第 26 节
作者:闲来一看      更新:2024-01-16 22:40      字数:4089
  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。
  End