the amicable spirit in which the representatives of Central and South American States and of our own Government, now assembled at Washington, are adopting resolutions of mutual good will, and, in accord with the sentiments so well expressed by the Secretary of State in welcoming them to the United States, have proposed arbitration instead of a resort to arms in all cases of dispute which may arise between the governments they represent and our own.

Will not the building of war vessels of unusual size and number, and the erection of coast defences, at such a juncture, arouse a feeling of jealousy and suspicion against us on the part of these neighboring republics, and tend to nullify the salutary results hoped for by the labors of the Pan-American Congress?

If the machinery and implements of war are multiplied, they foster national pride, and stimulate ambitious, political leaders to seek occasions of quarrel on slight pretexts, rather than to settle differences by peaceful negotiations.

The danger of war is also increased by the creation of a large body of military and naval officers imbued with the animus of war and brought into place and power by unusual appropriations for such objects, who would realize that their hope of promotion lies chiefly in active service. Thus some of the greatest calamities have fallen upon nations, merely to gratify their ambitious rulers. The existence of a large surplus in the United States treasury seems to us but a fallacious plea for the proposed outlay of millions in

naval armament.

This surplus belongs to the people, and it has been in part contributed through heavy taxation, whilst many of our citizens are thereby impoverished, and a great national debt still remains to consume the resources of the people. Justice to them demands the most economical care in national as well as state expenditures, rather than squandering their hard earned means in useless vessels which entail still further expense for their future maintenance.

The world has not been left without an illustration of the practicability of carrying on a government upon purely Christian principles. In the establishment of that of Pennsylvania, no provision was made for the maintenance of a military force, and although William Penn and his coad

jutors had to deal with an untutored and savage race of men, yet during the period of seventy years in which this Province was under the control of himself and those sharing his religious belief, in no instance was there a resort to arms to settle the claims of either party; whilst other English colonies who assumed that an armed force was necessary for self protection, were involved in frequent desolating wars with the native tribes.

If the grand design and aim of Christianity, as expressed in the Lord's prayer, that His kingdom may come, and His will be done in earth as it is in heaven, is ever realized, such a result can only be attained by simple faith in the practical value of the precepts of Christ, and a ready obedience to them in all the concerns of life. In proportion as men and governments are disposed to accept and act upon the exalted principles of the gospel, nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

REPORT

OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE CIVILIZATION AND

IMPROVEMENT OF THE INDIANS.

To the Yearly Meeting:

At the time of our last report the Boarding School for Indian children at Tunesassa was under the care of Aaron and Miranda G. Dewees, as Superintendent and Matron. These Friends resigned their positions, and were succeeded in the Tenth Month last by James Henderson as Superintendent and Rebecca W. Bundy, of Barnesville, Ohio, as Matron.

The School has been maintained in efficient operation during the year. The number of children present during the summer term has averaged about 36. During the winter term 40 children were present, of whom 15 were boys and 25 girls.

Rebecca Sears and Mary R. Battey have continued to be the teachers in the school, and Mary McGirr, Elizabeth Conard and Elizabeth Hall, have assisted in the care of the children out of school and as helpers in the family. The latter having recently left the Institution, Eunice Henderson has been appointed to take her place.

Barclay Penrose and his wife, Mary Penrose, members of Pennsville Monthly Meeting, Ohio, have occupied the tenant house near the school building since the middle of the Tenth Month, and the former has assisted in the work of the farm and in the care of the boys out of school.

The instruction given in the school is chiefly in the elementary branches, but some of the children remain long enough to enter upon the higher studies. One boy has been reviewing geometry, and obtaining a knowledge of algebra during the past winter. By the performance of much of the indoor work of the house, the girls acquire valuable lessons in housekeeping, the management of a dairy, &c., while in

assisting upon the farm, the boys obtain information in regard to farming operations, the care of the stock, &c., which may be of great value to them after they leave the Institution. While thus employed in useful occupations in association with the caretakers, an influence for good is exerted over the children, which we trust will be of lasting benefit.

A new and larger carpenter shop has lately been erected, and furnished with tools for the use of the boys, which has had an effect in arousing their ingenuity and led to the employment of a part of their leisure time in making some things for their own amusement or of value in the house.

Meetings for Divine Worship have been regularly held on First and Fifth days, and the Holy Scriptures are daily read in the family. Before retiring at night the children are also collected for the purpose of reading to them from religious and useful books.

From the account of our Treasurer it appears that he had on hand Third Month 1st, 1889, $205.99. He has received during the year, income from investments and interest on deposits, $889.22; one-third of the income of the estate of John Parrish $250.21; receipts of farm above expenditures $499.60; appropriation of the Yearly Meeting $1500.00; principal of a mortgage, paid off $1250.00; donations $140.00: making together $4735.02

He has paid for salaries $1673.00; for provisions and miscellaneous expenses of the family $2081.69; for articles used in the school $104.75; for repairs and improvements $83.20; for carpenter shop, tools and new ice-house $289.59; for travelling expenses of officers $87.18; for furniture $12.26; for insurance on building, incidental expenses, &c., $193.34; for fuel $125.13; making together $4650.14, and leaving a balance on hand, Second Month 28th, 1890, of $84.88.

As mentioned in our last report, the expenses of conducting the school at Tunesassa since the admission of a larger number of children than formerly, has exceeded our income, rendering it necessary to encroach upon our invested funds. We would therefore suggest that the appropriation of the Yearly Meeting be increased to $2000.00 for this

year, and that Friends be encouraged to contribute in aid of the funds applicable to the use of the Committee.

Some members of the Committee have visited the Institution during the year, inspected the condition of the school and family, and given attention to needful repairs and improvements to the buildings and upon the farm. From their observations it appears that the general condition of the Institution is satisfactory, and encourages the belief that the Boarding School is exerting a salutary influence, not only upon the children who attend it, but in the neighborhood and among the Indians on the Reservation.

The pecuniary results from the farm have not been as satisfactory as usual, owing in measure to a partial failure of crops resulting from a severe frost in the Fifth Month of last year and also to the low prices at which some of its products were disposed of. The crops of the Indians have also been less than in some former years, and by the prevalence of the influenza an unusual amount of sickness has occurred during the past winter.

The attention of the public has been directed in a greater degree than usual of latter time to the different tribes of Indians in the State of New York, in consequence of the action of a Board of Commissioners appointed by the Legislature of that State, to investigate their condition, and the introduction of a bill to carry out some of its recommendations. This bill provides for the immediate allotment of all the Reservations among the Indians occupying them, excepting the Allegheny, Cattaraugus, and Oil Spring Reservations belonging to the Senecas, which are exempted until the claim of the Ogden Land Co. to them shall have been extinguished. It also provides that those Indians, to whom an allotment of land shall thus be made, and their children, are thenceforth citizens of the State; renders void any sale by an Indian of his or her allotment during a period of 30 years, and dissolves the tribal organization of those Indians whose lands are thus divided. Objections have been made to this bill by many of the Indians, from the belief that it has not been proposed on account of a real desire for their welfare; the fear that the salutary restriction in regard to the sale of their individual allotments may soon be modified or repealed, thus permitting the improvident to squander