Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-25

he followed the waters OF the Missouri
river past the Nebraska shores.
The beauty Of early Nebraska Father
De Smet was quick TO SEQ and appreciate.
No better picture Of our own Platte river
has ever been given than this by him
in 1910:
Il was often struck with admiration
at the sight Of the picturesque scenes
which we enjoyed all the way up the
Platte. Think Of the big ponds that you
have seen IN the parks Of European no.
blemen, dotted with little wooded Is
lands. The Platte offers you these by
thousands and of all shapes. / have
seen groups OF islands that one might
easily take, from a distance, for fleets
under sail, garlanded with verdure and
festooned with flowers; and the rapid
flow of the river past them made them
seem to be flying over the water"
The future OF this region wan clearly
forescen by this great missionary. The
vacant plains stirred within him memoir
les OF the crowded peoples of Europe
when he wrote.
Tn my visits to the Indian tribes I
have several times traversed the i'm.
mense plains Of the west. Every time I
have found myself amid a painful void.
Europe's thousands of poor who cry for
bread and wander without shelter or
hope often occur to my thoughts. Tn
happy poor often cry, why are We not
here7 Your industry and toll would end
your sorrows Here you might rear a
smiling home and reap in plenty the fruit
OF your toll The sound Of the axe and
n rarT wrylI
broad farms with orchard and vineyard.
alive with domestic animals and poultry,
viii cover these desert plains to provide
for thck-coming cities. which will rise
as IL by enchantnent with dome and
tower, church and college, school and
house hospital and asylums."
Father DE Smet was present and took
an active part In the first Fort Laramie
council Of 1851, which resulted in the
treaty Of, that year He wrote the best
account of this great event In Indian his
tory. Although called 1.-THE Fort Lara
mie Treaty" the council was held and
the treaty made forty miles east of Fort
Laramie in what II now SCOTS Bluff
county, Nebraska. Here, on a vast plain
where the waters of Horse creek unite
with those of the Platte the tribes of the
plains and the mountains met and for the
first time made treaty with the United
states. peace with each other and a di-
vision OF the land among the tribes. The
council lasted for eighteen days and was
attended by over 10000 Indians. Here
Father De Smet was greeted by thou
sands whose homes he had visited: his
advice was eagerly sought on the great
questions before them and the rite of
baptism was administered by him to 1855
Indians.
The Sioux were always near the heart
of Father De Smet. He admired their
courage and independence. He sought
to abate their cruelty. In a great speech
to them he told how the Indians at the
head Of the Missouri had buried the
hatcOlet and forsaken the. white mans
firewater. He asked them to do the
same. The head chief replied:
"Black-robe, I speak In the name of
the chiefs and braves The words you
bring from the Master Of Life are fair.
We love them. We hear them today for
the first time.
"Black-robe. you are only passing by
our land. Tomorrow we will hear your
voice no moro. We shall be, as we have
been. like the Wishtonwish Cprairie dogs)