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| Red Cloud, c. 1877 |
Red Cloud's simple but powerful language compared and contrasted the two populations. Indeed, one encounters few if any speakers in the American rhetorical tradition who equaled Red Cloud’s simple eloquence. It was an eloquence of connecting power. His parallel words made his thoughts echo off one another. His parallel language established the greatness and yet the injustice of our common humanity.
For, indeed, common humanity was Red Cloud’s theme. “God Almighty has made us all,” Red Cloud said, “and He is here to bless what I have to say to you today.”
As he began by delivering this speech’s most famous passage, Red Cloud compared and contrasted how the white people had received many advantages, while his own people had few and were declining:
inevitable consequence of what we proudly call civilization.
Then, to establish his credibility, Red Cloud reminded the audience that, “I am a representative of the original American race, the first people of this continent.” Continuing, Red Cloud contrasted the advantages that civilization had given to the white people against his own’s peoples’ struggles:
After reviewing the various injustices and broken treaties, Red Cloud made a moral plea:
As he concluded, Red Cloud reinforced his key point, which was that different peoples can still understand and trust one another:
Eloquent language is not just beautiful. No! Far from it! Eloquent language makes us think. By comparing and contrasting, Red Cloud gave his audience a chance to slow down and think a little bit. I, for one, am thinking a little bit today. For today, October 13, 2025, some Americans are celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day, while others celebrate Columbus Day. Do we celebrate the conquered, or the conqueror? I hope that thinking about Red Cloud’s powerful, eloquent speech helps all of us reflect on this day of memory.
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Historical Note: Red Cloud lived a long life and was renowned both as a military and political leader of his people. He converted to Christianity and was renowned for helping his dispossessed population as they adjusted to life on reservations. For people who want to learn a little more about Red Cloud’s life, here is a brief biography.
Theoretical Note: The ancient rhetorical theorists called Red Cloud’s technique “syncrisis,” which means that the speaker compared and contrasted two things by using parallel language structures. It is an excellent speaking technique that slows people down and helps them think.
People who examine Native American speeches need to be aware that many of the speech texts that have come down to us are of questionable accuracy, as they were often revised to convey a white editor’s version or impression of what the speaker should have said. In contrast, Red Cloud’s speech at Cooper Union appears to be the product of a shorthand record, and therefore probably comes close to what he actually said.
For, indeed, common humanity was Red Cloud’s theme. “God Almighty has made us all,” Red Cloud said, “and He is here to bless what I have to say to you today.”
As he began by delivering this speech’s most famous passage, Red Cloud compared and contrasted how the white people had received many advantages, while his own people had few and were declining:
“When God Almighty made you he made you all white and clothed you. When He made us He made us with red skins and poor. When you first came we were very many, and you were few; now you are many, and we are getting very few, and we are poor.”God’s creation creates a frame for that entire passage. That framing helps Red Cloud compare the incidental and meaningless accident of skin color against the contrasting groups’ economic and social status: “you all white and clothed you… us with red skins and poor.” The parallel phrasing contrasted the two groups: “made you… made us.” The repeated phrases linked two opposing thoughts. Red Cloud followed this with a further contrast, still keeping the structures parallel: “now you are many, and we are getting very few.” He concluded the passage, pointing out that his people remained poor. As usual, the rich and powerful overwhelmed the poor – a seemingly
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| Cooper Union, NYC |
inevitable consequence of what we proudly call civilization.
Then, to establish his credibility, Red Cloud reminded the audience that, “I am a representative of the original American race, the first people of this continent.” Continuing, Red Cloud contrasted the advantages that civilization had given to the white people against his own’s peoples’ struggles:
“The Great Spirit made us poor and ignorant; made you rich and wise and more skillful in things which we know nothing about. The Great Father, the Good Father in Heaven, made you all to eat tame game and us to eat wild game.”Again, still sounding fatalistic, Red Cloud continued to compare and contrast. “Poor and ignorant,” he said, contrasted with “rich and wise.” God, “the Good Father,” created the world for the white people to eat tame game and the Lakota to eat wild game. By repeating “game” instead of “meat,” Red Cloud reminded his audience that the cows, chickens, and pigs that white people raised on farms were, after all, just animals that had been tamed. If he had said, “You eat farm stock, while we hunt for food,” the literal meaning would remain, but, without the parallel language, the commonality would have vanished.
After reviewing the various injustices and broken treaties, Red Cloud made a moral plea:
“I want you to help me get what is right and just.”Still using parallel language to powerful advantage, Red Cloud pled, not for riches or power, but for justice:
“Look at me. I am poor and naked, but I am the Chief of the Nation. We do not want riches, but we want our children trained and brought up properly. We look to you for your sympathy. Riches will do us no good. We cannot take away into the other world anything we have here. We want to have peace and love.”As we reflect on that plea, we see more contrasts: Red Cloud was “poor and naked,” but he was also “the Chief of the Nation.” And what did he ask for? He spurned greed, instead pleading for the next generation: “do not want riches, but want our children trained.” Comparing the idleness of wealth against the benefits of doing things the right way! His language followed a familiar pattern, “Not the one, but the other.” Contrasting! Red Cloud showed the power of bringing up children precisely by contrasting that virtue against riches. The comparison and contrast created a plea that inspired just because it was more reasonable.
As he concluded, Red Cloud reinforced his key point, which was that different peoples can still understand and trust one another:
“I am glad I have come here. You belong in the East and I belong in the West. And I am glad that I have come here and that we could understand one another.”The white people belong in one place, and he belonged in another. “You belong...I belong.” Another comparison and contrast. Yet, as I read those words from so long ago, I could not help but to think of the old Christian hymn, “In Christ there is no East or West.” And as I reflect on that, I, for one, question whether we are ever wise to relegate fellow humanity to different places, fates, or advantages.
Eloquent language is not just beautiful. No! Far from it! Eloquent language makes us think. By comparing and contrasting, Red Cloud gave his audience a chance to slow down and think a little bit. I, for one, am thinking a little bit today. For today, October 13, 2025, some Americans are celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day, while others celebrate Columbus Day. Do we celebrate the conquered, or the conqueror? I hope that thinking about Red Cloud’s powerful, eloquent speech helps all of us reflect on this day of memory.
by William D. Harpine
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Historical Note: Red Cloud lived a long life and was renowned both as a military and political leader of his people. He converted to Christianity and was renowned for helping his dispossessed population as they adjusted to life on reservations. For people who want to learn a little more about Red Cloud’s life, here is a brief biography.
Theoretical Note: The ancient rhetorical theorists called Red Cloud’s technique “syncrisis,” which means that the speaker compared and contrasted two things by using parallel language structures. It is an excellent speaking technique that slows people down and helps them think.
People who examine Native American speeches need to be aware that many of the speech texts that have come down to us are of questionable accuracy, as they were often revised to convey a white editor’s version or impression of what the speaker should have said. In contrast, Red Cloud’s speech at Cooper Union appears to be the product of a shorthand record, and therefore probably comes close to what he actually said.
Copyright © 2025 by William D. Harpine
Image of Red Cloud, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Image of Cooper Union: David Shankbone, GNU Free Documentation License, via Wikimedia Commons
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