About Manuscripts Profiles Maps Map Gallery Credits

Life of Thomas Eddy

SW_WH1793_Page_132

the liberty to mention, that most of the existingevils amongst your red brethren, have been caughtfrom the white people; not only that liquor thatdestroys us daily, but many diseases that our fore-fathers were ignorant of, before they saw you. My Brothers and Friends—I am glad, with mybrother chiefs, that are now present, to find that youare ready to assist us in every thing that will add toour good: we hope that the Great Spirit will aid youin all your good undertakings, with respect to us.We plainly perceive, brothers, that you see that veryevil that destroys your red brethren. It is not an evil, brothers, of our own making; we have notplaced it amongst ourselves; it is an evil placedamongst us by the white people; we look up to themto remove it out of our country: if they have thatfriendship for us, which they tell us they have, theycertainly will not let it continue amongst us anylonger. Our repeated entreaties to those who bringthis evil amongst us, we find, has not the desiredeffect. We tell them—Brothers, fetch us useful things;bring goods that will clothe us, our women, and ourchildren, and not this evil liquor, that destroys our reason—that destroys our health—that destroys ourlives: but all we can say on the subject is of no ser-vice, nor gives relief to your red brethren. My Brothers and Friends—I am glad that youhave seen into this business as we do—I rejoice tofind that you agree in opinion with us, and expressan anxiety to be, if possible, of service to us, to removethis great evil out of our country—an evil that hashad so much room in it—that has destroyed so manyof our lives, that it causes our young men to say, wehad better be at war with the white people: thisliquor that they introduce into our country is moreto be feared than the gun and the tomahawk; thereare more of us dead since the treaty of Grenville,than we lost by the six years war before; it is allowing to the introduction of this liquor amongst us.