The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-18

and advancement. though perhaps inferior
to some OF IN Gulf tribes in the arts of life.
In the extent and quality Of their mental
endowments they are here ranked among
the highest Indians on the American con
tinent. The Iroquois have declined in
numbers. yet there are still 1000 OF them
In New York. about 900 in Canada and
nearly = many in the West.
When the c~onfederacy was formed the
conditions present we're as follows: The lro-
quois were distributed in five independent
tribes, occupied territories contiguous to
each other and spoke dialects OF the same
language. which were mutually ineligible.
Besides these facts, certain gentes we're COM
mon TO several tribes, as has been shown in
the book before us. In their relations 10 each
other as separated parts Of the same tribe
these common gentes afforded n natural
and enduring basis for a confederacy.
With these elements already in existence
the evolution Of a ~confederacy became a
question Of intelligence and skill. Other
tribes in different parts of the continent
presented the same relations toward each
other. yet they did not confederate. The
fact that the Iroquois tribes accomplished
the work affords evidence OF their superior
capacity.
The general features OF the Iroq uois
C~onfederacy as summarized by DIR. Morgan
are: The confederacy was a union OF five
tribes ultimately six, a composed OF
several gentes under one tribal government
on the basis Of equality; each tribe in turn
remaining Independent Of the federation
in all matters pertaining to local self
government. Having accepted the prin-
| cirla ~ fadoratipn tho Aua srihaa craatad
a general council Of sachems. who were
TO be limited in number, equal in rank
and authority and invested with supreme
powers over all matters pertaining to the
Confederacy. Fifty scholarships were
created and assigned in perpetuity to
certain gentes Of the several tribes, with
power in these gentes 20 Ill vacancies a.
often as they occurred by election among
their respective members, and with the
further power to depose from ONCE for
cause. The right, however, to invest
these sachems with Office was reserved
TO the general council. The sachems Of
the confederacy were also sachems in
their respective tribes, and with the cleo
tive chiefs OF those tribes formed the
tribal councils, which were supreme over
all matters pertaining exclusively to their
respective tribes. Unanimity in the coun-
Gil Of the c~onfederacy was essential TO
every act thereof. In the general council
the sachems voted not individually but
by tribes. An arrangement gave to each
tribe a vote upon the wishes Of the others,
The council Of each tribe had power to con-
woke the general council, but the latter
had 10 power to assemble OF its own mo-
ton. The general council was open TO
the orators OF the people for the discus
cision. The confederacy had no single on
cial head. Nevertheless. experiencing the
| necessity for a general military commander.
| the Iroquois created for a temporary pur-
pose the Office in a dual form in order that
one tenant Of il might neutralize the other.
| The two principal war chiefs thus created
were made equal in power.
The Iroauois Confederacy is considered
| by DIR. Morgan an excellent exemplification
| of a gentle society which begins. " it'll gentes
and ascends through phraeries and tribes
10 confede. ations. h league Of the So
called Five Nations seems TO realize all the
capabilities Of gentle institutions in the
lower status OF b~arbarism. leaving an
opportunity for the gradual development
of institutions OF political society OF a kind
founded not upon relationship but upon
territory and upon property, with the
| establishment OF which the gentle organiza-
ton will be overthrow. The intermediate
stages would be transitional. remaining
| military democracies to the end except
where tyrannies based on usurpstion we're
temporarily established in their places.
The confederaoy of the lroquois was es-
sentially democratic. because il was COM
posed Of gentes. each Of which was organized
upon the principles OF a democracy. not
indeed of the highest but OF the primitive
type. and because the tribes reserved the
right of local se~lf-government. tn Iro-
Quois conquered other trite s and held them
in subsection. as. for example. the Della
wares, but the latter remained under the
government OF their own chiefs and added
nothing to the strength of the c~onfederacy.
IL was impossible in that state OF society
to unite under one government tribes that
spite different languages or to hold CEN
quered tribes under tribute with any benefit
resulting except the tribute itself.
DR.. Morgan does mol pretend that this
exposition OF the %Iroquois Confederacy is
exhaustive OF the facts. but he believes that
il has been carried far enough to answer
his present object. To the high mental
qualities Of the Iroquois he bears willing
testimony. The c~onfederacy which they
organized must be accounted a remark
able product OF wisdom and sagacity.
One Of its avowed objects was peace; to
remove the cause OF strife by uniting
their tribes under one government and
then extending It by Incorporating other
tribes OF the same name and lineage. They
urged the Fries and the so-called Neutral
Nation to become members OF. their fedora
ton. and for their refusal expelled them
from their borders. II cannot be denied
that such an insight into the highest objects
Of government is creditable to their INTEL
ligence. Their number were small. but
they counted in their ranks a large number
Of able men. Tn fact proves the high
grade OF the stock From their position
and military strength the confederated
Five Nations" exercised a marked in
huence o the course Of event in the
competition of the English Ind the French
for supremacy in North America. As the