The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1932-07-08

~ zYX3M iamenteQ loudly after
~ the fashion of their
Tenskwatawa people, and prepared
for funeral.
Nothing was further from their
thoughts than that the supposed corpse
would revive, and one may imagine
their CONSERVATION when the Indian
spoke again. However, he had that TO
tell which caused them to forget their
fears: Il have seen heaven. Call the
nation together that may tell them
what has appeared to mel"
He announced that he had been CIV
en- wonderful new revelation from
the Master of Life. He had visited
the spirit world and seen behind the
veil of past and future. He had found
that evil is punished and good reward
ed there, and he also learned that the
Indians were not living good life.
Here he denounced witchcraft and
strong drink, and stated that those
who continued to drink would have
a fiery punishment hereafter; the pain
of burning would be theirs, and flames
would shoot from their mouths.
Sorcery and medicine" were also
wrong, the prophet stated, but other
Of the old Indian customs were the
right ones and should be reinstated.
The old should be respected and the
infirm taken care of. Property should
be owned in common, as had been the
case in ancient times. White men
should not be allowed to marry into
the tribe, and in fact, civilization
should be rejected entirely. The Shaw
nees should return to the old ways Of
life, as they were before the white
men came. And thus, said the revela-
tion, happiness would come once again
to the red mans heart.
His Indian hearers received these
commands with considerable excite
ment. The belief in a Messiah was
strong in every one of the vanquished
race, and this seemed to be a message
Of hope. The strong personality of
the prophet impressed them, and al
though he was blind in one eye, the
other seemed to hold a magnetic
power.
The name he now assumed was
Tenskwatawa, "The Open Door," and
he became known to the whites simply
as the prophet" 1t is doubtful
from his intrigues IL he had any real
belief in his frances" He would have
appeared more genuine If he had
avoided politics. However, he adroit-
ly directed suspicion of witchcraft
against those who spoke In his dis
favor, and sometimes went too far in
his zeal, thus harming his cause.
Greenville, Ohio, was the site chosen
by the Prophet for his headquarters.
Here the campaign assumed business
like air. Indians from other tribes
flocked to hear the vigorous speaker,
and his representatives were sent from
the Blackfoot country to Florida,
spreading the report of his marvellous
supernatural messages.
An eclipse of the sun occurred in
1906. Tenskwatawa had predicted
this event, and the fulfillment of his
words served to stamp him as true
prophet. The other tribes accepted
him without further question and be-
gan to work along the lines he had
planned.
There were two outstanding points
about Tenskwatawa's propaganda:
within four years, he said, some aw-
full catastrophe would happen, and
only those who believed in the prophet
would be safe. This added to the
numbers gathered around him. Then,
the northern tribes advanced the idea
that a confederacy could be formed
which would drive the white men back,
and this idea was eagerly adopted.
At the battle of Tippecanoe, in
which more than a thousand converts
] to the Prophets creed were engaged,
Harrison won decisive victory over
the Indians, causing them consider
able loss. AS Tenskwatawa had
claimed that he could avert death In
battle, this blow was severe one,
and he lost his prestige on this &C.
count.
His work, however, had acquired too
great an impetus to stop. The War
of 1912 brought this ferment to its
height. The British were quick to see
the advantage of such an Indian
league on their side, and made good
use Of the opportunity. The Creek
war of 1913 was another result of
the Prophets teachings.
After the War of 1912, Tenskwatawa
was given a pension by the British.
He lived for some years in Canada,
finally returning to the United States.
and died in Kansas in November, 1887.
His burial place is unknown.
20 1882, Western Newspaper Union.)