NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.



217



               INDIAN ELOQUENCE.

  Their natural eloquence is acknowledged by every
person who heard their orators speak. In order, there-
fore, that the reader may be convinced of these facts, we
shall offer the following able observations of one of our



publhi

histoui
with
past,
splen
from
ty.   I
whici
atteni
field



tions,
  "s1
lose t
ages:
are tc



nation
n ame



9
kfew
ry.



Lrnals, on. lanian
P suns more and
A few centuries



eloquence:
the Indian will live only in
and that history will be colored



the mellow romantic light in which time robes the
and, contrasted with the then present wealth and
dor of America, may seem so impossible, as to elicit
the historian a philosophic doubt of its authenticih
The period may arrive when the same uncertainty
E hangs over the heroic days of every people may
I its records, and the stirring deeds of the battle
and council-fire may be regarded as attractive fic-
or at the best as beautiful exaggerations.
7his is but in the nature of things. Actions always
heir reality and distinctness in the perspective of
time is their charnel house. And no memorials
i be lost or forgotten, as soon as those of conquered



So. ott



hie Anlsges and Saxon:



has survived, and the Indian



s little more than a
mnay meet no better



fate. Even though our own history is
theirs. it is somewhat to be feared, that, fro
valuable cover will be suffered to decay,
stowed only on -the precious contents.
claimed some; what pleasure or profit is
from the remembrance of such things !-
legend be forgotten ; they are but exhibitio
life, teeming with disgusting excess, and b
They portray man in no interesting light ; i



enveloped in
rm neglect, the
and care be-
' Be it so,' ex-
to be derived
Let the wild
ns of a savage
rutal passion.
Eor with every



redeeming trait, there rises on some a revolting charac-
teristic in horrid contrast. Was he grateful ? so was his
revenge bloody and eternal. Was he brave ? so was he

                            19*