Plans for hnproving the Natives. 49 



pared to say that any of these schools should be sustained by funds of the 

 Board of Home Missions, nor by independent contributions. I am clear, 

 however, on the point that the Government of the United States should pro- 

 vide accommodations required for all schools and pay salaries of teachers. 

 The Government has adopted this policy among the Indians in othei parts of 

 the country, with very promising results. In Alaska it can be applied with 

 greater prospects of success, and at a much reduced expenditure. 



This is one of the grandest fie'ds of usefulness. The future of Alaska's 

 races will he placed in the hands of these teachers. 



A few years' trial of these schools will show whether the Aborigines have 

 reached the level of ascent towards a higher civilization, or whether they are 

 capable of being qualified for maintaining a creditable rank among the people 

 of the United States. On this point the writer entertains not a solitary doubt. 

 The Hydahs and Tlinkets exhibit qualities which give them rank equal to tht- 

 great majority of emigrants from Europe, who are speedily and without train- 

 ing in our schools admitted to the privileges of American citizenship. 



SECULAR VIEWS OF OUR SCHOOLS 



amply sustain the tone of ihis Report touching their usefulness and popularity. 

 I have a number of references and quotations of this character. I call attention 

 to a few only. The first is from a shrewd and observant correspondent of the 

 San Francisco "Chronicle" and the New York "Sun." He writes from 

 Sitka, May 15th, 187S: 



I am unwilling to close this letter without an attempt to do justice to the 

 intelligent, brave, and self-denying young woman, who has lately established a 

 school for the instruction of Indian children. Miss Kellogg is from the state 

 of New York, and came out here a few months ago under engagement to the 

 Presbyterian Board of Missions. Her school is a notable success ; the scholars, 

 already numbering seventy, are bright and quick, and are making excellent 

 progress in the rudiments of English tuition; they exhibit a great desire to 

 learn, and are apparently warmly attached to their teacher. The old Indians 

 also show much interest in the success of the school, and Sitka Jack has taken 

 it under his special protection. This school is an excellent enterprise, as it 

 instructs the Indian youth in a knowledge of the United States, and teaches 

 them to be Americans rather than Russians. For several years nothing had 

 been done for the instruction or improvement of these people, and it is well to 

 have it taken out of Russian hands, even if the officiating priest felt inclined 

 to keep up a school, which he does not. In her modest and scantily furnished 

 home, Miss Kellogg is simply a charming young lady, an accomplished musi- 

 cian, full of repartee and fun, and as free from cant as if she had never heard 

 nor written the word missionary. 



I cite another authority. Major W. G. Morris, special agent of the United 

 States' Treasury Department, who in his Report on Alaska, speaks in highest 

 terms of commendation of our schools, referring to our teachers by name, and 

 saying of them that they are in his opinion " the pioneers of an undertaking 



