Page 8 I am tired of talk that comes from nothing. It makes my heart sick when I remember all the good words and all the broken promises. There has been to much talking by men who had no right to talk. To many misrepresention have been made, too many misunderstandings have come up between the whitemen about the Indians. If the white men wants to live in peace with the Indians he can live in peace. There need be no trouble, treat all men alike, give them the same laws, give them all even chance to live and grow. All men were made by Great Spirit Chief. They are brothers, the earth is the mother of all people and all people should have equal rights upon it. You might as well expect the rivers to run backwards as that any man be born free should be contented when penned up and denied liberty to go where he pleases around us and one Government for all. The the Great Spirit Chief who rules above will smile upon this land and send rain to wash out the bloddy spots made by brothers hands from the face of the earth, for this time the Indian race are waiting and praying. I hope that no more groans of wounded men and women will ever go into the ear of the Great Spirit Chief above and that all people may be one people.
In mut too yah latat has spoken for his people. Chief Joseph ,Nez Perces' Speach given January 14th 1879 Washington D.C |