The Winslow mail., 1926-03-26

serious impression on the Indians
until finally he prevailed upon the
wise chiefs of the Six Nations to
gather and give him audience which
they readily agreed to do. Mr..
Cram went into council with them
and talked long in behalf of the
religion of the 'paleface," laying
much stress on his belief that their
souls would surely be lost if they
did not accept the Divinity OF
Christ" When he had finished it
was decided by the chiefs to let
Chief Red Jacket answer the white
man. Following is the reply made
by that wise old chiftain and COM
poses the whole of the manuscript
which, whether you concur with
it or not, you must admit IS
good and even today expresses the
true minds of a large majority of
our Indians, especially the elder
ones:
Friend and Brother: 1t was the
will of the Great Spirit that we
should meet together this day. He
orders all things and has given US
fine day for our council. He has
taken His garments from before the
sun and caused it to shine with
brightness upon us. Our eyes are
opened that we may see clearly;
our ears are. unstopped that we
have been able to hear distinctly
the words you have spoken. For
all these favors we thank the Great
Spirit, and Him only.
Brother, this council fire was
kindled by you. 1t was at your
request that we came together at
this time. We have listened with
attention to what you have said.
You have requested us to speak our
minds clearly. This gives us great
joy; for we now consider that we
stand upright before you and can
speak what we think. All have
heard your voice and all speak to
you as one man. Our minds are
agreed.
Brother, you say you want an
answer to your talk before you
leave this place. 1t is right that
you should have one, as you are a
great distance from home and we
do not wish to detain you. But first
we will look back a little distance
and tell you what our fathers have
told us and what we have heard
from the white people.
Brother, listen to what we have
to say. There was a time when
our forefathers owned this great
island. Their seats extended from
the rising to the setting sun. The
Great Spirit. had made it for the
use of Indians. He created the
buffalo, the deer, and other ami
mails for food. He made the beaver
and the bear. Their skins served
us for clothing. He scattered them
over the country and taught us how
to take them. He had caused the
earth to produce corn for bread
All this He had done for His red
children because He loved them
If we had some disputes about our
hunting-ground they were gener-
ally settled without the shedding OF
much blood.
But an evil day came upon us
Your forefathers crossed the great
water and landed on this island
Their numbers were small. They
found friends and not enemies.
They told US they had fed from
their own country for fear Of wick
ed men and had come here to en-
joy their religion. They asked for
a small seat We took pity on
them, granted their request, and
they sat down among us. We gave
them corn and meat; they gave US
poison in return.
The white people, brother, had
now found our country. Tidings
were carried back and more came
among us. Yet we did not fear
them. We took them to be our
friends. They called us brothers.
We believed them and gave them a
larger seat. At length their num-
bers had greatly increased. They
wanted more land; they wanted our