Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-12-11
AN INDIAN PROCLAMATION.
Geronimo, Apache Chief, Issues u
Thanksgiving Message.
(Ardmore, OKLA InaH;;aa; raj. ! iit. \ !

Il r =
(Ardmore, Okla, Democrat
The Apache chief, Geronimo. feel
ing that the great chief of the nation
and the> two great chiefs of Okla
homa. had sent forth tB cir manifesta-
tions I'm Thanksgiving proclamations,
has deemed it wise and proper In
him to issue one in behalf Of his peo-
pie. n B & n
Hence, the savage sage, Geronimo,
sends forth his greeting in the fol-
lowing enunciate:
! 1t has long been custo m OF the
people of the United States and of
Texas and Oklahoma on a day of
each year, specially set apart FOR that
purpose by the chief, to acknowledge
the goodness and mercy of the Great
Spirit, and the general cussedness of
the rustler, and to invoke continued
care and protection. In the observ-
snce OF such custom, i, Geronimo,
formerly of Mexico, mighty chief of
the Apaches, say unto the people Of
the forest that November % shall be
set apart for prayer with cranberry
sauce and celery. ON that day let
every Redskin forego his accustom-
ed orgte and assemble In his GUS
tomary place of worship to return
thanks to the Great Father for the
avalanche Of happiness with which
he continues to snow us under.
Great Manitou, the heart OF the
red man Is bursting with thankful
ness for the myrled of blessings
showered upon him by the bounte-
Gus hand of the Mighty Ruler.
The red man Is no monopolist, he
knows when he has enough. He has
been chased from piller to post by
the cowboy rustler and government
agent, and treed on the mountain
side, where he sleeps with one eye
open, lest he should lose his grip and
fall out of his homestead
We wish to return thanks to the
pale face pioneer. He drove our buff
falo into the happy hunting ground
and left us the jack rabbit and the
tenderfCot for condolences
In the past with us it has been
here to-day and tomorrow a conun-
drum. We are now here to stay. In
other words, we a,e put and must
stay put, whether we wish to or not.
And we are not so sure since we have
statehood and may soon have our
rights with other American citizens,
but 1t is for the best.
But seriously: We thank thee, 0,
Manitou, for the many delightful Wis
itations made upon us by the Saliva
tion Army of the Rough and Ready
West. They have done a great deal
to elevate our people. The telegraph
poles of this enlightened nineteenth
century bear unmistakable evidences
of their handiwork. s
Poor Lo never had much school
advantages but he had much dignity
The Government age. tried to rob
him of that. Thanks, awfully, we
stillhave our dignity-somewha dis
figured by civilization, but still in
the ring.
We are thankful that we have no
ropes to pull on our professional
liars. Thankful for small ,favors-
larger ones in proportion.
We are thankful that we are alive
as we go journeying to the tomb
through this vale of tears, with our
bosoms ladened with emotion nd
stuffed turkey and gravy.
The tomahawk has been buried for
the winter--apd the noble red man
Is smoking long, last smoke for the
pipe of peace. We deserve a pension
but we may not get tive should
be thankful whether we get that or
a winding sheet and a patent adjust
able epitaph.
We are thankful, o, Manitou! for
the fat meals we are getting and
the comfortable quarters we have
thankful for almost everything worth
mentioning.
We are thankful although we de-
plore the absence of our Hiawatha
and firewater.
In witness whereof I have here
unto set my x mark, and caused the
seal Of the Dominion Of Texas to be
affixed. Done at the tepee, on
grounds Of Fort Sill, this first moon
OF November in this year of reign of
Great Chief Ieddy, 1907, and of
statehOod GER R0NJMO