CHAPTER IV 



No oiiinion is more universally entertained than 

 that the races of mankind differ mentally, each one 

 from all others, by reason of inborn traits ; and thougli 

 opinions differ as to the mental peculiarities of this or 

 that race, though each race has usually a very flatter- 

 ing opinion of its own mental proclivities and capabilities, 

 and a very unflattering opinion of the mental proclivities 

 and capabilities of other races, yet seldom is it doubted 

 that such proclivities and capabilities are inborn. For 

 instance, to take the English point of view, few Eng- 

 lishmen doubt that their own race has " by nature " a 

 genius for empire and colonization, is brave, resolute, 

 law-abiding, cool-headed, liberty-loving, industrious, 

 enterprising, &c. ; tliat " by nature " Frenchmen are 

 fickle, frivolous, and ardent; that, for the same reason, 

 Germans and Dutchmen are phlegmatic and thoughtful; 

 Russians dull and barbarous ; Spaniards proud, indolent, 

 and superstitious ; Italians musical, excitable, and 

 violent ; Bengalese cowardly, servile, and subtle ; 

 Afghans fanatical, fierce, and treacherous ; Chinese, in 

 some things abnormally clever, in others abnormally 

 stupid; West Africans, almost beyond belief, foolish 

 and cruel ; Fingoes braggart and timid ; Zulus brave 

 and honest ; that this race has great artistic tendencies 

 and that race none at all ; that this race has consider- 

 able capacity for civilization, that race less, and that 



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