Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-26

Indian titles to sweep westward to the
Pacific. 70 the Indian II was the floo
tide Of life, and treaty OF peace with
the federal government was the ark of
safety
Took Chicfs Ia wRshtnEtou,
Logan Fontcneue was the man for
the hour lie assembled tho chiefs Of
tho different bands OF his nation and
took them to Washington city, where he
negotiated the great Indian treaty Of
1854 That treaty is a remarkable docu-
mcnt, both from the striking character
OF somc Of its provisions. and the great
result that followed its approval 1t is
la document as significant to the begin
ming Of tho growth of tho structure Of
our state as is the Declaration Of indie
rendoncc to the federal government, or
the great treaty between Napoleon and
jefferson, by which tho Louisiana ter
lIitory was transferred from France to
the United states,
by this Indian. treaty of 1854, the title
OF the Omaha Indian nation to millions
OF acres of Nebraska lands were coded
to the general government and were
thrown open to settlements, The prairies
which were once ancient battle fields are
now being cultivated as farms. Where
once there were Indian villages, there
Ii are now towns and cities. Had II not
been for that treaty of 1854, these plains
would still be Indian lands, the property
| Of the Omaha Indian nation, and no
white man would have a right to set
foot thereon without the permission OF
the Indian chiefs.
This greater Omaha, with its popu-
Ilation of more than 100000 people, the
| gateway to the vast regions between
the Missouri river and the Pacific ocean,
has been built upon the lands which
once belonged to Logan Fontenele and
his people and its existence only be-
came possible by that treaty Of 1854.
Other important events followed i'm
medately after the execution of this In
dian treaty. Congress passed the en-
abling act, by which the Territory OF
Nebraska was created. The president APP
pointed a governor and a corps of Off
GERS to administer civil government.
Then and there were laid the foundation
of our statehood which became a new
star on the azure blue Of the flag
in 1867.
FontcnCIIc's Assassination.
I'VE now com TO a SAD part of the
story. Logan Fontenelle, as one of the
first considerations of the treaty, had
provision put in it by which the United
States agreed to protect the Omahas from
the Sioux and all other hostile tribes. Yet
within a year after the signing OF that
document and with the name OF our coun-
try's president, Franklin Pierce, affixed
to it. the government ordered the Omaha
Indians to lie removed to their northern
reservation, on the borders of which the
Sioux were constantly committing depre-
dations. Logan Fontenelle appealed to
the United States for protection against
the Sioux under the provisions OF the
treaty, but protection was not given.
Logan Fontenelle declared it was
equivalent to murder, and nothing but
murder, to place the unarmed and de-
fenselcss Omahas in the paths OF their
hereditary enemies. the Sioux. The power
of the United States was too great Tor
his nation to resist and he said: We Will
go and meet our fate They went.
The failure of the government to full
fill its treaty obligations to protect the
Omahas did result in murder. In lS55 that
great Indian chieftain, Logan Fontenelle'
who made it possible that the state of
Nebraska might come into existence and
, this city be built and this magnificent
: hotel constructed, was assassinated by
band OF hostile Sioux His breast was
pierced by seven arrows, his skull was
crushed by the blow of tomohawk, his
scalp was carried away as trophy or
Sioux valor II was crime that Dor
dcred on martyrdom, yet the government
, of the United states never punished the
PERPETRATORS of that foul deed.
when | reflect upon these tragic cir
cumstarcos ! am frequently calling to
/ memory a statement lately made by
Major General Grenville NJ. Dodge that
there never had been an Indian war which
had not been instigated by a failure OF
the federal government to fulfill its
treaty obligations
Philosopher and n Martyr.
in conclusion I wish to summarize m!
, conception of the life, character and wis
dom of Logan Fontenelle. In my open
Y ing l said of him that he was French
man-an Indian. l wish now to add tina
e he was a philosopher of life and a marty
r 10 its cause
He was in favor of universal neac
! before Andrew Carnegie and David Star
Jordon became its apostles He provide
q in article 10 of the treaty that tn
i Omahas would not make war on an
q other tribe except in self-defense, an
would submit all matters of differenc
between them and other Indians to tn
= government of the United States an
r abide its decision. No other nation ha
t ever been willing to grant such suprem
B" and unappealable authority to a Hagu
o Congress, or to insert a similar clause 1
: any international treaty.
= He wanted to secure protection to hi
r Indian nation against hostile invasion
9 and to surround them by the Anglo-Saxo
: people, so that they might i'm time thro'
y off their old habits and customs of say
age life and take on new civilization q
= peace. He trusted the United States an
: became a martyr TO the cause of his pee