MOTIVES BEHIND FALSE AND DEFAMATORY ACCUSATIONS AGAINST FATHER DUNCAN

The motives behind the false and defamatory accusations against Father Duncan were based upon a desire on the part of plotters to advance their selfish interests by discrediting the work of this great missionary, thereby inducing and misleading the Secretary of the Interior into authorizing and ordering a series of acts which have had the far-reaching effect

1. Of depriving the Metlakahtlans of their religious and property rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution of the United Sates;

2. Of unlawfully transferring the exclusive fishing rights of Annette Islands Reserve to outside fishing interests, thereby depriving the Metlakahtlans of the full and peaceful enjoyment of this special reserve created for their exclusive use by the act of March 3, 1891; and

3. Of all but consummating the literal destruction of the Metlakahtla Christian Mission.

The plan of the Bureau plotters to invade the mission village established by Father Duncan at Metlakahtla is thus outlined in the report of William T. Lopp, Chief of the Alaska Division of the Bureau of Education, to the Commissioner of Education, dated January 14, 1911:

In conclusion I desire to make the following recommendations:

1. That the petition of these people for a Government school be granted, and that a school building containing three or four recitation rooms and rooms for industrial training and teacher's residence be erected at Metlakahtla during the summer of 1911.

2. That you recommend to the Honorable Secretary of the Interior that a special agent of the Interior Department be sent to Metlakahtla to investigate the needs of the people, ownership and management of the present industrial plant, and possible plans for its continuation and extension after Mr. Duncan's retirement or death.

3. That you recommend to the Honorable Secretary of the Interior that he prescribe rules, regulations, and restrictions for Metlakahtla Reservation, which will encourage the Indians in the industrial development of the natural resources of the island and protect them from molestation or interference because of their desire for a public school for their children.

4. That plans for Departmental activity be decided upon at once. That the real intention of the Bureau plotters was to get control of the fisheries of Annette Islands Reserve is shown by the following statement in a letter from Lopp to William G. Beattie, Superintendent of Schools for the Southeastern District of Alaska, dated February 13, 1916:

It is our present intention, if successful in securing exclusive fishing rights to the bays and 1,500 feet of the shore waters, for Metlakahtla, to try to secure the same for Hydaburg, Mowquakie, and others.

It will be recalled that at the time the Lopp and Logan reports were filed, the waters of Annette Islands Reserve, set apart by the act of March 3, 1891, for the exclusive use of the Metlakahtlans, were being invaded by outside fishing interests.

During the year following the filing of the Lopp and Logan reports, the Attorney General of the United States ordered the institution of proceedings against Smiley and Jenkins to prohibit them from operating a fish trap in the waters surrounding Annette Islands.

As we have also seen, the Annette Island Packing Co., organized by J. L. Smiley and others, procured through the Bureau of Education a series of illegal leases for the exclusive right to operate fish traps in the waters of Annette Islands Reserve for a period of 16 fishing seasons, beginning April 30, 1917, and ending December 1,

1932.

That it was the intention of Edward Marsden, the missionary at Saxman, Alaska, and the crafty tool of politico-sectarian plotters, to intrude himself into Father Duncan's mission field, is shown by many documents, including the following statement published by him in the Ketchikan Progressive, on or about March 27, 1915:

Some of my friends are very much concerned lest I put my fingers into the Metlakahtla affair and spoil it, and spoil Mr. Duncan's work. Unfortunately my eyeballs are not blue, but they are jet black so is my hair just like my Indian father's, neither have I a roman nose. And you might as well try to keep a duck out of a pond as to hold me aloof from the Metlakahtla question.

That agents of the Bureau of Education and their confederates, after intruding a Bureau school into Father Duncan's mission village as a pretext in the scheme of the plotters to capture or destroy this world famous mission and procure control of the fisheries of Annette Islands Reserve, had no scruples in aiding in the invasion of Father Duncan's church, is shown by the following statement in a letter from Lopp to Beattie, dated May 23, 1917:

You spoke of the probability of a Presbyterian Church being organized at Metlakahtla sooner or later, and that because of the fact that you were a Presbyterian you would be given the credit for organizing the same. In my opinion, neither the Presbyterian Church nor any other denominational church will be organized at Metlakahtla for a number of years. I am convinced that it would be a very serious mistake to attempt to organize one, or even to encourage the organization of a church there for a number of years. The independent organization which they now have can, I am sure, run along at least 3 or 4 years after the time when Mr. Duncan is no longer a factor in Metlakahtla. At any rate, I am willing to be embarrassed and take the responsibility for any Presbyterian Church which you may have the bad judgment to organize during your incumbency at Metlakahtla.

In furtherance of their schemes to exploit the natural resources of Annette Islands, Marsden, through the machinations of the Bureau agents, was, on January 1, 1916, installed as Secretary of Annette Islands Reserve, a position which he continued to occupy until his death in 1932, and by his own misdoings and official irregularities distracted attention from the mercenary plot to deprive the Metlakahtlans of their long established rights given to them by an Act of Congress.

The outlines of the conspiracy to administer section 15 of the act of March 3, 1891 (26 Stat. 1101), which created Annette Islands Reserve, contrary to the true intent and policy of Congress, has been considered elsewhere.

SECTION 83 UNTRUE ALLEGATIONS OF PLOTTERS REFUTED BY THEIR OWN STATEMENTS

Untrue allegations made by Marsden refuted by his own statements. Untrue allegations made by Arctander refuted by his own statements. Arctander's real opinion of Father Duncan. Untrue allegations made by Lopp refuted by his own statements. Untrue allegations made by Logan refuted by his own statements. Excerpts from Logan report arranged in deadly parallel. Untrue allegations made by Beattie refuted by his own statements. Untrue allegations made by Claxton refuted by his own statements. Untrue allegations of plotters refuted by statements of Secretary of Interior

Defamatory statements made by adversaries of Father Duncan to advance their own personal interests and to vent their prejudice, spleen, and hatred by besmirching him in the esteem of the Secretary of the Interior and by undermining him in the confidence of his people and the public, have been already completely refuted by the facts set forth in the preceding section and elsewhere.

Although the refutations there given are ample and convincing, it is now proposed to enable the reader easily and readily to gain a clear conception of the falsity and heinousness of the base attacks on this devoted missionary, by showing that these enemies of Father Duncan have themselves completely discredited their slanderous attacks by their own declarations admitting the noble qualities and unspotted character of this upright and godly man.

UNTRUE ALLEGATIONS MADE BY MARSDEN REFUTED BY HIS OWN

STATEMENT

With his egotistical and ambitious heart ever burning with a desire and purpose to supplant Father Duncan and foist himself into his place as leader of these people, Marsden became the ready tool of the plotters in their campaign of defamation against his great benefactor.

We have heretofore seen that many villainous slanders against Father Duncan originated with Edward Marsden, the renegade among the people whom Father Duncan redeemed and saved from slavery.

With characteristic duplicity, no tongue has been more bitter than Marsden's, and no pen more active than his in denunciation of Father Duncan, yet no one has been louder in his praise than Marsden when it served his purpose to speak the truth.

That Marsden knew his accusations against Father Duncan were untrue is shown by his praise of Father Duncan, which appears in the following documents, covering a period of 40 years, written both before and after he had launched on the campaign of villification conducted by the plotters against his venerable benefactor. Address by Marsden at Sitka, Alaska, August 7, 1888:

Under the practical and sensible teaching of our great leader Mr. Duncan who has trained our fathers by slow degrees to habits of cleanliness, industry, and self-reliance, they have been converted from the customs of their savage condition and have become well-behaved and industrious citizens.

We their children have all had the advantages of schools and religious teaching while a large number of the adults have had the benefit of the same training. Many of them are educated and intelligent.

Letter from Marsden to Father Duncan, written at Sitka, Alaska, August 8, 1888:

All the ladies and gentlemen in town are very pleased to see how we are getting on very well, careful, doing our work with our will, and obedient boys. They asked us where we [were] taught to do such things and how to play on different musical instruments. We told them we have been taught by you.

Letter from Marsden to Father Duncan, June 24, 1889:

I thank you dear sir that you trained me before I came here [Sitka]. I was thinking that if you did not mind my faults some years ago and that if your hand was not on me I would grow up and be a vain and useless foolish man. So I feel very grateful that by your indefatigable teaching I am growing up to be one that fears God and loves and obeys his fellow men.

*

Letter from Marsden to Father Duncan, written at Marietta College, Ohio, March 31, 1891:

General Eaton is a very nice and true Christian man. He loves to hear me sing. He says that "he will not be contented till he sees Mr. Duncan's scholar can do almost everything."

Letter from Marsden to Father Duncan, June 10, 1891:

I miss your voice and your presence ever so much. If my coming here [Marietta College] be the means of doing some good bless him who never forsakes his flock.

Letter from Marsden to Father Duncan, written at Marietta College, Ohio, July 20, 1891:

The more I try to develop myself in learning the more I appreciate your work for me and I feel that I ought to give you every help you need.

Letter from Marsden to Dr. Sheldon Jackson, September 7, 1891: * Mr. Duncan taught me the principles of bookkeeping and wishing

to continue in that study I purchased a textbook.

Letter from Marsden to Father Duncan, April 24, 1892:

It pains me to hear the sawmill disaster that has occurred at home in the night of the 26th ultimo. What is the main cause, I do not understand; but I am inclined to think that the destruction of property is through carelessness on the part of some workman. I can only lift up my voice to the Great Treasurer, and ask for His help to secure the means of building another one which is so much needed by you and the people.

The church erection now has to be delayed for quite a while. It seems very discouraging; but let us remember, O noble minister of the Gospel, let us remember that God's ways are not our ways. He will see to it and provide for your wants.

Last year, I asked you for a letter of recommendation and afterward I immediately reversed the request. After having had some experiences with a great many Christians wherever I went to work during the vacations, and having taken the matter into a careful consideration, I found that I did really need your letter of recommendation. If it does not tax you too much, pray, can you write me a short one before summer comes? I shall appreciate and prize it very highly, and shall always be proud of being trained by you in my early days. It is to you I am indebted for my Christian life, my courageous and energetic heart, and my ability of becoming a faithful minister of the Lord.

Is there any of your friends that will be glad to see me if I happen to visit Boston, Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia, and other places during the summer vacation? They will be more interested in your noble work if they see one of your later scholars, and especially when he addresses them in their own language.

Capt. R. H. Pratt, of the Industrial School at Carlisle, Pa., sends his love to you and wishes you success in your work.

Letter from Marsden to Father Duncan, December 25, 1893.

Please accept my hearty thanks for the money that you sent to me through Mr. Wadham. * *

Pamphlet entitled "Life of Edward Marsden", circulated by Marsden in eastern cities about the

year 1893:

His [Marsden's] parents were both heathens and descendants of the Tsimpshean Tribe, known as the "Terror of North Pacific" early in the present century, but both were converted to Christianity in 1859, through the earnest and untiring efforts of Mr. William Duncan

Letter from Marsden to Father Duncan, May 2, 1894.

Thanking you for the faithful performance of your duty and praying the ord to be ever with you as in the dark days of northern British Columbia

when my father Samuel first came to the light and also grandfather Peter Simpson.

Letter from Marsden to Father Duncan, January 21, 1895.

You know me very well, and if any one that will be faithful to you in your closing years, it is the writer who has always respected and praised your name and good work in this and other States.

Letter from Marsden to Judge Thomas N. Strong, March 15, 1895. Mr. Duncan is my personal friend, and in my utterances, private and public, I always give him credit for what he has done

Letter from Marsden to Judge Thomas N. Strong, April 6, 1895.

I rejoice that my people [trained by Father Duncan] are without equals among the Christian natives of the North Pacific coast

*

Letter from Marsden to Father Duncan, April 18, 1895.

*

Understanding so very well that, through your devotion and instrumentality our people were brought into the Christian light and life, nearly forty years ago, and how much have we loved, praised, and helped you!

Letter from Marsden to President McKinley, written at Lane Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio, February 16, 1898.

For several years, since their emancipation from heathenism, our people have enjoyed a peaceful and prosperous life. Under [Father Duncan's] wise and patriotic leadership they have identified themselves with the progress of Christianity and civilization in that country.

Address of Marsden at the Indian Industrial School at Carlisle, Pa., March 2, 1898.

* ** *

I am very glad indeed to have the privilege and honor of sitting on the same platform with one [referring to Father Duncan] who gave his life for our salvation

*

Article entitled "William Duncan's Work on Annette Island, Alaska", by Marsden, in the Missionary Review of the World, July 1899:

New Metlakahtla has grown in spite of obstacles and discouragements. With Mr. Duncan at its head, and a corps of level-headed and trustworthy native advisers around him, the settlement has become the center of Christian and business activity in all this region.

The cannery is owned partly by Mr. Duncan and eastern capitalists, and partly by natives. It has a capacity of about 20,000 cases of packed salmon in one summer, and it gives employment to not less than a hundred people. This is a paying enterprise, and the skill with which it is managed speaks highly for Mr. Duncan and the community.

Mr. Duncan's history has often been told. Surely he has done a great deal for the Tsimpshean people. Although he has been indeependent in his methods, firm if not stern in his instructions, yet he has commanded the respect of those to whom he has devoted his whole life. Mr. Duncan has been among my people as a leader, adviser, business manager, organizer, a preacher, and a fearless prophet. we all agree that by God's direction he has accomplished a wonderful work. His monument ought to be one of the most conspicuous among those dedicated to missionary heroes.

*

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Article by Marsden in the Progressive, published at Ketchikan, Alaska, March 17, 1916:

The attitude of the Metlakahtla people toward Father Duncan looks as if they are ungrateful to him. * But this is not the case at all. Very

*