The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-01-11
OLD CHIEF sosEp4s CRUSADE.

lessly down on the reservation of the
Omaha Indians in northwestern Ne
braska. The bare patches between
the tufts Of prairie grass we're crack
ed and almost white under the fierce
glare. 1t was in the early Sos and
there were signs of serious trouble
that vexed Chief Joseph. Had he
been familiar with the use of words
In our day, he would have complain
ed about like this: Providence visits
upon us all responsibilities that are
not Of our own choosing. We have
been civilized by the white man
against our will, but have decided to
make the best of It. Now our trou-
bles apparently have just begun. The
white man has brought us whisky and
1t is the most degenerating and de-
morallzing influence among us. SO It
seems we must bear the White Mans
burden"
But the old chief did not say It just
that way. He looked out toward the
distant hills and pondered with his
chin on his hand while he reclined in
front of his tepee. His little grand
children played in the street in front
of him, and his eyes fell upon them
with a tenderness that was familiar
TO them and which they recall with
moist eyes today. Then he turned to
the 1.-THE young Indian who acted as
his confidential advisor. Running
water" he said, "our young men are
badly hurt by this white mans drink.
Our old men lose their senses when
they taste 1t. 1t is not for us. When
our people take it they are easy vic
Tins for sharks and crooked men.
They will soon be drunkards and
then what will become Of our women
and onr childrenY
The young man listened with re-
spectful attention, for it was not for
him to intrude advice on the vener-
able chief, so he merely nodded, and
the old chief continued:
"The Indian must take care of him
self in these days. The new life, this
civilization they call It., must make
us careful. We must stop this drink?"
Chief Joseph stretched his tall form
erect as he rose and paced back and
forth with decision. I'VE will stop
1t now. Send this message over the
reservation. Say to my people that
they must not drink this whisky. Say
to them that II one is found drinking
he will be brought to the chief and
whipped in the street in the presence
of the assembled tribe. We will not
see my people made feeble by bad
men who tempt them that they may
make money out Of the poor Indian"
The command of the reyered chief
was carried to every hut and tepee. 1t
was as the mandate of a czar from
which there was no appeal. There
was something strange about the fas-
cination that "firewater" had for the
red man. One drink seemed to take
away all power of resistance and in
toxication inevitably followed. Fight
ing and brawls were becoming com
mon and 1t was the late disorder
which had provoked the command OF
the chief. The liquor had not been
generally dispensed by the bootleg
gers, but the first signs of trouble
were sufficient to alarm Joseph, who
was wonderful Indian OF remarkable
administrative capacity, as the his
torian will always concede. Chief
Josepr called to him the old men of
W IN hig
and told them of the order which he
had issued and the circumstances
which led to the edict. They knew
he was right and agreed to see that
the command was obeyed.
Twenty-four hours passed. The
village was quiet save for the hum
OF conversation as the sun sank low
toward the hills. Some embryonic
braves were playing leap frog, but
made little noise as they frolicked
few hundred yards away. The old
men and women were enjoying their
pipes in comfort that only the Indian
can attain, If one may judge from the
perfectly satisfied demeanor of the
red man smoking.
Suddenly there came, half running
and half walking, the figure of an old
man. His face was haggard and
drawn even more than usual and the
crooked wrinkles in his cheeks seem
ed furrowed deep in the sunset light.
Detected and almost physically ex-
hausted he drew himself up with an
effort as he approached the tepee Of
Joseph
"Chief," he said, In monotone that
he controlled with difficulty, though
his face showed not a trace of emo
tion, II have had drink. / lose my
senses; lie on the ground and dream
Nobody saw me- ! should be whipped
and / come to you"
1t was a curious scene. Chief Jo-
seph did not speak for moment, but
he outwardly expressed no feeling or
surprise at the sight OF his best
friend, an old chief of 70 summers,
the man with whom he had grown up
on the wild, free prairie, pleading