The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-24

year the Indians saw their lands en-
croached upon more and more. They
held councils and discussed their
wrongs. In these councils Tecumseh
was the principal orator.
The interpreter, Dechouset, found it
difficult to translate the lofty flights OF
Tecumseh, although he was as we'll
versed in Shawnee as in French, MS
mother tongue He said Tecumsehs
speech sparsled with poetic thought
Ike that OF the chief who declared the
very leaves of the forest drop tears
of pity on us as we walk beneath
In 1901 the Northwestern TERRITORY,
which comprised the land between the
Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. was d.
yided. the state of Ohio being formed
as 1t is to-day and the remainder be-
ing called the Indiana Territory. Or
this territory William Henry Harrison
was appointed Governor, and Nincehnes
was made the capital.
Tecuruseh. sorrowing for his people,
had been Indicating for long time on
a plan to unite them in great confed-
eracy. Soon after the division of the
Northwe stern Territory I.aulewasikaw
announced himself as prophet. he
preached with much earnestness aBal1ist
Indian women marrying whites he
denounced drunkenness and witcncraft'
and said that since becoming a pro-
phet he had gone up into the clouds,
and in the home of the devil he had
found it peopled with men who had
died drunkards. FLAMES of fire issued
from their mouths. The duty of the
Young TO the aged and helpless he
f, dwelt upon as one of the most sacred
of obligations, and he proposed COM
munity of property practically the same
as that now advocated ny Communists
Innovations in dress by the Indians he
inveighed against, and he appealed TO
their pride by declaring the Great
Spirit had told him they were his
most beloved people. So far the FRO
phet was not bad teacher. but he
was not content. He protested TO nave we
received power from the Great Spirit
to cure any disease, prevent death on
| the battlefield and crush any one VINO
| opposed him.
The Prophets Rise.
There can be no doubt the Prophet
really sought the good of his people.
He got followers in large numbers
| They were the young men of the tribes.
Under his exhorting they abstained
from liquor and in many other ways
practiced their leaders precepts. SBu'
| the Prophets teachings arouSeu VIZ
medicine men. They saw powerful
rival rising, and they combated him
at every turn. The Prophet retaliated
by denouncing some of them as witch
es, and this led to the most violent acts
of fanaticism.
The reports of the religious unrest
among the Indians worried the officials
at Nincennes and at Washington
Thomas Jefferson, writing to Johr
Adams, declared the Prophet was more
rogue than fool Governor Harrison
addressed a letter to the Indians. beg
:. ging them not to be mlsled. MY
children" he said, tread back tht
steps you have taken and endeavor {
regain the straight road which yol
have abandoned. The dark, crooked
/. and thorny path you are now pursu
ling will lead to endless WOO and mis-
cry. Who is this pretended prophe
q who dares to speak In the name OF tn
great Creator? Examine him. Is h
a more wise and virtuous than you ar
A yourselves, that he should be selecte
to convey to you the orders of God
A If God has employed him, He ha
DOUBTLESS authorized him to perforr
miracles that he may be known an