The Coolidge examiner., 1932-09-23

sxSkS " enriched our national heritage
ESHa Since that time the event has
been observed annually in Illinois
and the idea of American Indian day has spread
to other states. Although 1t has not yet become
established either as a holiday or a day for gen.
eral observance throughout the country, 1t is
sufficiently well known to remind Americans of
the present day of honor due to the original
Americans" and, on American Indian day, there
may pass before us a pageant of those indi-
viduals who played a part In making the history
of this nation and who richly deserve to be
remembered for what they were or what they did.
The mark of our contact with the Indian is
upon us indelibly and forever" writes Norman
b. Wood in his Lives of Famous Indian Chiefs"
He has not only impressed himself upon our
geography, but on our character language and
literature. Bancroft, our greatest historian, is
not quite right when he says The memorials Of
their former existence are found only in the
names of rivers and mountains These memori-
ais have not only permeated our poetry and
other literature. but they are perpetuated In
much OF the food we eat, and every mention of
potatoes. chocolate, cocoa mush. green corn, sue
cotash, homny and the festive turkey is trib-
ute TO the redman, while the fragrance Of the to-
bacco Indian weed smoke is incense to
their memory.
ION one OCCASION according TO Aesop, a man
and lion got into an argument as to which of
the two the stronger, and, thus cOntending
they walked together until they came TO a statue
representing a man choking and subduing a
lion. There exclaimed the man, that proves
my point, and demonstrates that is
stronger than a lion To which the king of
beasts replied, when the lions get TO be scup-
tors. they will have the lion choking and over
coming the man.
The Indians neither sculptors, painters
nor historians. The only record we have of
many of their nobest Chiefs greatest deeds
hardest-fought battles or sublmest flights of
eloquence, the poor, fragmentary accounts
recorded and handed down by their impacabe
enemies the all-conquering whites"
If ever an Indian painter. sculptor or historian
rises TO tell the full story of the achievements of
men and women of his race through the medium
of expression which he chooses, what magnifi-
cent record he can set down In it will be the
story of such patriots as King Philip of the Wam-
panoags, Pontiac of the Ottawas, Tecumseh of
the Shawnees. Black Hawk of the Sauk and
Foxes, 0sceola of the Seminoes Sitting Bull of
the Sioux Captain Jack of the Modocs and
Standing Bear of the Poncas. In II will be the
story of such great captains as Cornstalk of the
Shawnees Little Turtle of the Miams, Red
Cloud, Crazy Horse and Gall of the Sioux. Chief
Joseph of the Nez Perces, and Dull Knife and
Little Wolf of the Cheyennes. AS for orators he
can set forth the names of Logan of the Cayugas,
Red Jacket of the Senecas, Satanta OF the Kiowas
and Running Antelope of the Sioux and be sure
that they will compare favorably with those of
any other of men.
The speech of one of them has become immor-
tai For it was Logan who sent this message to
Lord Dunmore of Virginia:
Il appeal to any white man to say If he ever
entered Logan's cabin hungry and he gave him
not meat; if he came cold and naked and
he clothed him not. During the course of the
last long and bloody war; Logan remained idle
in his camp, advocate of peace. Such was
my love for the whites that my countrymen
pointed l passed and said, Logan is the
friend of the white man. had even thought to
have lived with you. but for the injuries of one
man. Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold
blood and unprovoked. murdered all the rea-
tions of Logan not even Sparing my women and
children. There runs not drop of my blood
In the veins of any living creature This called
me for revenge | have sought it. 1 have
killed many. I have fully glutted my vengeance
For my country rejoice at the beams of peace; f;
but do not harbOr a thought that mine is the
Joy of fear. Logan never felt fear. He will not
turn on his heel TO his life. Who is there
to mourn for Logan? Not one.'
Although Sitting Bull Of the Sioux is better
known a warrior and medicine man than as
an orator. on one occasion he made a speech
10 his people in which he voiced a protest
against oppression and a plea for human rights
that deserves to be placed beside Patrick
Henry's immortal "Give me liberty or give me
death" 1t was before a council of the Sioux
held the Powder river that Sitting Bull stood
before his people and said:
Behold. my friends, the spring is come: the
earth has gladly received the embraces of the