Nez Perce Agency, Idaho
May 17^th, 1886
Revd A.S. Lindsley D.D,
Portland Oregon

Rev’d and My dear Sir:
When taking into consideration the work you have performed in trying to secure the re-appointment of myself, it is with humiliation and shame that I give you the following for your information. As a last struggle on part of the worst element in the democratic party in Lewiston to prevent my reappointment, said element, headed by one John Selcott, a squaw man and notorious drunkard, and two of the most bitter Roman Catholics I ever knew, called a meeting and invited Indian James Reuben to be present. As a result of said meeting a petition was framed requesting the appointment of one Thomas Hughes to be my successor. Said Hughes had as his wife, Selcotts present squaw and is of the same stripe as Selcott.

Said petition was placed in Reuben’s hands, to be signed by the Indians. Reuben told the Indians that if they could get rid of Montieth, they could race horses and gamble all they wanted to. In obtaining names among the Indians, every Indian who is opposed to the "Court of Indian Offenses" and the "Police force" signed. And in addition every one of Miss S.L. McBeth’s pupils also the husbands of all of Miss Kate C. McBeth’s pupils, except two signed said petition and is so doing knew what they were signing. This is the result of the influence said women have been exerting among the Indians upon this reserve. The delegate in Congress from Idaho writes to a party in Lewiston that none but a Presbyterian can be appointed as my successor.They are now supporting a Rev’d W.H. Eagan of Walla Walla who is a Cumberland Presbyterian. Probably you know him.

If senator Dolph could be prevailed upon to ask Mr Cleveland to examine my endorsements, I think there would be no further trouble. Still I am not very anxious to be re-appointed, as I think I can see in the action of the native ministers – Miss Sue L. McBeth’s pupils – the falling to pieces of the religious work on this reserve in the near future. In my opinion, the only thing that will prevent it will be to do away with all native ministers and female missionaries, and send white missionaries, of sound mind and level head here to preach to the Indians.
I remain Yours
Very respectfully

C.E. Montieth