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our conduct towards them m Harmony witn nis m- 

 tentions. From our geographical relations we may 

 perceive how much we are influenced by external 

 conditions, and that these influences shtiuld not be 

 lost sight of, either as regards the physical or mental 

 peculiarities of individuals or of nations. What is 

 possible for one race under the impress of physical 

 surroundings, may be impossible for another under 

 different influences ; and what may be suited to the 

 genius of one nation, may for the same reason be 

 abhorrent to another. How absurd, therefore, to 

 look for uniformity where nature has stamped with 

 indelible dissimilarity! How unjust, in our inter- 

 national relations, to exact alike where nature has 

 denied the means of equal fulfilment ! From the 

 study of our ethnological relations, we may learn to 

 direct more wisely, and in accordance with nature's 

 intentions, our schemes of territorial acquisition, civil- 

 isation, and enlightenment. AH races, as well from 

 their inherent natures as from the nature of their 

 position, cannot be dealt with alike ; it were waste of 

 energy to attempt civilisation where nature has denied 

 the capability, and it were surely wiser to rem ove the 

 obstacles to improvement whe re improvability exists, 

 than to seek_for improvements where experience has 

 told us itjs hopeles sly impossible. Without a philo- 

 sophic conception of our functional relations to ex- 



