The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-09-25
UNITY OF RACES.

We are happy to find that the celebrated
philosopher and traveller, Humboldt, MAINTAINS
the Christian and humane doctrine OF the unity
of the human species The following extract Is
from his last work, Cosmos, and is distinguished
by a noble spirit of humanity;
"Whilst we maintain the unity of the human
species. we at the same time repel the depres-
sing assumption of superior and inferior races
of men. There are nations more susceptible OF
cultivation, more highly civilized, more ennobled
by mental cultivation, than others, but none, in
themselves, nobler than others. All are in Like
degree designed for freedom freedom which
in the ruder conditions of society belongs only
to the individual but which in social States, en-
ioying political Institutions appertans AS a
right to the whole body of the community,
If we would indicate an idea which throughout
the whole course of history has ever more and more
widely extended its empire, which more than any
other tcstifcs to the much contested and still more
decidedly misunderstood perfectbty Of the whole
human race it is that of establishing Onr common
humanity-of striving to remove the barriers which
prejudice and limited views of every kind have erect
ed amongst hoen and to treat all mankind without
reference 10 rciebh, nss.r>s sS.oa, oIe - owl.
nifty, great community, fitted for the attainment
Of object, the unrestrained development of the
pnOslchi poWtIs. u tue uitlitfAto buu
aim of society identical with the direction implanted
by nature in the mind Of man towards the indefinite
extension OF his existence lie regards the earth in
all its limits, and tho heavens far his eye can
scan their bright and starry depths, nwardiy his
own, given to him the objects of his cOntempla-
ton, and field for the development of his ener-
gies. Even the child longs to pass the hills or the
seas which enclose his narrow home yet when his
eager steps have borne him beyond those limits, he
pines like the plant, for his native soil and it ID by
md otfr ,h,.ta &C
longing for that which is unknown and this fond re-
membrance Of that which is lost-that he il spared
from an exclusive attachment 10 the present. Thus
deeply rooted in the innermost nature of man, and
even enjoned upon him by his highest tendencies the
recognition of the bond of humanity becomes one Of
the noblest leading principles in the history of
kind = HiLheim Uon Hnmboldt, Ue6er die Ka,ci-
Spraehe, 3D. ill., $. 426.
with these words, which draw their charm
from the depths of feeling let brother be per-
mitted to close this general description Of the
natural phenomena of the Universe. From the
remotest nebula, and from the revolving double
stars, we have descended to the mmutest organ
isms of animal creation, whether manifested in
the depths ct ocean or on the surface OF our
globe, and 10 the delicate vegetable germs
which clothe the naked decliyity Of the ice
crowned mountain summit and here we have
been able to arrange these phenomena accord
ing to partially known laws; but other laws Of
a more mysterious nature rule the higher
spheres of the organic world, in which is COM
prised the human species in all it's varied con-
formation, its creative intellectual power, and
the language to which it has given existence.
physical delineation of nature terminates at
the point where the sphere of intellect begins,
and a new world Of mind is opened to our view.
1t marks the limit but does not pass it."