Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-05-07
DIVERSITY oEsR ACES.

wa are too much accustomed to confine ourselves
10 intellectual and moral characteristics, and to
neglect his physical nature, which is illustrated Dv
the whole animal creation. / would by no means
lower the position of man, but by these lhyesugsa
tons we are enabled to appreciate many polhts
vinced nv related animals in reference to his ply
steal condition and peculiarities. 1t - TO some OF
these would call your attention.
The conclusion that living beings did not origi-
nata from one common centre, is derived not alone
from the geographical distribution OF animals.
The same fact IS shown in their geological group
ings And we ind the same to hold true with
REGARD to man. of this there is also other evil
dencc. ~
There is unity existing among men as among
different types of animals. If we examine him
morally and intellectually, we shall at once place
him at the head of creation. In the identity OF
mental and moral character, we find expressed the
unity of mankind. In these characteristics we
discover that he IS the highest Development OF ma
ture-superior to all else i'll the plan OF creation.
In him. in these respects, we find the relation OF
common brotherhood responding to the Intention
of the Creator.
This is a higher unity than that of geneaIogy
We should not love others because they are the
sons of Adam-we should not lose the evidence OF
brotherhood-even if it were shown that there IS
no common origin of the race.
Those who maintain the unity of mankind have
chiefly regarded these points, and overlooked the
study of those points suggested by his physical
pecuiiarities in Which should naturally trace
his origin
An original diversity of races is not alone OBJ
served in the case of man. The whole animal
creation evinces it. Among the most important
proofs of this-facts too, which have been lli-spPre
ciated-and which if rightly understood and traced
up, should have led those basing their arguments
for an original unity upon it to directly reverse
conclusions, are those arising from IIybridity.
Animals propagate only among those OF the
same kind. Different species will propagate mixed
races or half breeds intermediate between the pa
rents. We have familiar example IN :he horse
and the ass-mules are exactly intermediate be-
tween them. Now the horse and ass, Though OF
the same family, arc distinct types. Propagation
between different breeds of horses produces no
great diversity, and SO of asses. Though there
are very unlike breeds of both these classes, the
offspring of the family are never half breeds
It may resemble either parent, but will never e
much unlike either If examine among the
different races of men, we shall find the same
facts.
The progeny of every ctGnate tribe-as for in
stance, the different white tribes-may resemble
either parent and are never very unlike either.
On the contrary, the offspring of races remotely
resembling each other, are in the same condition
as those of different species among animals. linus
the offspring of white and black Is never white
VI
reproduction it is shown that there is great d.
versty between these types, as between animals OF
distinct species,
The study of language has given direction to
another sense of investigation upon this subject
Community of origin among different languages
has been of the strongest arguments for the
common origin of the human race. They have
been thought to depend so much one upon anoth-
err and so similar, that they must have sprung from
one common source, and must have been trans
mitted from one to another. The fact that be-
tween the Latin and French, and between the
Latin and Italian especially, there is the closest
rescmblance-that the Romano is similar to the
Germanic-that Greek and Sanscrit--or these di-
alects known as the Indo- Germanic-have, 1t Is
claimed, so to speak, the same vocabulary-that
their roots can he traced to the forms-these
facts have been considered evidence of a transmits
sion of language from one tribe to another, and
that all speaking them were related by common
descent, and had received them by direct tradition
from these earlier common sources.
This deny directly.
The inference is entirely unfcunded A.; these re-
semblances do not show the same origiL-still less
that they have been derived by tradition. Even /
from researches in the animal kingdom, this posi-
ton is shown to be false. Language is to man as
voice to animals. To each kind there is distinct
class eff sounds, characteristic of the species. As
for instance, birds wild and tame have a set of
sounds peculiar to themselves, and unlike all other
animals. Again. the knocking bird has its charac
teristic voice, all thrushes have similar voice
which distinguishes them. But the voice of dog
is unlike that of a tiger-the dog kind all bark,
while the cat kind all have kind of mewing cry.
Some kinds may indeed mock others, the
hooking bird initiates others notes. They have,
however, each a peculiar and characteristic note
30 the negro in speaking English, French or Span
ish, when he has learned them, does not give their
idionatic accent, he utters them his throat and
nature have modified them. Il
There is marked diversity between different {
species of animals in this respect. We have for
instance many species of the dogfamiy as wolves,
foxes jackalls, the blue fox of the artic regions
besides distinct species in Asia, Africa and South {
America, but they all bark. Their cries ere as
characteristic their instincts. They all hunt, |
chase, follow their prey to DEATH and these intrn
sic peculiarties universally distinctive of the
family.
Again of the cat kind, we have the lion, the /
tiger, the red tiger, the puma, the wild cats, and
many other species, in all no less than thirty-six
of different Sizes and many specific unlikenesses.;
but their general characteristics the same their
urity is as intimate that of dogs. They all,
the tiger, lion, &c, like CATS await their prey and
failing to catch it by .springng, do not pursue it
like dogs.
They are alike treacherous, and all new. The
roar of the lion, and the cry of the cat if phio
sophically analyZed might show as GREAT similarity