The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-05-29

lOi. GreaJ numbers also went to the
Bahamas, where colonists had already
been planted, and then to Florida. and
from this, our native state they
spread all over the eastern part Of
the continent. Perhaps in no more
eloquent language can we describe
the early Indians than in that of
ISprague:
Not many generations ago, where
you sit, encircled with all that exal.s
and embellishes civilized life. the rank
thistle nodded in the wind. and the
wild fox dug his hole unscared. Here
lived and loved another race of beings
Beneath the same sun that rolls over
your head the Indian hunter pursued
the painting deer; gazing on the same
moon that smiles for you, the Indian
lover Wooed his dusky maid. Here
the wigwam blaze beamed on the ten
der and helpless, and the council fire
glared on the wise and daring. Now
they dip their noble limbs in your
lakes. and now they paddle the light
canoe along your rocky shores. Here
was the echOing whoop, the bloody
grapple, the defying death song: ami
when the tiger strife was over, here
curled the smoke Of peace. Here. too.
they worshipped, and from many 4
dark bosom went up a fervent prayer
to the Great Spirit. He had not writ.
ten his laws for them on tables o.
stone. but had traced them on the ia
bles Of their hearts. The poor child
OF nature knew not the God of revela-
ton, but the God of the universe he
acknowledged in everything around.
He beheld Him in the star that sunk
in beauty behind his lonely dwelling.
in the sacred orb that famed on him
from his midday throne, in the flower
that snapped in the morning breeze.
In the lofty pine that defied a thOus-
and whirlwindS. in the timid warbler
that never left its native grove, in the
fearless eagle whose untired pinion
was wet in clouds. in the worm that
crawled at his feet, and in his own
matchless form, glowing with a spark
of that light to whose mysterious
source he bent in humble though blind
alteration
All this has passed away. Across
the ocean came the pilgrims bark,
bearing the seeds of life and death.
The former were sown for you: the
latter sprang up in the path Of the
simple native.
The Indians were able to annihilate
the early settlers. as they did Raj
eigh's celonists. Soon they found the
colony under Capt. Smith too strong
so they were pushed from the shores.
! Next the Pilgrim lands in New Eng
land, and the Red Man is driven from
the shore, and the White Man gets a
! fOothold. Then it is not long before
| the White Man gains control of the
whole eastern shore. as far west as
] the Appalachian mountains. Jealous
| les arose among the Indians. some
| fought with some of the white men u
destroy their clansmen. thus aiding
the white men to destroy Indian pow
er forever To illustrate this take
for examples the AlgonQuins and the
IroquOis-the Algonquins friends of
the French Canadians, the Iroquois
allies to the English, and the people
of New York.
The Indians, since the landing of
the white men. have been driven from
pillow to post, and still they retain
their self respect They are proud
of their ancestry, and glory in the vir-
tues of their race.
The North American Indians were
self supporting as long as they could
roam the forests and plains. The
change came when all the valleys of
the United States were settled; when
the will beasts were not so nUmer-
Gus; the hunting fields plowed, and
the fishing grounds navigated Then
the problem of existence was present !
ed to him in a new light. Therefore !
to cOnfine him to a reservation, AMI
leave him TO provide for himself
would have meant determination, So
our government has prepared for Its
wards by issuing TatiOns. Twice
each month r6tiOns are given to more
than forty-fve thousand Indians. Of
whom nearly eighteen thousand be- /
long to the great Sioux nation. The
Sioux. in their treaty. made an agree /
ment with the white man. which says
that rations are to continue until they
are able 10 support themselves. I'M
der such conditions. why should In !
dams seek to be self supporting? Ifi
there is no need for work why should /
he learn how TO work? In other words, /
as a class the Indian has no need for
- 0g.,corfDD We hear \ GREAT deal !