Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1847-06-17
The Mexican Race,

There has been nothing, during the
progress of the present war, that has caus-
ed so much surprise, or occasloned such
frequent remark, as the revolutions aud
counter-revolulions at the city of Mexico.
Three or four different governments have
succeeded each other in the short space OF
eighteen months. To-day Farias is in
power, as yesterday Paroles was, and be-
fore him Herrera. In one hour a success
full conspiralor rises to be the first man in
the republic, in another he falls to obscu
riiy, perhaps to prison or TO death. The
spectacle reminds one ofthe shifting scenes
at fhentrp. or nf the Incidents of eastern
tale, where by the same turn Of the wheel,
the came-drlver rises TO monarch, and
the Sultan sinks TO slave.
We cannot understand this seemingly
puzzling condition of things, without look
ing a little more at the Mexican character
than has been usual heretofore. 1t seems
almost incredible to an nglo-SaXon mind,
that any people could be engaged in pri-
vate broils while an enemy is laundering
at her gates. But here is the solution OF
the mystery. The Americans and the
Mexicans came of two different races
The one, from the hour when it first made
its appearance on the Stage of history and
assumed the position which The Romans
had lost by inlermarriage and the conse-
quent decay of their stock, up to the pres
ent hour has been distinguished for i'll
domitabe courage, for great perseverance,
for an unquenchable love of country; the
other has inherited, with its Arab blood
the wild and turbulent spirit, con Joined
with the vindlctive hatred of the Ishmael-
ties of the world.
For the 'Mexicans-we speak now of
The spanish portion Of it and not of The In
dian-is strongly tinged with the blood Of
the desert. Little doubt now exists that
the original inhabitants of Spain, or Lusi-
tania as it was called by the Romans, was
at the time of its conquest by the latter,
settled by people of Moorish descent
We know that it has been extensively col
onized by the Carthaehenians, and before
that event, it is probable, from its CONT
guilty to Africa, that it had been occupied
by the Arabs; at any rate all that we
know of the habits and character of lis
population favo!s The idea that the Lusit-
anians were, in reality, Moors; ar at leas,
belonged to the same great family. The
invasion of the Coins, Oh the decline oil
the Roman Empire, did not change the
character of this population; indeed inva-
sions never do, unless eXlermlnalion fol
lows the masters may be different; but
the body of the people continue the same;
witness Ireland under the Anglo Saxon,
England under the Norman, and Mexico
under the Spanish Conqnests. Hence,
with various admixtures OF Roman, Goth
ic and other blood, the greater par, of the
population of Spain, especially in the
southern provinces, was Of Arab blood -
The subsequent invasion OF the Moors adj
ded new iniuslons, and tended to restore
the common stock We state plain
physiological fact, easily capable of being
disproved if untrue, when we say that the
Spanish 'conQuorors, and especially the
emigrants who followed after them, had
more Arab than any other kind of blood
in their composition, and inherited large
portion OF the qualities peculiar that great
branch Of the human family.
For there is more in race than is ordi.
nariy supposed. All history proves that
certain inherent characteristics exist indie
pendent of circumstances, and indeed in
defiance of them; and that moreover they
are transmissible from generation to gene
ration. exactly like physical qualities are
transmissible in animals of a lesser grade
than man. The Tartar Of to-day is the
sumo individual described by Oriental
writer's thousands Of years ago, and dis
plays similar attributes whether roaming