The Native American Through time the concerns of a certain group can stay consistent. The legacy of common attitudes and goals of Native Americans of the last century have transcended to their present day descendents. The concerns of the last century Native Americans were that white men were infringing and stealing their land, while they were constantly trying to defend it. In their speeches of the last century, attitudes and the goals of Native Americans are reflected in present day writing. The Native American speech of Red Jacket, a Seneca clearly states his attitudes and goals. Red Jacket shows great respect for the land and fear of the white man taking it without invitation. In his speech, he talks about how they took the first white men in as brothers-in-need escaping wicked men in their own countries. Then the white man became greedy and selfish. He said “they wanted more land; they wanted their country.” Later he tells how they brought their poison (liquor) in
return for their hospitality. Red Jacket also stated that once they took the country they pressed their religion upon them, which caused even greater resentment. The goal in which he strived to achieve was that of a harmony between the white man and his people. Harmony that only would be attained through the possession of separate lands. In Red Clouds speech a Sioux Chief to President Grant, the speech follows the same basic ideas of Red Jacket. The speech tells the President Grant that they agreed to let the white man pass unharmed for fifty-five years and they kept their promise. He also states that they committed no murders, no depredations, until the troops showed up. Once troops arrived treatment of the Plains Indians deteriorated. Also white man forced them to farm and they were treated cruelly. Later he talks of bad men who were rejected from the east and sent to the west. “The men cheated and drank whiskey; the men caused many problems” Red Cloud said. Near the
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