The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-02-25


er in the far-of west the heavens shrouded in
darkness and the troubled elements began their
frightfu ragngs He heard the distant thunder roll
-he saw the lurid lghtnings leap from every cloud
and stream down the the sable armament; but still
he remained unmoved The dark and threatening
clouds moved on, and the winds and tempest ceased
their fearful howIngs. With delight lie gazed on
the clear blue sky that again sparkled his head
With heartfelt gratitude he discovered the image of
the Great Spirit in the lingering rays of the setting
sun, cast keen and penetrating glance at the un-
bounded prospect, surveyed himself and with voice
of exultation exclaimed, ~ the sole undisputed
monarch of this Western world"
Ages passed away the wheels of time moved on
The indian guarded the graves of his ancestors
hunted the deer and squirrel, participated in the
but last at pilgrim bark deep freighted from the
east, came to his shores. The pale face came, and
10
-"his hand he laid
On hill, and dale, and stream and called them his
Then the animated chase the feast of joy the thrilling
sound of the war-whoop-all were departed. The
land that once knew him knew him no more. He
had to orsake the home of his infancy the graves Of
his fathers, and the hunting grounds which he
had often bounded in pursuit of prey, penetrate
into the western wilds, where human footsteps had
never bounded, where human voice had never echoed
With an aching heart he stopped to cast wistful
look towards his father-land Furnished bayonets
glittered in the sun-beams upon his native plains
cities reared their lofty spires along the shores where
the fire once blazed-the sails Of commerce whitened
the mighty rivers and lakes where erst he padded
the bark canoeand the towering forest fell PROSTATE
before the woodmans sturdy stroke. Farewell, ye
once happy and peaceful abodes he exclaimed and
with heavy heart and measured step moved on.
Years wore apace. Hooked again
and an Indian standing upon rugged cliff that
overhung the great Pacific He was the last of his
race the only remaining memento of a once pow
erful and magnanmous nation His form
emaciated his countenance pale and downcast and
his look wild and raving The weight of years was
upon his brow the cadence of his once musical voice
was weak and sepulchra the ofdespair startled
from his languid eye, and he wept The wind
howled its mournful requiem over the gloomy pros
pect that arose before him, while old ocean rolled
in terrific grandeur behind. Memory wakes him
from the long sleep of years, and he cast hasty
glance towards his fathers hermitage, where once
he joined the native dance and pursued the startled
the bones of his ancestors bleach and
whiten upon their own native hills. As he contin-
ues to gaze, the fire of youthful vigor begins again
to kinde in his bosom his eyes too, begin to SPAR
xle as the scene of other days recur to his mind
and he almost conceives that the fate of his country
men and the story of their wrongs only the hor
rid airy visions of fancy. With stature erect and
eyes turned homeward, he continues to gaze; and
with strong voice of hope he exclaims, Z" where
are they?" He listens-the tone of his voice sound
through the surrounding mountains-presenty he
hears the voice of echo answer" Where are theyP'
Now he begins to realize all the horror of his
situation. He turns around to look at the setting
sun, and then begins to weep! "Oh, my country :"
he CALCULATES, my PROSTATE and degraded country
The white man has robbed me of my country, and
cxterminated my countrymen!-Souls ofthe great and
good II come to dwell with you in the spirit land"
So saying, he gave a savage and deafenng yell, and,
like one unused to fear he vaulted high in air, end
plunged headlong down the craggy steep into the
foaming ocean. He struggled for a moment with the
ed mariner, he sunk to rise more2
But will this blot out forever the Indians name :
will this be the last shall hear of this sad and
history l-wi the recollectons ofthis dar-
ing peoplebe forever erased from the enlvening pages
Of memory No; When the bones of their cruel
prosecutors shall have dissolved in their native dust
when their names shall have been forgotten and
swallowed up in the dark waters of oblivion, the
history of the Indian will still live in the recoections
Of posterity-will still be the subject of praise and
and from the theme of discussion for both
orators and historians. His deeds of noble daring
will live in song and story until the shall forget
shine, and the winkling stars shall have out
their lustre and the story of his wrongs will be told
around many fireside where children shall catch
the melancholy tale, and transmit it from genera
ton, down to the latest posterity. What forget
the Indian No, never!
His spirit wraps the misty mountain
His memory sparkles FER the fountain;
The meanes nll-the mightest river
Rolls mingling with his name forever"
cTODv nC A noe