The“AlternateStatement”ofChiefSeattle
西雅图酋长 / ChiefSeattle
西雅图酋长(1786—1866),杜瓦米许族印第安人,勇武且善于领导,以酋长身份统治德奥米什和苏卡米什等6个部落。西雅图早年受法国传教士的影响,信仰天主教。他的父亲与当地白人建立了友好关系,而他多年来一直维护着这种关系。1855年他与白人签订了《埃利澳特港条约》,并建立印第安人保留地,当时美国政府要将当地土人驱逐到“保留地”定居。本文就是西雅图在美国政府压力下所给予的答复。
AceintheHole
Understandthesenewwordsbeforeyoureadthisarticle.
.使吓一跳;使惊奇
.吸引
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Yonderskythathaswepttearsofcompassionuponmypeopleforcenturiesuntold, andwhichtousappearschangelessandeternal, , thegreatchiefatWashingtoncanrelyuponwithasmuchcertaintyashecanuponthereturnofthesunortheseasons.
, andIpresume—good, , evengenerous, fortheRedMannolongerhasrightsthatheneedsrespect, andtheoffermaybewisealso, aswearenolongerinneedofanextensivecountry.
Therewasatimewhenourpeoplecoveredthelandasthewavesofawind-ruffledseacoveritsshell-pavedfloor, , normournover, ouruntimelydecay, norreproachmypalefacebrotherswithhasteningit, aswetoomayhavebeensomewhattoblame.
, anddisfiguretheirfaceswithblackpaint, itdenotesthattheirheartsareblack, andthattheyareoftencruelandrelentless, , evenatthecostoftheirownlives, butoldmenwhostayathomeintimesofwar, andmotherswhohavesonstolose, knowbetter.
OurgoodfatherinWashington—forIpresumeheisnowourfatheraswellasyours, sinceKingGeorgehasmovedhisboundariesfurthernorth—ourgreatandgoodfather, Isay, , andhiswonderfulshipsofwarwillfillourharbors, sothatourancientenemiesfartothenorthward—theHaidasandTsimshians, willceasetofrightenourwomen, .
Butcanthateverbe? YourGodisnotourGod! YourGodlovesyourpeopleandhatesmine! , HehasforsakenHisRedchildren, iftheyreallyareHis.
OurGod, theGreatSpirit, ’? HowcanyourGodbecomeourGodandrenewourprosperityandawakeninusdreamsofreturninggreatness?
IfwehaveacommonHeavenlyFather, Hemustbepartial, , .
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—thedreamsofouroldmen, giventheminsolemnhoursofthenightbytheGreatSpirit; andthevisionsofoursachems, andiswrittenintheheartsofourpeople.
