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Show 22 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. ple. Perhaps it will be pardonable to insert here one of the briefer indorsements of that attitude: Be it resobetl, That the Board of Managers of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, having a somewhat intimate knowledge of Indian conditions through its educational and missionary workers among the Indians, desires to assure the Secretary of the Interior of its continued and growing confidence in the administration of Indian matters through tile Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The board most emphatically disavows ail sympathy with criticism of tile Indian administration which originates either with those whose unjust exploi-tation of Indians is thwarted by the Indian Office, or with those who are igno-rant of the actual facts and of the dangers threatening Indian progress, and are moved by impractical and abstract theories inapplicable to present con-ditions. Without claiming to have sufficient detailed information to pass judgment on every feature of the policy of the Indian Office, the board of managers de-sires to commend in most unqualified terms the Commissioner of Indian Af-fairs and his chief assistants for their deep and active interest in Indinn wel-fare, for their attitude toward degrading customs and habits, for their per-sistent efforts to save the Indians from exploitation by unprincipled men, and for their unfailing courage in antagonizing powerful interests in their effort to protect and lleii the wronged and-helpleis.- We are confident that the great mass of our Christian American citizens. will stand hack of any administration and afficials moved by such a spirit and n- nr-n ose In conclusion, I thank you for frequent and helpful suggestions and the benefit of your deep interest in the advancement of the Indians. Very respectfully, CEAS. H. BURKEC, mi s 8 i o l ~ e r . The SECRETAORF TYH E INTERIOR. |