44 Sketches of an Excursion to Southern Alaska. 



which is eiTeclualin many respects ; and they come to him as to a m li^isirate" 

 lo seule disputes and difficulties, or as to a competent friend for counsel. 



On iiiy arrival at Fort Wrangel, I resolved to conciliate our opponents, or 

 disarm them if I could not win ihem over to our cause. 



CONFERENCES WITH CHIEFS AND HEAD-MEN. 



Some of these, and among them both the hyas tyhees, Shustack and Shaikes, 

 avoided us. As they seemed to decline my special invitations to an in er- 

 view, 1 sought them, deeming it of great importance to show them respect, 

 and at the same time lo convince them that our aims in visiting them were un- 

 selfish and worthy of their approbation and support. 



I endeavored first to allay suspicion— the prevalent feeling of Indians toward 

 white men — and to remove, or at least suspend their prejudices, and thus get 

 upon a common foisting, where I could deal directly with theif understandings. 

 [ then assured them that wc had no sinister design in visiting them ; that we 

 were their friends, and that we were showing what our object was by manifest 

 signs in the buildings we were erecting for their people. We labored to make 

 the changes we were introducing less repugnant and even acceptable to them, 

 by showing the necessity for their adoption, a main point in moving these rigid 

 old conservatives. They must conform to the new order of things, or be 

 swallowed up in the tide that was rolling in. We drew illustrations from the 

 fate of Indians in the United States. We had come a long way to show our 

 regard for them, and now we wanted them to show a real interest in our labors 

 in their behalf; we wanted them not to stand off. but to look into our proceed- 

 ings, for we had nothing to hide. And seeing how much we who were strangers 

 desired their welfare, we wanted them to understand it, and put a real value 

 upon it. They being chiefs, should take the lead in everything that would 

 make their people happy and prosperous; and we knew that they would do 

 this when they came to know us better. Finally, we entreated them to trust 

 us, until they could understand what blessings we were bringing to them and to 

 their people. 



These incidents and experiences go to illustrate principles which are funda- 

 mental in human nature, and therefore universal. They touch the common 

 bonds and sympathies of brotherhood, and mould them into ties of fellowship, 

 and pledges of amity and peace. We respectfully invite the consideration of 

 the people and Government of the United States to the true solution of the 

 Indian question. 



These conferences, it cannot be doubted, will be fruitful in beneficial conse- 

 quences. It illustrates again ihe sufficiency and economy of moral power suit- 

 ably directed. The salutary influence of one of these was immediately felt at 

 Glenora, B. C, in calming an e.xcitement which prevailed there, occas;nncd by 

 threats to rescue an Indian who was in prison charged with crime. l^jut tht- 

 moral niomenlum of that interview will be felt forever. I was burdened wiih 

 the conviction that the hour was decisive, and that the Lord was there. 



