The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-04-25
An Historic Landmark.

Inc hon. Odn1el mcdonald Oh Tly-
mouth, Indiana, has succeeded in car
rying through the legislature a bill
appropriating $4,000 for the rebuild
ing of the old Indian chapel at Twin
Lakes, and the erection Of a monu-
ment to the memory of Chief Me-
nominee and his Indians. Twin Lakes
is situated between Plymouth and
Maxinkuckee Lake, on the Vandalia
Railroad. 1t was formerly a mission
attended by Priests of the Holy
Cross from Notre Dame University
and is thus an interesting landmark
in the early history of Alma Mater.
1t recalls those austere pioneer days
when the Holy Cross Priest, in adj
dition to his work as teacher, was
called upon to evangelize the Indians,
and minister to the scattered whites
for one hundred miles in every d.
rection. The University has taken
special interest in this movement, its
point of view being admirably ex-
pressed in a letter from Colonel
Hoynes, to which a wide publicity
has been given BIZ the press of the
country. We quote his words:
Il am certain, my dear Mr.. Nc
Donald, that no address delivered
this year in the legislative halls of
this or any other state could surpass
yours in absolute unsel6shness, chiv-
alric championship of the lowly,
beauty of sentiment in revealing the
pathetic past to the matter-of-faci
present, ugor of thought and lumin-
GUS statements in presenting the
claim of the wronged and persuasive
argument for making amends in some
measure by honoring with suitable
monument the memory of the friend
less children of forest and prairie
our true Americans. You spoke for a
worthy cause, and we'll and ably you
presented it. You showed a heart
broad enough to include and tender
enough to feel for the lowliest. Moth
ing was said for selfish effect or to
win the support of some alien ele-
ment for political advancement. You
spoke of the past and those who suf-
fered through the cruelties OF its
transition to the present; but yoe
have awakened in the present sense
of regret at the wrong done and
feeling of shame that the only avail
able means of repairing it were So
tardy of adoption. What you have
done and the words you have spoken
will more and more impress the pub
lie mind and conscience, and to you
will justly belong the honor, at an
early day, of having on your own in
itiative accomplished a noble, gen.
erous and laudable act in the cree
ton of suitable monument IL per-
petuate the memory of the friendless
and neglected Indians"
Chief Menominee was the leader
of band of eight hundred and fifty
nine Indians at Menominee village
or the north bank of the middle
Twin Lake. The government had
long pressed Chief Menominee to
Civ, up the enormous stretch of land
owned by him, but without success.
In September, 1888, however. Gener-
al Upton made a sudden descent up
on the Indians early in the morning
and drove them away to reserva-
ton west of the Missouri River. The
treacherous act, rather than THE loss
of his possessions, wounded Menom-
inee so that he never recovered, and
soon after he died of broken heart.
Mr. Mcdonald has made an interest
ing study of this tragic episode and
has prepared the first authentic ac-
count of it. He deserves the grateful
recognition of the people of Indiana
for his services to this noble cause,
and especially he has earned the graf
itude of the University. Our Al
ma Mater will be represented when
The monument is formally dedicated.
-Notre Dame Scholastic