower. But worst of all, by this impracticable management hundreds of white men have been un- murdered and many more Indians have been killed than would have been the case.

 We have said this much in tho kindest of feeling and with charity te all. Now will our Christian friendi of the Church meet us in the sam' spirit and show us if they can a bette. WaV