ALASKA INDUSTRIES. 309 



RUSSIAN RITUAL. 



I did not succeed in obtaining a copy of the Enssian Ritual at the 

 islands, but subsequently, wliile in San Francisco, procured a copy, 

 with several other books and papers belonging to the Greek service, 

 and sent the same to the Department. I paid $18 for them and was 

 reimbursed by the North American Commercial (3ompany out of the 

 translation fund in their possession. 



DISTRIBUTION OF SO-CALLED CHURCH FUND TO NATIVES. 



In pursuance to Department instructions of May 2 my successor dis- 

 tributed $3,344.10 among the natives on St. Paul Island and has given 

 tlie details of the transaction in liis report. I wish to add that in any 

 event the North American Commercial Company should not be a sufferer 

 by the action of the Government in this matter, but before there is any 

 restitution of this money to the Greek Church I would advise that a 

 carefnl investigation be made of the abuses to which these people are 

 subjected by the so-called priests under tlie cloak of teachers and 

 spiritual advisers. It is not the desire of the Treasury agents to in 

 any way interfere with the religious belief or mode of worship of these 

 people, but when, through the ignorance or immorality of a priest, 

 their religious doctrine becomes perverted and, by the influence of his 

 example, they are kept in a state of barbarism, is it not time for the 

 Government to inquire whether, under the j)lea of religious i^rivileges 

 and treaty rights, this condition of affairs is to continue ? 



The influence of the priests over these people is something wonderful, 

 and when wrongfully used, as it frequently is on the islands, debases 

 them to the condition of brutes. The Treasury agents are powerless as 

 against the influence of the priest, and no sort of punishment will cor- 

 rect the evil of drunkenness and immorality so long as the priest is one 

 of the chief oflenders. The Government should insist that the Greek 

 Church send no one to the islands as priest who is not a man of char- 

 acter and can render the service of their church in the English language. 

 Government wards on a Government reservation and supported by 

 Government appropriations are entitled to Government protection in 

 their education as American citizens and the observance of the ordinary 

 proprieties of civilization. 



SCHOOLS. 



In my report of last year I called attention to the fact that after more 

 than twenty years of Government control there were not a half dozen 

 natives who had learned to speak or read the English language by at- 

 tendance at the public school, and so long as the present system is fol- 

 lowed failure can be predicted with absolute certainty. The lessees 

 complied with their contract and furnished teachers for the length of 

 time required, but so far as producing favorable results is concerned it 

 was a waste of time and money, and so it will be so long as the present 

 condition exists. When the time arrives that these children can be 

 placed under faithful Christian teachers who will teach them habits of 

 industry and morality, and under these conditions the blessings of home 

 and home life, then may we look for gratifying results, but not before. 

 A practical demonstration of this is to be seen at the native school at 

 Unalaska presided over by Mr. and Mrs. Tuck. 



