The Story of Tecumseh
me communing with past ages tells me that once, and not so long ago, there were no white men on this continent. It then belonged to the red men, who were placed there by the Great Spirit to enjoy it, both they and their children. Now our once happy people are miserable, driven back by the white men, who are never contented but always encroaching. The way, the only way, to check this evil is for the red men to unite in claiming a common and equal right in the land as it was at first, and should be yet, for it was the gift of the Great Spirit to us all, and therefore the few cannot cede it away forever. What! Sell a country! Why not sell the air, the clouds and the great sea, as well as the earth? Backward have the Americans driven us from the sea, and on towards the setting sun are we being forced, nekatacushe katopolinto—like a galloping horse—but now we will yield no further, but here make our stand. Brother, I wish you would take pity on the red people and do what I have requested. The Great Spirit has inspired me, and I speak nothing but the truth to you."
Having finished his speech, Tecumseh turned, and, walking back, flung himself down beside some of the lesser chiefs.
The excitement amongst the Indians was intense. General Harrison himself was so influenced by Tecumseh's eloquence that it was some time before he could collect his thoughts sufficiently to address the council. In his heart he knew that Tecumseh had spoken the truth. He could hardly bring his lips to frame the specious argument by which he hoped to create dissension amongst the Indians. He denied that the Indians were one nation. If
86
