The Word Carrier (Santee, Nebraska), 1887-08 - 1887-09

              THE WORD CARRIER.
NEW SERIES,   VOL. IV.   NOS.   VIII-IX.
Helping the Right, Exposing the Wrong.
PUBLISHED FOR   THE DAKOTA   MISSION.
Santee Agency, Nebraska.
AiGFST-SFPTFdHTER, 1887.
Fifty Cents a Year.
Our Platform.
For Indians ave avant American
Education! We want American
Bombs! We want American Rights!
The result of which is American
Citizenship.
;-aVTl:i>F
IS  PUBLISHED  FOR
THE DAKOTA MISSION,
in the interest of schools and missions among
the Indians, with special reference
to the Avork of the
Santee Normal Training School
A. l_. RIGGS,
kditor and publisher
Santee Agency, Neb,
Terms—One copy •$    .50
Five copies      2.00
Ten copies     3.00
[Entered at the Santee Agency Postoffice
us second class matter.]
No more Indian Schools! No
.mohe Indian Bibles! No more Missions! These are the logical results
of the present policy of the Indian
Bureau, as shown in its astounding
rules against the use of the Indiau
language. We gh'e the text of these
proiiunciamentos elseAvhere, and ask
that they be studied carefully.
() >l' the fundamental principles
of the teaching arl is to proceed from
the known to the unknown. The new
light that breaks forth from the In-
ilian office promulgates the contradictory principle that we must proceed  from  the  unknown  to the
a different purpose, is the basis of
the arbitrary doings of the Indian
bureau. It has no application to education, nor does any laAv, of any
time, give the Indian office authority
to make such rules. A German of
Cincinnati, or a Hebrew of Neiv York,
could not be prohibited from haA'ing
his children taught to read his oaaii
bible. Some of these Indians, so
prohibited, are citizens and voters.
Where is the constitutional right to
restrain them in regard to this matter,
any more than our German or Hebrew citizens? Or, where is there
any more right to restrain them, eA'en
while in the position of "wards," contrary to the principles of correct
teaching and the precepts of religion.
These rules are clearly illegal, unscientific, irreligious, is the verdict which will ultimately be given
by the civilized and Christian portion
of the United States.
un
known.
Will the educational world
reverse all its teachings. Will it
dismiss all normal school professors
and apply to the Indiau office for a
new corps of instructors. The dictum of the Indian office is utterly
unscientific.
History teaches that, of all the
forces thai can lift up a people, moral
forces are the most potent. That
without moral influences, civilization
is superficial and transient. But the
Indian office, in its readjustment of
affairs, reA'erses history and declares
that moral influences are of no account; that it is of no use to touch
the inner motives through the heart
language, which is ahvays the mother
tongue; that the Bible in the home,
in the language that can be understood, is a "detriment" to their civilization. And so it goes on to break
up missionary schools by the score,
and fence in with unfriendly legislation, all missionary operations. The
policy of the Indian office is irreligious.
There is an old law, nearly a century old, which Avas made to regulate
trade Avith tlie Indians, before Indian
civilization Avas thought of. This
ancient laAv of another age, made for
President Cleveland has openly and
definitely expressed himself in favor
of Christian missions among the Indians. Not merely that they were to
be alloAved, or encouraged to do Avhat
they could, but to the effect that without Christian missions the Avork
Avould lie a failure. But the Indian
office has a different opinion, and is
practically the executive. So that
Avhat the President wisely believes, is
one thing, and AA'hat his administration does for the Indian, is quite another thing.
The Old Home Place.
Do you remember that September
day, in 1854, Avhen we took the last
meal in the old church at Lacquiparle, that had been our refuge since
the fiery trial in March, Avhich left us
homeless? For all those months AA'e
had knoAvn no other home. AAre Avere
thankful for the shelter the old
church gave us. On Sunday it had
still been nsed for Avorship, although
a large family lived Avithin its Avails.
Now Ave Avere leaving it—another
home had been built for us twenty-
five miles doAvn the river. AVe looked
about with regret. We were still
loth to leaA'e the hills and valleys —
the pleasant places to which our
hearts clung. AAre had knoAvn hardships, but youth is blithe and gay,
and we forgot all those as Ave thought
of the pleasant things only. "AVhy
should we," the Indian Avomen said,
"leave this beautiful country, where
the plums and the berries groAv so
abundantly, and where there are
plenty of fish." But it was judged
better, and so we were all leaAung the
endeared spot. The room in the old
church looked dreary that morning.
EA'erything but the absolutely necessary had been packed in the wagons,
and nothing but the scautiest furnishings remained. The hymn that
followed breakfast was, "Father,
Avhate'er of earthly bliss." You cannot have forgotten that, nor how earnestly the father lead in prayer. Both
his A'oice and that of the mother are
hushed for earthly singing, but they
Avere long ago attuned to the songs of
heaven. The mother heart must have
been sore as she gazed for the last
time on the place that had been the
birth-place of so many of her children. A volume of experiences had
been hers there, and she was saying
farewell foreA'er. NeA'er siuce, in nil
the years, have some of us looked on
those hills again. A feAv days ago it
Avas my good fortune to stand, with a
younger sister, once more on the hilltop and look out upon the Avaters of
the lake, beautiful as eA'er. The afternoon Avas rainy, but still Ave could
find some of the old-time haunts.
The spring that trickled out from
the hillside, the great rock Avhere we
used to play—these Avere still there.
The path Avhereon our childish feet
so often traveled, sometimes carrying
a pail of Avater, and sometimes seeking only our oavu pleasure, had groAvn
up with underbrush. But Ave could
stand where the "old house at home"
had stood, and look out on much the
same view that had delighted us so
many years ago. Here and there
bits of timber had groAvn up—farmhouses peeped out from among the
trees, but the river flowed along as
before and the lake was just as it used
to be. AA'e turned aAvay with satisfaction—glad that once more our eyes
had beheld the old Lacquiparle home.
To the lads of the next generation it
seemed strange that Ave should have
come so far to see so little, but to us
it was a gratification. The kindly
attentions of people whom we had
never seen before made the visit all
the more pleasant. AVe shall not soon
forget the gentleman who left his har-
A'est-work to guide us in our search.
And should we neA'er see the places
again, Ave shall long remember tlie
kindly greeting Ave received from every one Ave met in the little A'illage of
Lacquiparle, and our last glimpse of
the ever-lasting hills.
The next day's pilgrimage Avas not
so delightful. It was not that we did
not find friendly people; it Avas not
that we Avere not aided iu our search
after the home of long ago. TAventy-
five years—a full quarter of a century—have gone by since that home
at Hazlewood Avas left behind. Noav
nothing of it remains. The houses
had been destroyed within a few weeks
after our forced departure, and the
place is in the hands of strangers.
Nothing Avas the same—nothing. We
hought Ave had not expected anything Avould be the same, yet, in some
Avay, the reality was very disappointing. Although another home had
been built up on the very site of what
had been our home, so dear, the outlook was not the same. How it was
one could hardly tell, but it was sadder than the visit at Lacquiparle had
been. " I think I never want to go
back," the younger sister said, and
probably we never shall. That page
of our life's history is turned over
never to be opened again. Perhaps
it is better so.
We shall no doubt look on beyond
Avith greater satisfaction to the better
home Avhither we are journeying.
That will never disappoint, never disturb, never fail. For that home and
that hope, we thank the Lord AA'ho has
led us all the way.
Hapistinna.
Sisseton Agency, Aug. 18, 1887.
Rulings of the Indian Bureau.
I. Extract of letter of Commissioner Atkins to Agent McLaughlin, Standing
Ro 'k Agency.
Department ok the Interior,
(Mlice of Indian Affairs,
Washington, Dec. 14, 1886.
# * * *
all schools conducted by missionary organizations it is required
that all instructions shall be given in
the English language. Instruction
in the Dakota language will not be
permitted.
(Signed) J. D. C. Atkins,
Commissioner.
*
In
II. Iteply of tin- Commissioner to letters
of inquiry of Agent   McLaughlin.
Office of Indian Affairs,
February <?, 1887.
Sir:—In reply I have to advise
you that the rule applies to all
schools on Indian reservations,
Avhether they be goA'ernment or mission schools. The instruction of the
Indian in the A'ernacular is not only
of no use to them, but is detrimental
to the cause of their education and
civilization, and no school will be
permitted on the reservation iu Avhich
the English is not exclush'ely taught.
Very Bespectfully,
(Signed)       J. D. C. Atkins,
Commissioner.
III. Letter  of Agent McChesney, Cheyenne River Agency,
United States Indian Sera'ice,
Cheyenne Rh'er Agency,
July 23, 1887.
Rev. T. L. biggs:
Sir—Enclosed hereAvitii you will
find copy of department letter of July
16th relative to instruction in schools
upon this reservation.
The rule named must be hereafter
strictly adhered to; otherwise they
will be discontinued.
I trust that I will not be compelled
to abolish your mission (day) schools.
Very Respectfully,
Chas. E. McChesney,
U. S. Indian Agent.
Per C. R. AVheedon, Clerk.
IV.  Letter of Acting Commissioner Up-
sliaw to Agent McC liesney.
Department of the Interior,
Office of Indian Affairs,
Washington, July, 16, 1887.
Chas. E.   McChesney, U.   S. Indian
Agent,   Cheyenne  River   Agency,
Dakota.
Sir:—Your attention is called to
the regulation of this office which
forbids instruction in schools in any
Indian language. This rule applies
to all schools on an Indian reservation, whether government or mission
schools. The education of Indians
in the vernacular is not only no use
to them, but is detrimental to their
education and civilization.
You are instructed to see that this
rule is rigidly enforced in all schools
upon the reservation under your
charge.
No  mission school will be allowed
upon the reservation Avhich does  not
comply Avith the regulation.
Very Respectfully,
(Signed) A. Upshaw,
Acting Commissioner.
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