The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-06-22
FRANKLiNS
SNAKE CARTOON

in other papers throughout the colonies who
soon had an opportunity to put into practical
effect the lesson which it taught but who, as
usual, muffed the chance. That was at the ia
nous Albany congress Of 1904. For as George
NJ. Wrong author of the volume 1.-THE Conquest
of New France in 1.-THE Chronicles of America"
series, says: 1.-THE English colonists showed a
political blindness that amounted to imbecility.
Albany was the central point from which the
dangers on all sides might best be surveyed.
Here came together in the summer of 1854 dele
gates from seven of the colonies to consider the
common peril The French were busy in win
ming, they did, the support of the many In
dian tribes of the West; and the old allies OF
the English, the Iroquois, were nervous for their
safety.
1.-The delegates to Albany, tied and bound by
instructions from their assemblies, had to listen
to plain words from the savages. The one Eng
lishman who in dealing with the Indians, had
tact and skill equal to that of Frontenac Of old
was an Irishman, Sir William Johnson. To him
the Iroquois made indignant protests that the
English were as ready as the French to rob
them of their lands. :"
Outstanding among these native orators who
spoke such plain words to the delegates was
Teoniahigarawe King Hendrick of the Mo-
hawks. Although he is not so we'll known to most
Americans as that other Mohawk leader, Thay-
enuanegea OF Joseph brdHl, AeHuTlCh was OHe
of the most important Indian figures in colonial
history. He was born about 1872 near the pres
ent site of Westfeld Mass. Although he was the
son of Mohegan of the Wolf clan, his mother
was Mohawk woman, so he became a member
of the latter tribe. Some time between 1880 and
1892 Teoniahgarawe WAS converted to Chris
tianty by Dutch preacher named Godefridus
Deus and given the name of Hendrick Peters,
later shortened to Hendrick.
AS Christian preacher and natural leader,
Hendrick rapidly rose to a position of promi-
nence among the Mohawks as an orator and
councillor. After the failure of General Nichol-
sons expedition against Canada during Queen
Anne's war, the provincial authorities of New
York became fearful that the Iroquos might join
forces with the French. To prevent this and to
gain more active support from the Mother coun-
try in carrying the war, Col. Peter Schuyler
decided to make journey to England and to
take with him several Iroquois leaders. Hendrick
was of the five chosen to go and in April,
ITO, Schuyler and his Iroquois delegation ar
rived in London where they were received with
great ceremony as "native kings" of the Five
Nations of the Iroquois confederacy.
Upon their return to America King Hendrick
took an active part In the preparations for the
campaign against the French. but the Treaty of
Utrecht ended the war before any important
results were accomplished. From that time on
Hendrick was much In the llmeHgnt as war
leader of his people but more as an orator and
a frequent speaker at councils with the pro-
vincal authorities in Albany. For time he
was swayed toward the cause of the French,
but the influence of Sir William Johnson, with
whom he later became such firm friend, kept
him loyal to the English.
During the negotiations with the Iroquos at
the Albany congress Hendrick was the chief
speaker for the Indians. In answer to charges
. that the Iroquois were leaning to the French,
he replied holly: "You have asked us the reason
of our being driven like leaves before the wind.
The reason is because of your neglect of US
these three years past. You have thrown us
behind your back and dsregarded u.s. whereas
the French are always turning this way and that,
with their eyes ever upon the trail. ever using
their utmost endeavors every day, walking
softly like the wolf in winter to seduce and bring
our people over to them IT'S your fault breth-
rem, that we are not strengthened by conquest,
for we would have gone and taken Crown Point
but you hindered US. We had concluded to go
and take 1t, but we were told it was too late
and that the ice would not bear us; instead of
this you burnt your own forts at Seraghtoga
and run away from 1t, which was a shame and
a scandal to you. Look about your country and
see You have no Notifications about you, no,
not even to this city. Look at the French. They
are men. They are fortifying everywhere. But,
we are ashamed to say it, you are all like wom-
en--weak and defenseless."
But this singing indictment Of the faltering