Page:Schurz Birthday 55.JPG

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55

and head. There President Hayes, Mr. Schurz and other members of the Cabinet visited them, and were so much impressed by what had been accomplished towards their training in the ways of Christian civilization, that they arranged to have the Indians transferred under the superintendency of Captain Pratt, to the old Military Barracks, at Carlisle. Thus, under Mr. Schurz's direction, they formed the nucleus of the great institution which now exists at Carlisle. The old barracks, which formerly sheltered United States cavalrymen until ready to be sent out to the plains to fight Indians, came to shelter Indians while Christianity and labor transformed them into peaceful citizens. There is a practical hint in this fact as to how the white man may best bear the burden of the red man, or the brown or black man. Carl Schurz helped to show how that problem may be solved. [Applause.]

When I first became acquainted with Indian affairs in 1882, I visited one of the wildest reservations of the Northwest—Pine Ridge, in South Dakota. There were 7,000 Indians at that point, many of them restless, and, if aroused, dangerous men. But their agent, Dr. V. T. McGillycuddy, [applause,] was a man of strict honesty, great ability and courage. He had received his appointment from Mr. Schurz, and Mr. Schurz was his firm friend. As an officer of the Indian Rights Association, much of my time was passed in defending Dr. McGillycuddy against the unjust attacks of traders and interested persons who worked in every conceivable way for his removal, because he interfered with their schemes. Once, when there was serious danger at the agency from a threatened uprising of the Old Chief,