Evening star., 1919-05-04
America Had League of Nations Centuries AGO

was the way the Five Nations present.
ed the league to the Fries and Hurons
and when they were unresponsive.
they were conquered in battle and re-
ceived and adopted into Iroquois
households. Others came Of their own
accord to the league as to refuge.
The Tuscaroras. expelled from North
Carolina took haven with the Five
Nations and became the sixth nation.
From still further south the Tute-
loes and Saponies of Dakota stock.
after many wars with the Iroauois,
fed to them from their other enemies
and found a cordial welcome" Frax-
ments of tribes Of Algonquin lineage
sought the same protection. And to-
day, on the Canadian reservation. az
nest proof of this assimilation, when
the lroquois meet in council, there sts
about the fire various chiefs each rep
resenting one Of these absorbed peo-
pies-one to answer for the Tuteloes.
one for the Saponies and SO on.
when Hiawatha and his supporters
oHered first place in the league to the
give them stronger voice than any
other member Of the league had. Each
ration sitting in the league council
voted as nation and unanimity was
necessary in order to bind them all.
X X
The league was constituted in a
clever way to meet the life of it's peo-
pie at that era-a hunter people with
hunter aspirations. 1t bound them
and yet left them free
The Indian statesmen who could
control the destinies of semi-savages
for 800 years laid down in their pic
turesque wording three great princi-
pies. One for the perpetuation of their
league and it's ceremonies for the
raising up of new chief when
dead senator was lamented, came to be
called the 'condoling council" Its lit
eratura handed down the years is
PROOF that such a federation existed
Their second farseeing act was the
forbiddins OF tribal wars between
members of the league on account Of
individual murders. This law eanr0t
fairly be compared with the ideas of
rights of citi7enship in ciyifixaed -
'iohs' All Indian wars grew out Of In
dfvidusl murders and the recognizea
merhod was to retalfate by another
stealthy murder and SO on until the
nres OF hatred blazed unextinpuish-
AMY IN the tribes concerned. when
tnere is murder DONE" the quaint
laws OF the federation said. tell not
the young mau. let the old msn hurry
the anger in the swift aawing current
under the pine tree (pine tree signify
ing eouHciD." A certain au5os.r. NJ
"ampum was specified to be given to
the relatives OF the dead man ~
tribute for his death and another s,rx.
AZ barter for the lite OF the SLAYER.
Bat all was TO be done quietly with
out exciting the tribe,
Ana th'rd. these lawgivers instituted
an excellent reform in the mortuary
usaGes OF their people. who were ac
customed to waste their strength and
substance in feasts for the dears
Many an Indian went shiyerinr in
winter with furs piled up at home
"nich ne was saving for a masuifa-
cent display for his death Hiawatha
and his saSes wisely swept this awav-
This shall be done" said they in th-
league laws. and prescribed simot.
rites-ths visit OF a delegation Of
honored persons of the trihe to th~
tent and hearth Of the deceased. q
brief address. few words of com fort
some mourning wampum. and the lsv
ends. they shall be comforted"