The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-12-07
KANSAS CORRESPONDENCE.

KANSAS CORRESPONDENCE.
LAWRENCE KANSAS, lst 18th Mo. III.
EDS. HERALD:
Gentlemen, l see by notice
in your paper that l have left Os.
kaloosa for months stay in Kansas,
which may come out so, yet it may
not. Have seen SINE country and
heard of much more and with all
| must say home in Iowa is good
enough.
Recently visited the Central Su-
perintendency of Indian affairs, un-
der the charge of Superintendent
Hoag of Iowa, where l find much TO
strengthen the belief that the Peace
able principles of the Gospel are even
good for the heather and the savage.
Under the administration of the
present policy OF the Government to-
ward the Indiaa, through the devo-
ton and labor of Friends aud others,
many of the wild war.like Tribes and
Bands have been induced to quit
the war path and settle upon Reser-
vations.
The following speech of an In
dian War Chief delivered before Su
perintendent Hoag after visit of
near month in this part of the coun.
try will show somewhat of the change
that is taking place in their minds,
Wa ru-pe is a full blood Indian
about SO years old, 5 feet 10 inches
high, long black hair which is just
beginning TO turn grey. We'll bull,
broad forehead, OF scowllng counte-
nance, though sometimes laughs
heartily. The speech was delivered
in an expressive style and interpreted
by Philip Block, the Government In,
terpreter, and written down by my
self, verbatim as follows:
SUPERINTENDENT HoAG :-Wah
roo-pe l am very glad to see thee
here go on my friend and say what
thou hast to say.
Wah roo pei don't want to say
much, / only want to say little to
the Superintendent.
have come from a long way of,
l come not tor anything bad but |
come to find good way for my
people. We want you to try hard to
help lis into that good way. We
don't want to be like some other
tribes that delight IN killing and de,
stro. ing, but we want TO learn how to
build houses, raise corn. and pro
vide for our wives and children that
they may live and be happy, (here his
voice grew deep and earnest and his
countenance showed that he had a
human heart). My young men are
staying from the chase until return
home, where they will welcome me ;
and listen to the words that may
have Tor them. know they will be
ready to do their part in building
houses and farms and trying TO be
good. Many of the Wild Indians
also will visit me to hear my words
and see my place if l have a good
house and farm, comfortable clothes
and happy family il will have gre at
Influence on them to turn them into
the white mans path, aud peace, and
civilization. Many of the Wild In,
dams are afraid To plant corn from a
superstition that they will all sicken
aud die. l will try hard to show
them that it will make them live and
be happy and good.
/ desire much that white intruders
may be kept away from Us, as their
Influence IL not very good. They
bring in whisky by night, get our
people drunk and raise many rows,
making our people very bad. Drink
ing whisky is very bad thing.
used to drink, | drank until lost
all my cattle and ponies and every
thing. drink no more. The white
nan frequently asks me drink, no
will not drink; it makes me bad.
When get home will call all nv
people with other wild Indians, and
speak to them of the good things |
have seen. Will the Superintendent
speak god words To me aud give
me good advice to axe TO my peep c. =
SUPERINTENDENT HoAo said W.
roo pc thee has now seen the ways ot
the white people. Their houses, and
farms. Their comfortable clothing
and happy faces. Go home and tell
thy people all thou hast seen. We
hope you will help the Superintend
ent, and Agents, and in turn We will
help you. Though you must not re
ly too much on the Agent-but g
to work yourselves. Your grea,
Father at Washington has no help
for the Indian that will not help him
self Neither can we do them any
good when they go on the war path,
the Soldiers will fall upon them and
we can't help them"
1t is we'll demonstrated tina,
it Is much cheaper as well az
better 10 treat the Indians
with justice than with force.
Respectfully
II D N,NDp