Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-11-25
THE BEST OF INDIANS.
By J. p.

Geh w mhI- vi al tuc IL
dians OF whom we have any
knowledge. Not because be was
great hunter and great war
rior; nor even because he was
patriot, who strove to save the
lands of his inheritance from the
encroachments of another race.
de gave better proofs Of manhood
even than this. In the first place
he was teetotaler, and exerted
all his influence in favor of alb
staining from strong drink. He
was also opposed on principle to
the chiefs having more than one
wife. But, perhaps the most de-
cisive proof that he gave OF pos
sessing mind superior to those
Of his race was, that he opposed
the torture aud burning OF pris-
oners. Cruelty is the vice OF lit
tie mind. The Iudians, as race,
have very little minds, and they
are universally cruel to captives.
1t is related by a white man,
who was q prisoner among the
Indians OF the Ohio. that when
Tecumseh was a lad OF sixteen be
spw white prisoner burned to
death by a party of warriors.
When it was over the young man.
eloquent beyond his years. ex-
pressed his deteststion OF the
scene with so much effect that the
party agreed to burn no more
prisoners. The same witness tes-
titled that Tecumseh always treat
ed his prisoners with humanity; /;
that be was a man sure to redeem
his promise, and that he was at.
tsntive to the infirm old men Of
his tribe, whose wigwams he
would repair at the approach Of
winter. for whom he wonld make
moccasins, and with whom he
would share the game which his
skill as q hunter enabled him to
procure in great abundance. Such
trails as these. when they are ac-
coinpanied by intelligence. cour-
age and fortitude. make the su-
perior person--the natural king
OF men.
Three times since the landing
OF the pilgrims, a great Indian
has arisen and made . serious,
determined effort to combine the
tribes in an attempt to drive the
white man from this continent.
First, King Philip, when. the
Puritans had grown formidable
in New England, endeavored to
destroy them. He perished in
the struggle, and the power Of
all the New England tribes was
broken forever. A hundred years
later Pontiac, the great chief Of
the lake country, filed with the
tradition Of King Philips valiant
attempt, strove to initiate him BY
combining all the Western tribes
in a simultaneous onslaught upon
garrison posts. He, too, was
ieated, and be was slain some
fears after, near st. Louis. after
q drunken bsbauch. Finally
Tecumseh, the great chief OF the
chic valley, who was boy of
seven at the time Of the Pontiac
conspiracy, caught the spirit OF
Pontiac, and endeavored, in the
maturity of his powers. to exc
cute what Pontiac had failed to
accomplish.
"The Great Spirit" said he to
General Harrison, in one OF their
many conferences, ''gave this
great island to his red children; I;
be placed the whites on the other
side Of the big water; they were
not contented with their own. but
came to take ours from as. They
have driven US from the sea to
the lakes; we can go no further
They have taken upon them to
say, this tract belongs to the
Miamis, this to the Delawares,
and SO on; but the Great Spirit in.
tended it as the property Of us
all. Our father tells US that we
have no business on the Wabash
| the land belongs TO other tribes
but the Great Spirit ordered us te
come here. and here we will
stay"
It was not in the power o.
General Harrison to comply witt
the chiefs desire. He could dt
nothing but refer the matter t.
President Jefferson.
"Well. said Tecumseh, "as th,
great chief is to determine the
matter, i hope the Great Spi-i
will put sense enough into hii
head to induce him to give uE
this land. 1t is true, he is SO fal
of he will not be injured by tn,
war; he may sit still in his tow
and drink his wine, while yo,
knd l will have to fight it out.F
And 20 it proved. All his lif'