enough the
doctrine that in the adjustment of human affairs the possession of a
white skin should be the strongest recommendation. Wonder might fairly
be felt that there is no suggestion of a corresponding advantage being
accorded to the possession of a long nose or of auburn hair. Indeed,
little [234] or no attention that can be deemed serious is given to the
interest of the Blacks, as a large and (out of Africa) no longer
despicable section of the human family, in the great world-problems
which are so visibly preparing and press for definitive solutions. The
intra-African Negro is clearly powerless to struggle successfully
against personal enslavement, annexation, or volunteer forcible
"protection" of his territory. What, we ask, will in the coming ages
be the opinion and attitude of the extra-African millions--ten millions
in the Western Hemisphere--dispersed so widely over the surface of the
globe, apt apprentices in every conceivable department of civilized
culture? Will these men remain for ever too poor, too isolated from one
another for grand racial combinations? Or will the naturally opulent
cradle of their people, too long a prey to violence and unholy greed,
become at length the sacred watchword of a generation willing and able
to conquer or perish under its inspiration? Such large and interesting
questions it was within the province and duty of a famous historian,
laying confident claim to prophetic insight, not to propound alone, but
also definitely to solve. The sacred power [235] of forecast, however,
has been confined to finical pronouncements regarding those for whose
special benefit he has exercised it, and to childish insults of the
Blacks whose doom must be sealed to secure the precious result which is
aimed at. In view of this ill-intentioned omission, we shall offer a
few cursory remarks bearing on, but not attempting to answer, those
grave inquiries concerning the African people. As in our humble
opinion these are questions paramount to all the petty local issues
finically dilated on by the confident prophet of "The Bow of Ulysses,"
we will here briefly devote ourselves to its discussion.
Accepting the theory of human development propounded by our author, let
us apply it to the African race. Except, of course, to intelligences
having a share in the Councils of Eternity, there can be no attainable
knowledge respecting the laws which regulate the growth and progress of
civilization among t
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