Marinelli

Marc Marinelli

Professor Riley

Humn 250

3 October 2011

Comfort Through God (Seattle and Lincoln)

Chief Seattle’s “Speech on Signing the Treaty of Port Elliot” and Abraham Lincoln’s

“Second Inaugural Address” are similar in that they both incorporate the discussion of a “higher

power” and its involvement (or lack thereof) in their circumstances; however, their conceptions

of a higher power clearly differ. While Seattle’s higher power consists of the spirits of ancestors

as well as nature, Lincoln’s higher power consists of a monotheistic God. Despite the differences

between their conceptions of a higher power, both Seattle and Lincoln use these conceptions in

order to overcome doubts and attain comfort in addressing their harsh realities.

In his “Speech on Signing the Treaty of Port Elliot,” Chief Seattle expresses doubt over

the preservation of his people, as he worriedly states, “Our people are ebbing away like a rapidly

receding tide that will never return” (Seattle, 657). Aware of this harsh reality, Seattle appears

disillusioned with his higher power for allowing such to occur, and therefore addresses him with

a sense of disbelief, as he unwaveringly admits, “Our God, the Great Spirit, seems also to have

forsaken us” (Seattle, 657). Despite his disillusionment with his higher power, Seattle combats

his doubt by using this very conception to reproach the white man’s God by comparing the two.

Seattle evokes the belittlement of the white man’s God as he audaciously declares, “Your

religion was written upon tables of stone by the iron finger of your God so that you could not

forget. The Red Man could never comprehend nor remember it. Our religion is the traditions of

our ancestors—the dreams of our old men, given them in solemn hours of night by the Great

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Spirit; and the visions of our sachems; and it is written in the hearts of our people” (Seattle, 658).

Through the discredit of the white man’s God, Seattle attains a sense of humble confidence, in

that he accepts his harsh reality but does so without denial. This acceptance allows Seattle to

transcend his situation, as he boldly questions, “But why should I mourn at the untimely fate of

my people? Tribe follows tribe, and nation follows nation, like the waves of the sea. It is the

order of nature, and regret is useless” (Seattle, 658). Not only does Seattle reach acceptance

through this manner, but he also does so almost prophetically, as he warningly projects to the

white man, “Your time of decay may be distant, but it will surely come, for even the White man

whose God walked and talked with him as friend with friend, cannot be exempt from the

common destiny” (Seattle, 658). Thus, Seattle finds comfort in the fact that everyone ultimately

faces the same end and it is through this reassurance that he attains peace.

In his “Second Inaugural Address,” Abraham Lincoln expresses doubt over the

preservation of the Union during the Civil War, as he worriedly states, “With high hope for the

future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured” (Lincoln, 1). Aware of this harsh reality, Lincoln

appears perplexed by the notion that both Northerners as well as Southerners believe themselves

to have the favorability of God on their side, which he address as he ponders, “It may seem

strange that any men should dare ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the

sweat of other men’s faces; but let us judge not that we be not judged. The prayers of both could

not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has his own purposes”

(Lincoln, 2). In addressing this notion, Lincoln seems doubtful of God’s presence, especially

considering the duration of the war, at the same time, however, he displays a certain amount of

reassurance when stating that “The Almighty his own purposes,” as though God’s plans reach far

beyond the comprehension of man. This reassurance also appears when Lincoln discusses the

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potential purpose of God for delivering the war regarding the issue of slavery, as he states, “Yet,

if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond-man’s two hundred and fifty

years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every droop of blood drawn with the lash, shall

be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be

said ‘the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether” (Lincoln, 2). Thus, Lincoln

quells his doubts with the thought of God having his own purpose.

While Seattle and Lincoln both encountered their own harsh realities, each individual was

able to confront them through their faith in a higher power. In doing so, each individual attained

a sense of comfort in the face of an uncertain and relatively bleak future.

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