A Letter addressed to President Hayes. 65 



which these conclusions are based are indisputable, and so notorious as to need 

 no rehearsal here. Since, however, this policy has never succeeded, we are 

 justified in the adoption of another and more promising expedient. 



The locality is highly favorable for it. This distant Territory presents very 

 few attractions to men of businesrj, and none to "white" settlers. The "whites" 

 who dwell there, or make voyages thither, or transact business with them, all 

 concur in asking for the introduction of municipal regulations, and with one 

 voice demand that all classes of inhabitants shall be held amenable to the same 

 law, and that they shall be treated with the same justice and equity. 



Another provision for the welfare of the future generations of Alaska, should 

 no longer be neglected by the Government. We refer to education in common 

 schools. No defense of primary educati>-)n is needed at this day for the "white' 

 children of fhe United States. Can any sound reason for withholding it from 

 other children of our country be given? We assume that the educational policy 

 of the United States rests upon an impregnable basis, and hence infer that the 

 expediency of its introduction in Alaska will not be seriously disputed. The 

 capabilities of the native Alaskans justify this provision for their enlightenment. 

 They petition for it with some just appreciation of the benefit, with earnest 

 and persistent desire, and with entire unanimity. 



The suggestion of this provision is sustained by a condition of popular sen- 

 timent unparallelled in any other part of our country. The parties just referred 

 to, as sustaining the application of the before mentioned provision, are equally 

 as favorable to the introduction of schools and churches among the natives; 

 and their unanimity in the advocacy of this provision is quite as great, if not 

 as earnest. 



There lies before me the expression of these opinions in answer to a series of 

 questions addressed to leading men of various pursuits, who are residents of 

 Alaska, or acquainted with its condition, and its wants; and their views are 

 reflected in many places in this Report, and concentrated in the two provisions 

 above mentioned. 



But there remains another consideration. The Territory of Alaska is neither 

 Isankrupt nor poverty-stricken. It costs nothing worthy of naming, to sustain 

 our sovereignty over it. Its inhabitants receive no stipends. Its natives re- 

 ceive no annuities. And yet it pays into the United States Treasury over three 

 hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) per annum, a gross sum of more than 

 four millions of dollars (4,000,000), since its purchase. 



We humbly ask for the appropriation of a very small portion of the annual 

 income derived from Alaska, in order to extend the reign of just and equitablel 

 laws over all its communities, and to visit its various families with the benign 

 influences of modern civilization. 



If these consummate facts are without avail, no eloquence can strengthen our 

 appeal ; no reasoning can lend it conviction ; no philanthropy can incline or 

 persuade. We confidently commit the case to the judgment and conscience of 

 the American people, in the august capacity of the (Government of the United 

 States. 



Submitted, with the highest respect, by your fellow citizen, 

 Portland, Orego.n. A, L. LINDSLEY, 



