Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1921-10-27
ELOQUENGE OF THE
AMERICAN INDIAN

Had l the time, / would delight in
compiling a volume under the title
of @Great Speeches and orations of
the American Indian" For forceful
diction, clearness of meaning, terse-
ness of expression and true elo-
ouence. combined with romantic
nhrasing, some of the examples of
the speeches of this noble race are
unsurpassed.
Of the eloquence of the Mingo
Chief Logan, nearly all are familiar.
The savings of the great warrior and
statesman Tecumseh have been made
prominent. Tarhe chief Sachem of
the Wyandots, Leatherlips and Corn
stalk, a swell as Black Hoof and Blue
Jacket of the Shawanees, and
Tecaughretanago a chief and phil
osopher of the Caughenewagas, were
leaders of great talk.
Logan in his speech to Lord Dun
more, in 1774, says, 81 appeal to any
white man to say if he ever entered
Logan's cabin hungry, and l gave
him not meat; if ever he came cold or
naked and gave him not clothing"
"Do not harbor the thot
that mine is the joy of fear. Logan
never felt fear. He will not turn
on his heel to save his life. Who is
there to mourn for Logan? Not one. y
Of course it takes the whole speech
to bring out it's fascination, but of
it Thomas jefferson said: Il may
challenge the whole orations of De-
mosthenese and Cicero, and any more
eminent if Europe has furnished such
to produce single passage superior
to the speech of Logan"
I wish l could reproduce here the
whole address of Tecumseh to Proct-
or, when the former appealed to the
British commander to stand and
fight Gen. Harrison after Perry's
victory instead of retreating from
Maiden into the interior of Canada
Tecumseh uses this sentence ano
closes as quoted.
'Listenl When we were last at the
Rapids (Fort Meigs) it is true we
gave you little assistance. 1t is
hard to fight people who live like
groundhogs. Father
listen! You have the arms and anu
milton which our great Father (the
King) sent for his children. If yor
have an idea of going away, give
them to us and you may go and wei.
come for us. Our lives are in the
hands of the Great Spirit. We are
determined to defend our lands and il
it be His will, we wish to leave oul
bones upon them."
Had Proctor followed Tecumseh'S
advice, there might have been g
different story than that of the bat
tie of the Thames.
When Cornstalk returned from the
battle of Point Pleasant to Pickaway
he wanted to make peace and in ad
dressing his warriors remarked
what will you do now? The big
knife is coming on us and we shall
4 all be killed I'll go anC
make peace.
When chief Tecaughtretanego wa!
in his winter camp on the Olentangy
in 1855 with his ten-year-oldJ son anC
young Smith, forty miles from an!
other cabin and theyS were neal
starvation by reason of On icy crust
ed snow, he spoke to Smith as fol
lows:
Brother: Be assured that yol
will be supplied with food and tina
just in the right time; but you mus
continue dilignet in the use of means
Go to sleep. Rise early in the morn
ing and go hunting strong ant
exert yourself like a man, and th'
Great spirit will drive it your way.
j. Carver captain of a compan,
of British provincial troops, VIII
later, about 1866 to 1858, explored
the headwatres' of the Mississippi, oI
his departure one morning afte
spending the night with severa
chiefs, was attended to the shore an
in great solemnity a fervent praye
was offered up, shat the Grea
Spirit will favor you with a prosper
GUS voyage; that He will give you al
unclouded sky and smooth waters b.
day, and that you may lie down b!
night on a beaver blanket and enjo!
uninterrupted sleep and pleasan
dreams, and that you may find con
tinued protection under the grea
pipe of peace as you progress on you
journey"