The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1873-07-31

III. Las. Gr..A c...eii Of u. r..e.r.

| On the 18th of June, was held what may prove
| to be one of the last great ceremonies OF the
greatest Indian organization ever known to white
men on the North American continent Il CON-
sisted in an election Of chiefs by the Tuscarora
tribe, the last of the famous confederacy known
as the ask Nations." The event took place on
the reservation Of the tribe, which is tract Of
six miles wide by four miles long, situated in the
town Of Lewiston, N. 7. Since the last grand
council, held twenty years ago, the Tuscsroras
have lost, by death and accident, nine chiefs; and
the council convened on the 18th, met to mourn
over the dead, and to select candidates 10 fill their
places from among the living.
There are many reasons why the "Six Nstions'
hold an exceptional place in American history,
and why their deeds, even in decay, should be-
speak interest and honorable record. Tho origin
al Five NatiOns-the MOhaw ks, sOneidas Onon-
dagas, Cayugas, and Senecas-received the Tus-
caroras as q sixth member Of their union in l7l2
Paramount among all the tribes on the continent
for courage an prowess in war, these aboriginsls
were likewise beyond all other red men in sagac-
ity in the arts of civilized life. 1t highly prSbs-
able that bnt for the advent Of the whites, These
five races would have anticipated ourselves in
extending their rule over the whole continent
Known by the general name of the "IroquOis,"
they actually originated for themselves Q substan.
tial reproduction Of the Achean league or more
strictly, an anticipation of Our own national con-
federacy. Each tribe was in itself independent,
but was bound to all the others for purposes Of
war common interest. All such questions
were discussed and settled by sort of Wittene-
gemote, or Congress, commonly held at Onoudaga.
So far the traditional influence of this fact ex-
tended through the generations that to this day,
the scourt language" so to say, of the six Ma
tions" is that of the OnOndagaa, aud at the late
election the speeches were made in that tongue.
The old Roman policy of encouraging other na-
tons to become Incorporated with Themselves
was pursued by the Iroqu0is with much success.
But they bad other merits not always possessed
rither by the. Romans or their modern copyists
Their sschems lived in the utmost simplicity, re-
ceived no salaries, and gave away alike their
share of the spells Of war and the perquisites of
peace. Such was the strength and prestige Of |
their consolidation and wise management that |
they were feared and respected from the Atlantic
10 the great lakes. One Mohawk, it is said has |
d gnt to fight whole party of Indians from
New England or the South. Another peculiar |
Of the Iroquois, astonishipgly at |
variance with the regular power in the State, wo-
men were represented in tho public councils, and |
actually had q veto influence in the declaration of
'eace and war; Here, again, the traditional Gus
ate election; the candidates for chiefs having
'een designated By women, and duly ratified By
THAT is called the "Chiefs Council1
1t Is not strange, considering the skin, vigon
md manly superiority in general Of these cele-
ave 80 frequently chosen them to be the heroes
4 his nnrivaled romsnces of the forest and pr.i-
10. The race of which Hiawatha was the Wash
nRton, and which can boast Logan Red Jacket.
no snenandoah. certainly had qualities deserv-
ng OF permanent respect aud commemorstion.
heir number is now very few; but they have .
till further distinction to add to those which eft
hem apart from other nations Of the continent.
the singular fact that they still occupy . Dor.
eserted, been driven from the erayes of tbc;r
res. There are only three hundred Tuscarurss {,
Lewiston, but, with the deputations from the
,hcr tnoes OF the confederacy, six hundred unit
!, on the 18th. in the festivities succeeding the
lection. Everything, We arc glad to observe.
assed off with the utmost dignity and decorum'
here was first an elaborate song Of lsmentatiou
" the chiefs who had gone to the "hsppy hunt q
q grounds" since the last grand council. This I
'currrd IN the open air, around the traditional q
neke through copse Of naples. The pipc of | j
.ace was smoked, and the COMPANY then march 9
with much solemnity to the "lonR house.n \ r
ne Indian structure fifty feet BY twenty, built &
poles, bark and withes-no white mans tool d
wing been used In erecting il. Hero the Ia b
ent was again sung, strings Of wampum vers il
odnced, and long series of emblematic. and
omorial ceremonies performed ending In the
rmal ordination Of the new chiefs. This done. =
Indian banquet followed, on . large scale, to : :
hich, in turn. succeeded game Of ball By the q
'ucks" of the different tribes, and the whole
,und mp ut night With Q grand war dance IN q
y Old fashioned paint aud regalia. Among the a
legsfes from other tribes present was Gen. Par !!
PRESIDENT Gr"nt's former chief of stan, and u
. ceremonies were closely observed by msnv
ecfators Of Dissatisfaction among the "neje Of
'es. IL 70 well that il should have been 10: e.
snch . scene, on such . scale, IL not likely to
witnessed often again; and there 10 deep and >.
une1civ in'eresf in Watching these last men, :.
exceptionally strong and famous and in recoI- =
ting that these last eciona of noble race stil
up their lodge aud build their council re lie ::
,,r forsfathers BY the blue waters If Lake On. ~