The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-10-30
~ H1EF JOSEPHS SURRENDER" Lieut.
~ Gen. Nelson A. Miles story of The only

JOSEPtiS SURRENDER, Lieut..
~ Gen. Nelson A. Miles story of The only
uprising of the Generous and Humane
Tribe OF the Nez Perces Indians against the
Injustice of the White man is full of interest for
the thoughtful student OF history. The failure of
the United States government redeem Gen.
Miles pledge that they would be treated fairly
and JUSTLY, and in Gen. Miles belief, would be
sent back to their country seems to Justify the
cause of their uprising, The Injustice of the
White Man" the story is very touching. yet it is
only repetition of the history of the Indian for
the past 800 years; since the white first
foot upon his continent
There is something exceedingly interesting in
the retrogression of the American Indians upon
their woods and wilderness. Their remonstrances
their conferences, their talks their treaties their
occasional denunciations, their plans and STRAIT
egies to arrest the progress of the white man are
full of interest, exhibiting as they do on the
one hand, the matured devices, and ingenious
frauds of civilized rapacity, and upon the other
the natural alarm of primitive people, too feeble
to avert the impending danger-the loss of their
heritage, and ignorant of the wies of diplomacy
and negotiation. Yet they destitute of
rude eoquence, and picturesque oratory which
should have counted for something, and did, in
the of the Nez Perces Indians with Gen.
Miles, but above Gen Miles was heartless
poration, THE Government"
The surrender of Chief Joseph is worthy of
preservation, along with other notable speeches
made by Indians in their conferences with the
white man. Said Gen. Miles: On the fifth day,
standing between the lines under flag of truce,
Chief Joseph raised his hand and eyes toward
Heaven and in the most dramatic, dgnified man
ner said From where the sun now stands will
fight no more! and formally surrendered his rifle
and those of his followers and committed himself
and his tribe to the control OF the military forces
then surrounding them Inc solemn pledge thus
taken under the most tragic circumstances upon
the ground strewn with the bodies of dead men
and horses was faithfully kept by that natural
prince of his race and by his brave followers
Very different from this the firm defiance
of the Chieftan of the Greek nation to the gen
eral who had captured him.
Il fought against you at Fort Mimms l
fought against you at Georgia did you all the
injury | could. Had not treachery left desc
late, | would have done you more The warriors
who faithful all died by my side-they died
in battle. mourn their loss, but they are
gone glory. | am their chef,-a captive, but
soldier. Do your utmost shall not disgrace
their memories
This no idle boast, he meant what he said.
When tortured, the savage smiles placidly eX
hibiting their impotence upon spirit whose en-
durance is the prelude to his canonizaion. One
struggle, one sigh would exclude him from the
hero's paradise. His captivity affords him a
triumph his enemies.
fine instance of such heroism has been handed
down in the person OF Virginia Chief Opechau-
chanough artfu nsinuatng and bold he kept
the Virslnians in state of continual alarm, for
he master alike of arms and intrigue When
decrepld from age, he was borne in litter to di-
rect the onset and retreat of his warriors in
the dreadful massacre of HAL which almost ex-
terminated the colony At last Worn out, ex-
hausted, almost blind he taken prisoner and
carried to jamestown, where he was mortaly
wounded by the appointed to guard him
Just he expiring he discovered number
of persons crowdng around to crafty their GU
riosity. Raising himself with difficulty from his
mat, he demanded that the governor should
be sent for; when he arrived, the Indian, looking
at him steadfastly and scornfully, exclaimed:
Had it been my lot to have captured Sir Will
liam Berkeley, should have dsdaned to have