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

received as a prophet. Il Ne is really
a prophet, ask him to cause the sun
to stand still, the moon to alter its
course, the rivers to cease to flow, or
the dead to rise from their graves"
This challenge was unfortunate.
The Prophet took it up and announced
that on q certain day he would make
darkness como over the earth. On
the day appointed 1t became dark at
noon. This was the dav of the eclipse
of the sun in 1906 The Prophet prob
ably had heard the date from some
whites. Thereafter his following grew
more rapidly. From north, west and
south came pilgrims to the Prophet.
Within one year 1880 Indians passed
through Fort Wayne on their way to
visit the Prophet. Many of these were
from 1000 miles away. The English
were known to be assisting In the eX-
element, and there was fear all along
the border of a general Indian upris-
ing.
An Indian Confedcracy.
Meanwhile Tecumseh travelled far and
wide visiting the tribes of the South
and those beyond the Mississippi and
awakening as far as possible through
the religious movement of his brother
a spirit of union and harmony. He
added much 10 the Prophets power by
his own noble presence and influence.
In the spring of 1903 the Prophet
moved his headquarters to land on the
ITippecanoe, in Indiana. Flo had visited
Iyincennes and had talked so plausibly
to the Governor that Mr.. Harrison was
deceived into believing he meant no
harm to the whites.
But Harrison soon was undeceived,
and in the summer of 1910 he demand
ed that the Prophet visit him again at
Vincennes, Instead, Tecumseh went
There with 400 warriors. In the coun-
| ell that was held Harrison and Tecum-
sch each distrusted the others good
faith at first. The Governor had IN
tended the meeting should be on the
portioo of his house, but Tecumseh re-
fused to go there. He suggested
nearby grove. "The earth is my
mother. and on her bosom Will re-
| pose" he said
/ Tacumseh's speech was to the effect
that the Great Spirit had given this
great island (America) to his red chill
dren and had put the whites on the
other side of the water. The whites,
not contented with their own. had
taken that of the red men. They had
driven the Indians from the sea to the
llakes and the Indians could go no
further. The whites had taken upon
| themselves to say this land belongs to
the Niamis, this to the Delawares. and
i so on. The Great Spirit Intended the
4 land as the common property OF all
"Since the peace was made" he con-
tinued. "you have killed some Shaw
nees, Winnebagoes. Delawares and MI
amfs. and YOU have taken our land
from us, and / do not see how we can
remain at peace If you continue to do
i SO. You try to force the red people TO
do some injury. 1t Is you that are
i pushing them on to do mischief. You
L endeavor to make distinctions. You
4 wish to prevent tho Indians doing as
4 they wish to do--unite and to consider
their lands as the common property OF
the whole. You take tribes aside and
corrupt them. BY your distinction of
Il indian tribes In allotting to each par
ticr,lar tract of land you want them 70
], make war with one another.
'.Brother. this land that was sold to
/ YOU was sold only by few II you
. continue to purchase our lands tnis
: way 1t will produce war among the
, d,fferent tribes. Brother. you should
/ take pity on the red people and return
!. 10 them little of the land of which
they have been plundered.
",rhe Irdian has been honest IN his
dealings with you, but how can w
have confidence in tho white people
When Jesus Christ came on earth yo
killed Himan nailed Him on cross
You thought He was. dead, but yo
i We're mistaken, You have many rel rel,
! gions, and you perseeute and ridleMl
G those who do not agree with YOU tn
e Shakers are good people, IoM /, hay Y
: Shakers among you, but YOU laugh an
make light of their worship You ar
counseled by bad birds ]. speak moth
4 ling but the truth to YOU"
General Harrison's answer was tina
tho lands recently bought belonged I
, the Miamis, 1t was absurd to say n
Indians We're one nation or the land
We're owned in common, If the. Grea
!, Spirit had meant the Indians to be on
nation He would not have put dilferen
. tongues into their heads, Tho Shay
!, nees had no right 70 come from J, =, !, a u
al in the disposal Of their property,
so vehemently in reply and arouse
n Almost Row. h, ],
This angered = ecunlseh, AID be apol