Friendship Quote by William F. Cody
““I am and always have been a friend of the Indian. I have always sympathized with him in his struggle to hold the country that was his by right of birth. But I have always held that in such a country as America the march of civilization was inevitable, and that sooner or later the men who lived in roving tribes, making no real use of the resources of the country, would be compelled to give way before the men who tilled the soil and used the lands as the Creator intended they should be used.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public address on Native American policy, 1885
The speaker argues that American expansion and agriculture will inevitably replace nomadic Indigenous peoples, justified by a belief in civilization’s progress.
In simple terms: He believes settlers will displace Native tribes for agriculture.
Key Takeaway
Consider the moral implications of forced cultural change.
Themes
colonialism
manifest destiny
civilization
indigenous rights
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
historical
ethical
When to use this quote
- land disputes
- government policy
- education reform
- resource exploitation
Key Concepts
settler colonialism
environmental determinism
cultural erasure
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the long‑term effects of forced assimilation?
- How can societies honor Indigenous stewardship?
A Different Perspective
Indigenous resistance shows such displacement is not inevitable.
