(300 EXTINCTION OF THE INDIANS. 



elsewhere familiar, living in cities which were regulated by municipal 

 laws familiar enough to us, maintaining among their social institutions, 

 fixed ideas respecting property and family rights, having a national relig- 

 ion, an established priesthood, and the means of recording events, which, 

 though imperfect, were not unlike those which obtained in the earlier pe- 

 riods of our own civilization.. If they had not a knowledge of iron and 

 the plow, they had already fallen upon the early Asiatic plan of subju- 

 gating and domesticating such animals as were suitable for their pur- 

 poses. Civilization arose among these people in similar localities and 

 under similar circumstances of life as it had arisen among our ancestors 

 in the Old World, and, such is the sameness of constitution of the human 

 mind, was advancing in exactly the same way. 



Although, for a time, among the degenerate descendants of the Span- 

 Gradual ex- iards, the South American Indian may maintain himself, but 

 tinction f the little doubt can be entertained that the same destiny awaits 

 temperate him which has befallen his North American brother. He 



zone. 



can not withstand that enterprise and activity which are 

 leading to the extension of the white invaders of his native soil. Even 

 though the age of cruelty to these unfortunates has passed away, never 

 more to return, and enlightened governments, animated by sentiments 

 into which no mercenary consideration enters, interest themselves in their 

 welfare, it is not to be supposed that nations depending on such an arti- 

 ficial support can long continue to exist. In this inevitable decline, the 

 tropical races may far more worthily excite our commiseration than those 

 of the higher latitudes ; nor is their departure unavenged : they leave 

 behind them two curses, tobacco and syphilis. 



In conclusion of this partial examination of the progress of the human 

 Manner of family under varied circumstances, we may remark a repeti- 

 natlo^rin^v- ^ on ^ a ^6 series of changes to those which have been 

 ilization. traced in the psychical career of the individual, and this, 

 whether we consider the progress in theology, policy, philosophy, or any 

 other respect. It is a continued passage from the general to the special 

 from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous. The history of any of 

 the ancient nations might be brought forward as an example. Emerging 

 from the barbarous state, they shake off their Fetichism, that union of 

 the supernatural with the natural, which gives to every wood, every tree, 

 every river, its presiding genius ; to families, their Penates ; to the city, 

 and even to the road, their Lares ; to stars, and to stones, and to med- 

 icines, their spirits ; to the night, its apparitions and fairies. It is in 

 vain that we say these are the subjects of African credulity. They are 

 found in the origin of all people. Our forefathers once cherished the il- 

 lusions which still occupy the negro mind. The time came when intel- 

 lectual development outgrew such base superstitions, and for a crowd of 



