indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第25章
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
River near Fort Snelling。 When almost surrounded by Sioux warriors； he
left the canoe and swam along the shore with only his nose above water；
but as they were about to head him off he landed and hid behind the
falling sheet of water known as Minnehaha Falls； thus saving his life。
It often happens that one who offers his life freely will after all die a
natural death。 The elder Hole…in…the…Day so died when The Boy was still
a youth。 Like Philip of Massachusetts； Chief Joseph the younger； and the
brilliant Osceola； the mantle fell gracefully upon his shoulders； and he
wore it during a short but eventful term of chieftainship。 It was his to see
the end of the original democracy on this continent。 The clouds were fast
thickening on the eastern horizon。 The day of individualism and equity
between man and man must yield to the terrific forces of civilization； the
mass play of materialism； the cupidity of commerce with its twin brother
politics。 Under such conditions the younger Hole…in…the…Day undertook
to guide his tribesmen。 At first they were inclined to doubt the wisdom
of so young a leader； but he soon proved a ready student of his people's
traditions； and yet； like Spotted Tail and Little Crow； he adopted too
willingly the white man's politics。 He maintained the territory won from
the Sioux by his predecessors。 He negotiated treaties with the ability of a
born diplomat； with one exception； and that exception cost him his life。
Like other able Indians who foresaw the inevitable downfall of their
race； he favored a gradual change of customs leading to complete adoption
of the white man's ways。 In order to accustom the people to a new
standard； he held that the chiefs must have authority and must be given
compensation for their services。 This was a serious departure from the
old rule but was tacitly accepted； and in every treaty he made there was
provision for himself in the way of a land grant or a cash payment。 He
early departed from the old idea of joint ownership with the Lake Superior
Ojibways； because he foresaw that it would cause no end of trouble for the
Mississippi River branch of which he was then the recognized head。 But
there were difficulties to come with the Leech Lake and Red Lake bands；
who held aloof from his policy； and the question of boundaries began to
arise。
In the first treaty negotiated with the government by young Hole…in…
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the…Day in 1855； a 〃surplus〃 was provided for the chiefs aside from the
regular per capita payment； and this surplus was to be distributed in
proportion to the number of Indians under each。 Hole…in…the…Day had by
far the largest enrollment； therefore he got the lion's share of this fund。
Furthermore he received another sum set apart for the use of the 〃head
chief〃； and these things did not look right to the tribe。 In the very next
treaty he provided himself with an annuity of one thousand dollars for
twenty years； beside a section of land near the village of Crow Wing； and
the government was induced to build him a good house upon this land。
In his home he had many white servants and henchmen and really lived
like a lord。 He dressed well in native style with a touch of civilized
elegance； wearing coat and leggings of fine broadcloth； linen shirt with
collar； and； topping all； a handsome black or blue blanket。 His moccasins
were of the finest deerskin and beautifully worked。 His long beautiful
hair added much to his personal appearance。 He was fond of entertaining
and being entertained and was a favorite both among army officers and
civilians。 He was especially popular with the ladies； and this fact will
appear later in the story。
At about this time； the United States government took it upon itself to
put an end to warfare between the Sioux and Ojibways。 A peace meeting
was arranged at Fort Snelling； with the United States as mediator。 When
the representatives of the two nations met at this grand council； Hole…in…
the…Day came as the head chief of his people； and with the other chiefs
appeared in considerable pomp and dignity。 The wives of the
government officials were eager for admission to this unusual gathering；
but when they arrived there was hardly any space left except next to the
Sioux chiefs； and the white ladies soon crowded this space to overflowing。
One of the Sioux remarked： 〃I thought this was to be a council of chiefs
and braves； but I see many women among us。〃 Thereupon the Ojibway
arose and spoke in his courtliest manner。 〃The Ojibway chiefs will feel
highly honored；〃 said he； 〃if the ladies will consent to sit on our side。〃
Another sign of his alertness to gain favor among the whites was seen
in the fact that he took part in the territorial campaigns； a most unusual
thing for an Indian of that day。 Being a man of means and influence； he
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was listened to with respect by the scattered white settlers in his vicinity。
He would make a political speech through an interpreter； but would
occasionally break loose in his broken English； and wind up with an
invitation to drink in the following words： 〃Chentimen； you Pemicans
（Republicans）； come out and drink！〃
From 1855 to 1864 Hole…in…the…Day was a well…known figure in
Minnesota； and scarcely less so in Washington； for he visited the capital
quite often on tribal affairs。 As I have said before； he was an unusually
handsome man； and was not unresponsive to flattery and the attentions of
women。 At the time of this incident he was perhaps thirty…five years old；
but looked younger。 He had called upon the President and was on his
way back to his hotel； when he happened to pass the Treasury building just
as the clerks were leaving for the day。 He was immediately surrounded
by an inquisitive throng。 Among them was a handsome young woman
who asked through the interpreter if the chief would consent to an
interview about his people； to aid her in a paper she had promised to
prepare。
Hole…in…the…Day replied： 〃If the beautiful lady is willing to risk calling
on the chief at his hotel； her request will be granted。〃 The lady went； and
the result was so sudden and strong an attachment that both forgot all
racial biases and differences of language and custom。 She followed him
as far as Minneapolis； and there the chief advised her to remain； for he
feared the jealousy of some of his many wives。 She died there； soon after
giving birth to a son； who was brought up by a family named Woodbury；
and some fifteen years ago I met the young man in Washington and was
taken by him to call upon certain of his mother's relatives。
The ascendancy of Hole…in…the…Day was not gained entirely through
the consent of his people； but largely by government favor； therefore there
was strong suppressed resentment among his associate chiefs； and the Red
Lake and Leech Lake bands in fact 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
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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
