Chief Seattle's Role in White Settlement

Chief Seattle's Role in White Settlement

Introduction

Dr. Henry A. Smith wrote an article with the title, “Hail to the Chief: "My words are like stars that never set”” elaborating the personality and characteristics of Chief Seattle, the chieftain of Puget Sound Native Americans. He not only explained the characteristics of the man but also reworded his speech that Chief Seattle delivered in Seattle on 1854 on the arrival of Governor Stevens. According to Smith, Chief Seattle's words were inspirational and eloquent. The speech contains certain expectations related to combined future of Native Americans and White settlers. Chief Seattle sees the settlement as inevitable. The locality that previously belonged to the Native Americans was then becoming the land of Whites. During 1850s, the tribes that are now called Duwamish tribes resided in thirteen villages spread within the area of today's Seattle. The place got its name after Chief Seattle, the Native American chief who enabled the settlers to establish their territories there.

Chief Seattle allows the white settlers to establish their territory in Seattle but also asks the White chief (President) to give equal rights to his people as white people's brothers. He is criticizing of some of the ideologies of white but considers them superior racially. According to Smith, Native Americans are culturally connected with their lands and culture. Seattle belonged to the Puget Sound Native Americans who had their own culture and values. They used to live as per their own principles and social ways. Native Americans assisted White settlers in their settlement phases. Therefore, Seattle is historically assisted by Native Americans in its development and establishment. This paper evaluates the article written by Smith to analyze the role of Chief Seattle in settlement of white people in Seattle.

Discussion

Analysis of “Hail to the Chief: “My words are like stars that never set””

Henry A. Smith appreciates the persona of Chief Seattle based on his meritorious words and his attractive appearance. According to Smith, the chief had all the characteristics of a leader and ruler as he knew how to tackle people. His words were influential and inspirational. His speech had such a power that his words appeared as law that cannot be denied. In his speech, he showed happiness in accepting to be in brotherly relations with the white settlers. However, he informed them of their expected responsibilities towards Native Americans. He knew that the white settlement cannot be restricted because of fate but he had strong belief in the strength of his people.

Smith describes Chief Seattle's Speech in which, he threw light on the past, present and expected future of his people. Chief Seattle acknowledges that white settlers had outnumbered Native Americans due to some epidemic for which, he would not blame his white brothers. In actuality, the white settlers brought with them the epidemic of smallpox due to which, a large number of Native Americans died. This death rate caused the number of Native Americans to fall down. However, Chief Seattle only roughly points to ...