The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1822-09-24


ing more internal and external peace, and a
greater mass OF comforts, whenever its proper
constitution has fairly operated. Yet the civil
government Of China notoriously rests in the
hands of profeSsed scholars the vices Of its
government being chiefly owing either to the
impertection Of their literature. or 10 the want
Of liberty and true religion.-2d. Another con-
hrmation of our argument lies nearer home.
Small bands of intelligent men from different
nations of Europe have every where finally COM
PEELED the Indians of the two American CONT
nents either TO retreat before them or to submit
and the northern Indians since their defeat, have
lcasied rapidly by the small pox, ardent spirits,
and the destruction of their game. Among the
whites however the small por after having been
first checked BY precaution and good medical
treatment, has been finally disarned by inocula-
ton and vaccination ardent spirits, if they
injure the whites, still do not destroy them as a
people and the whites lastly not only prove as
good hunters as the Indians, but when the game
vanishes, know how to subsist themselves in in
Gnitely greater numbers without game, than the
Indians have done by the help OF it. These facts
not only prove that knowledge is both power
and protection but that cultivated knowledg.
more readily associates itself with civilization
and good policy, than can be affirmed of the ma
tive shrewdness of the savage. Sd. Another
proof may be drawn from comparing certain
Roman Catholic countries of Europe, deficient
in the higher means of instruction, with other
nations Of the same church more fortunately
circumstanced in this particular The contrast
for this purpose may be made between Spain,
Portugal, Naples, and most of the Austrian do
minions, on the one hand I; and France, and GER
tain catholic nations descendant from free and
learned ancestors or which have been placed i'm
the neighborhood of protestants, on the other.
1t cannot be said that in6delity is the neces-
sary price paid for knowledge in France be-
cause various protestant countries are at least
equally learned with France, without being
equally given to inidelity; the knowledge and
personal security of protestants on the contrary,
saving them from those provocations arising out
Of resentment for supposed injuries arising from
the catholic clergy, which have led many of the
French to encourage irreigion. *-4h. Lastly
the powers acknowledge may be seen in part
by noting the superiority OF civilized, over savage
life. The accommodations Of an European
prince (says Adam Smith do not always somnch
exceed That of an industrious and frugal peasant
lin Europe, as that Of the latter cteeeds that OF
an African prince, the absolute master of the
lives and liberties of ten thousand naked saw
ages" The effects of accumulated knowledge,
THAT is, of cases where the knowledge of one
age has been added 20 the knowledge OF a pre-
cedlng one j may be seenin the degree in winch
orr modern resources, exceed thoss existing
Immediately previous TO the time of the reforma-
ton. That these differences in our accommo.
dations are chiefly owing TO differences in our
knowledge and skill, may easily be provcd.f II
our knowledge and skill exceeds that Of the an.
Ia rfx -
once doubted OF it, is now extinct.) it should
follow, that so does our mass of accommoda tions
And on this head, we may consult our modern
cyclopedias, which in their exhibitions of ---1
ern theory and practice Except in a few
ments not yet enough attended to,) show tnai
we greatly excel the ancients both in the guam.
tity and quality Of what We provide, and in the
facility OF accomplishing this, where the adtan.
tages are equal as to materials and climate.
To be Continued