You, the fishing people who are the not strong, may place yourselves under our protection, and we will defend you. And you of the South and West may do the same, and we will protect you. We earnestly desire the alliance and friendship of you all. Brothers, if we unite in this great bond, the Great Spirit will smile upon us, and we shall be free, prosperous, and happy; but if we remain as we are, we shall be subject to his frown. We shall be enslaved, ruined, perhaps annihilated. We may perish under the war-storm, and our names be no longer remembered by good men, nor be repeated in the dance and song. Brothers, those are the words of Hiawatha. I have spoken. I am done."
The next day his plan of union was considered and adopted by the council, after which Hiawatha again addressed the people with wise words of counsel. At the close of this speech he bade them farewell, for he saw that his mission to the Iroquois was accomplished, and he might announce his withdrawal to the skies.
