The Coolidge examiner., 1932-07-22

| Iowa; there Is q monument over the
grave in the city which was named
for him, and the Capitol at Washing
ton holds a bronze bust of this very
un-Indian Indian.
Keokuk was well-named, for the
word means lone who moves about
alert.
1t was Keokuk's great idea to
become the leader Of his people, the
Sauk, although he was not mem
Der Of the ruling clan. He became
one of the council while still very
young, and showed ability, and later
was made tribal guest-keeper, or
host.
The chief characteristic of Keo-
kuk was his manner of keeping in
the background while he exerted his
wiles, playing factions against each
other yet remaining the unsuspect-
ed friend of all. By this intriguing,
he became the leader Of the Sauk
ASSEMBLY, and so long as he did not
need to assert himself in the face of
some vital problem, he was we'll
liked.
The Black Hawk war, however,
ruined his carefully-acquired pres
| tige. A small band of Sauk agreed
that the tribe should give up the
Rock river country TO the govern
ment, but when the entire tribe was
told Of this agreement, there was
great deal of opposition. Black
Hawk and the loyal Sauk opposed
giving up the country. Keokuk took
such a neutral stand on this impor-
tant issue, that he lost all social and
political standing among the forth
right Indians, who keenly disliked
passive attitude In vital affairs.
At last, driven to take a stand.
he collected his loyal followers and
went TO the Foxes for protection.
This move, added to the result of
Keokuk's intrigues, divided the
tribes, who heretofore had main
tanned lukewarm sort of union.
The war began before Black
Hawk had marshalled his forces, and
after a series of losing struggles,
the Illinois militia and their Indian
allies were able to conquer him.
After the war, Keokuk saw the
opportunity to officially regain his
leadership, and played so cleverly
into the governments hands that he
was made chief of the Sauk. 1t
was then, when the announcement
was made in open council, that
stout-hearted Black Hawk, despis-
ing the intriguer, struck him across
the face. The Foxes, who had pro-
tected him, Joined the Sauk in de-
rision Of this government creation,
and there Is no doubt that Keokuk
paid dearly for his chieftainship in
the contempt of his people.
Still, the deft politician performed
one deed which earned him honor
among the very Indians who des-
pissed him otherwise. He estab-
lished the claim of the Sauk and
Fox to the territory which Iowa now
covers, debating earnestly for 1t
with leaders from other tribes be-
fore officials at Washington. This,
IL no more, he did for his people,
and if his own glory were his real
aim, the result is still in his favor.
A speech Of Keokuk's, made long
after this event, shows him as he
was: suave, flattering and oily: "We
feel proud that you have invited US
here this evening to drink glass
with you; the wine which we have
drank, we never tasted before; it is
the wine which the white men
make, who know how to make any
thing; l will take another glass. as
l have much TO say; we feel proud
that we can drink such wine. =.
l talked to our young men, who had
the hearts of men; l told them that
the Great Spirit was in our cOun-
ellis; they promised to live in peace; ;
those who listened to bad cOunsels
and followed our brothers, have
said said their ears are closed, they
will live in peace; l sent their
words to our great father, whose
ears are open, whose heart was
made sad by the conduct Of our
brothers; he has sent to their wig
vans; we thank him; say to him
that Keokuk thanks him.
/ want to see him, shall be proud
to take him by the hand, l have
heard much of him, his head is gray,
1 must see him; tell him that as
soon as the snow is off the prai-
rie, shall come. What l have said,
l wish spoken to him, before It's
put on paper, so that he shall hear
it as have said it; tell him that
Keokuk spoke it; what our brother
said in council today, let US forget;
he told me to speak; / spoke his
words"
Keokuk died in Kansas at the age
Of sixty-eight years. Thirty-five
years later, his remains were taken
to Keokuk, Iowa, and a monument
erected over them nv the citizens