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第29章

indian heroes & great chieftains-第29章

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never acknowledged him as their head; while they suspected him of

making treaties which involved some of their land。  He was in

personal danger from this source; and his life was twice attempted;

but; though wounded; in each case he recovered。  His popularity

with Indian agents and officers lasted till the Republicans came

into power in the sixties and there was a new deal。  The chief no

longer received the favors and tips to which he was accustomed; in

fact he was in want of luxuries; and worse still; his pride was

hurt by neglect。  The new party had promised Christian treatment to

the Indians; but it appeared that they were greater grafters than

their predecessors; and unlike them kept everything for themselves;

allowing no perquisites to any Indian chief。



In his indignation at this treatment; Hole…in…the…Day began

exposing the frauds on his people; and so at a late day was

converted to their defense。  Perhaps he had not fully understood

the nature of graft until he was in a position to view it from the

outside。  After all; he was excusable in seeking to maintain the

dignity of his office; but he had departed from one of the

fundamental rules of the race; namely: 〃Let no material gain be the

motive or reward of public duty。〃  He had wounded the ideals of his

people beyond forgiveness; and he suffered the penalty; yet his

courage was not diminished by the mistakes of his past。  Like the

Sioux chief Little Crow; he was called 〃the betrayer of his

people〃; and like him he made a desperate effort to regain lost

prestige; and turned savagely against the original betrayers of his

confidence; the agents and Indian traders。



When the Sioux finally broke out in 1862; the first thought of

the local politicians was to humiliate Hole…in…the…Day by arresting

him and proclaiming some other 〃head chief〃 in his stead。  In so

doing they almost forced the Ojibways to fight under his

leadership。  The chief had no thought of alliance with the Sioux;

and was wholly unaware of the proposed action of the military on

pretense of such a conspiracy on his part。  He was on his way to

the agency in his own carriage when a runner warned him of his

danger。  He thereupon jumped down and instructed the driver to

proceed。  His coachman was arrested by a file of soldiers; who when

they discovered their mistake went to his residence in search of

him; but meanwhile he had sent runners in every direction to notify

his warriors; and had moved his family across the Mississippi。 

When the military reached the river bank he was still in sight; and

the lieutenant called upon him to surrender。  When he refused; the

soldiers were ordered to fire upon him; but he replied with his own

rifle; and with a whoop disappeared among the pine groves。



It was remarkable how the whole tribe now rallied to the call

of Hole…in…the…Day。  He allowed no depredations to the young men

under his leadership; but camped openly near the agency and awaited

an explanation。  Presently Judge Cooper of St。 Paul; a personal

friend of the chief; appeared; and later on the Assistant Secretary

of the Interior; accompanied by Mr。 Nicolay; private secretary of

President Lincoln。  Apparently that great humanitarian President

saw the whole injustice of the proceeding against a loyal nation;

and the difficulty was at an end。



Through the treaties of 1864; 1867; and 1868 was accomplished

the final destiny of the Mississippi River Ojibways。 

Hole…in…the…Day was against their removal to what is now White

Earth reservation; but he was defeated in this and realized that

the new turn of events meant the downfall of his race。  He declared

that he would never go on the new reservation; and he kept his

word。  He remained on one of his land grants near Crow Wing。  As

the other chiefs assumed more power; the old feeling of suspicion

and hatred became stronger; especially among the Pillager and Red

Lake bands。  One day he was waylaid and shot by a party of these

disaffected Indians。  He uttered a whoop and fell dead from his

buggy。



Thus died one of the most brilliant chiefs of the Northwest;

who never defended his birthright by force of arms; although almost

compelled to do so。  He succeeded in diplomacy so long as he was

the recognized head of his people。  Since we have not passed over

his weaknesses; he should be given credit for much insight in

causing the article prohibiting the introduction of liquor into the

Indian country to be inserted into the treaty of 1858。  I think it

was in 1910 that this forgotten provision was discovered and again

enforced over a large expanse of territory occupied by whites; it

being found that the provision had never been repealed。



Although he left many children; none seem to have made their

mark; yet it may be that in one of his descendants that undaunted

spirit will rise again。








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