MORAL AND INTliLLECTUAL QUALITIES. 421 



and otlier accidental circumstances make the only difference 

 between the wisest and the weakest of mankind. 



That civilization, government, and education act very 

 powerfully on the human race, is too obvious to be doubted ; 

 but the question relates to the capability of civilization. 

 Why have the white races invariably, and without one ex- 

 ception, raised themselves to, at least, some considerable 

 height in the scale of cultivation ; while the dark, on the 

 contrary, have almost as universally continued in the savage 

 or barbarous state ? If we suppose that at any remote era, 

 all mankind, in all quarters of the globe, were in the latter 

 condition, what are the accidental circumstances, which 

 have prevented all the coloured varieties of man from raising 

 themselves, and at the same time have assisted the progress 

 of all the others ? If the nations in the north and west of 

 Europe, when first conquered by the Romans, should be 

 allowed (contrary, however, to historical proof) to have been 

 in a state of barbarism not superior to that of the present 

 rude tribes of Asia, Africa, or America, why have they 

 advanced uninterruptedly to their present exalted pitch of 

 culture, while the latter remain plunged in their original 

 rudeness and ignorance ? 



I do not mean to assert that all individuals and all tribes 

 of dark- coloured men are inferior In moral and intellectual 

 endowments to all those of the white division. The same 

 gradations and modifications of structure and properties 

 exist here as in other parts. Certainly we can produce ex- 

 amples enough in Europe of beings not superior to Hotten- 

 tots and New Hollanders : and individuals of considerable 

 talents and knowledge are met with In savage tribes. There 

 may not be much difference between the lowest European 

 community and the highest in some dark variety of man. 

 Examples of individuals and of small numbers will there- 

 fore prove little in this matter. 



I am aware, also, that all the white races have not made 

 those signal advances in knowledge and civilization, of 

 which I have spoken as indicating their superior endow- 

 ments. Their organization makes them capable of such dis- 

 tinctions, if circumstances arc favourable, or rather if no 



