The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-08-16
The Wearing Of the Blue.

blue has been sign OF sbstinence
from intoxicating drinks, nor were
white men the frst to establish . |
temperancs society on the American
soil. No ; tho red men, who never
knew drunkenness until tomptod to
it by the supidity Of white meu, were
tho first TO associate themselves to-
gethor against tho usc Of alcoholic
drinks.
In tho last century, ard previous
to the Revolutionary war, after the
Six Nations had dwindled fesrfully
in numbers, and had lost much in
character IS noble sons of the for
est, 90 Iroquois prophet. brother Of
the head chiof Of the Six Nations,
visited the tribes Of bis confe deracy
TO look into their condition, and en-
deavor to devise aud suggest means
to arrest their degensraoy and decay.
One Of the first tribes he visited wss
the Onandsga' 1t did not take him
long to learn that the chief agent Of
their decentralization was rum. From
one end OF his journey 20 tho other,
in every tribe be visited, evidences of
it's destroying power met him, and he
determined to use oil tho power OF
his influence IS . teacher aud proph-
ct 70 induce his people TO turn from
tho habit which was destroying them
At Onopdasa, after serious consul
tation With the chief meo, . tribal
meeting was called, every soul of tho
tribe, men aud women, old and
young, oven to the youngest papoosc,
being present. 1t was an occasion Of
great solemnity. Not the head chief
himself was more august than the
prophet |; Tor he was regarded Is
standing between his people and the
Great Spirit. He had come many
hundred miles for their sakes, and
they looked eagerly for bis message
from tho Great Spirit. Looking
about him sorrowfully, he exclaimed {:
How few you are Once you stood
like the primevsl forest, covering hill
and dale, mountain aud valley from
whero the sun rises to its setting, you
; covered the laud. Now you are q
few scattered, scorchcd, blaste d
trunks o few weak, witbered sap
: lings here and there. What has
wrought this change I Has fire come
from heaven and destroyed you !
, Has the sharp axe Of the invading
forester been laid at your roots No
The poison is in yourselves, and soon
the cankcr Of it will leave none oi
you on the face of the earth Re.
member the legends OF your fathers
how but two or three generations
havo passed since your lodges were
countless how they clustered in for
est aud field. around tho lakes and
along the streams. Remember the
} thousands Of young warriors, thei'
bravery, their battles, their triumphs
how their name was every here hon.
ored, their bow and their baltic axe
, everywhere feared Where now, oh
. Onondagas arc tho columns o
. smoke that went up from your wig
= vans above the tree tops 10 the val
9 leys and on the hillside Wher,
. now arc the crowds Of young braves
. who once made your summer wilt
j. woods merry with mimicry Of hunt
. ing or Of war, or sent their wiutel
. snow snakes swiftly gliding over tn,
|. lcrusted snow or the ice houot
= streams Where arc the long lin,
. Of werriors which 10 other time
It went, 10 the glory and terror of .hei
!: war paint, out on tho war path, stil
= aud swift ss the serpent 10 thei
q movemsnts fierce aud destructive .
Is wolves and panthsrs in their assault
Is What has made this difference be
.. tween then and now Z! Has the cart
Il opened her mouth aud swsllowE
70 your wigwams and your people
is Has the Great Spirit sent pesti
o lsnce, and destroyed your braves an
70 your womeuf Have your enemies
;. with greater numbers and brave
ID courage, ovepowered you and bea.
. 90 you 10 war, and reduced ysu
J. your present condition No 4; non
" Of those things have happened yoy
What then has done It What the
:, has wrought this change Why is
y, that to-day my voice can reach ever
~ member Of your tribe - Why are 20
N such q handful It is the whit
~ man fire wstsr It Is the evil spi'
- Il that you let the white man tsmI
j you with that has csten your life q
D. way. Go on as you have been d.
,, Ing (; continue to yield yourselves
"a this deadly poison, and how mau
o. summers will pass ere your last lode
IL will be gone. the last 6rs bs qusushs
10 in tho wigwam =! Ere many viii
- tors, as one Of your sons, or YOU
NO sons son. hungry and ragged, stae
~ gors . beggsr TO the white man
g door, the finger OF tho white mau
" scorn will bs pointed ut him
The last OF the Onandsgas'
g. Such u ths story, - old men 4
n. Il. This 10 certain from the VII
n. Of that prophet for many years
n member OF ths Oasudagss tAst'
NO liquor. Every Indian. squaw. q
or papooss foreswore ardent spiri
70 and al kept their pledge. With
il forty years u Was always known d
-lifa drunken Indian was seen
itlCeutr~l New York. he bad not ,
La. A.. l.sv.x;us,. - Aha Tina andacs