The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-05-23
THE INEQUALITY OF RACES.

The recent outbreak oil the negroes anC
monprel races of New Granada, at Panama, i,
nothing more than we could expect from mer
of their type. Everywhere the colored races
when their bad passions are excited, and the
means of restraint are distant, display the ut
most bloodthirstiness and cruelty, not only
towards white people, but towards each other
Perhaps they are not able to overcome the
tendencies of their organization. Nature Ger.
tainly has not been prodigul in her gifts to
the Africans; while, on the other hand, she
has endowed them with powers of en- iurance
which seem to belong peculiarly to hot eli.
mates, and capacity to overcome and survive
exposures which are fatal TO other races OF
men. The negros head IS so poised obliquely
on the vertebral column that when he stoops
down his brain remains upright, and occupies
the extreme height of his figure. This is a
trait of all the lower animals. The white man
would die of apoplexy if he had to hold his
head down for hours in the cotton and rice
than that of the white man, and his lifting
muscle, passing down under the elbow joint,
is much stronger. His knees approach each
other, and his feet turn outwards The mus
cles of the calf are differently formed from
those of the white, the larger part of the great
muscle called the gastrocnemiHs being situat
ed high up, near the hams, at The back of the
leg. The shape of the African pelvis is OBJ
long; that of the European is oval. The feet
are fiat; the bone of the heel (os calcis) is not
arched, but is level with the other bones of
the instep, so that "the hollow of the foot
makes hole in the ground
The negro has in his skin rolored or pig.
mentary cells, not found in the white mans,
and supposed to absorb and emit by perspira-
ton large amount of heat, which would in
our opinion otherwise seriously affect the
vital and more delicate parts Of the body un-
derneath.
These are some of the radical differences
between the African and the European; and
accompanying them are otbers in relation to
the brain, the hair, the jaws and the spine
Here, then, nre the marks which decidedly
indicate an inferior race in structure and
physiological features.
In connection with this we find no devel-
opment of any high order of intellect among
them, as individuals or nations. They have
had the same beginning rs other nations, but
have never overtaken them. They have had
natural liberty, the dictates of conscience, and
the necessities of social life to guide them
and to force them into organized systems of
government; but, as it seems, without ever
advancing from bnrbarty, or approaching
civilization. We find in Africa no laws, no
books, no poetry, no music, no comfortable
habltations, no agriculture, no decent worship
even of idols. Not sowith the old cotempo.
rary Asiatic nations, which became civilized,
skilful, refined, educated and powerful.
The negro races have had for thousands of
years intercourse with more enlightened ma.
tons, but have gained nothing by it, Even
their initiative qualities have been fruitIess.
In modern times, where they have lived in the
closest connection with white people for
many years, they have not, even after gaining
political rights, or existence rs communities
governing themselves, shown any desire to
improve or exat their condition. The history
Of st. Domingo is perfect example of the
decline of agriculture, commerce, manuiac.
lures. and the arts, under their sway, and the
substitution of monkey instincts and the pre-
hensle traits of the lower quadrumana, for
the divine aspirations of humanity, the noble
ness of high principle, the energy of talent,
and the love of letters.
In Jamaica, all travellers, concur in the
opinion that the race there is relapsed into
barbarily, in its most vicious and disgusting
form. Bishop Kip, in n published letter, has
limited at the existence among them of the
worst crimes of Sodom and Gomorrah; and
intelligent residents of the island have in.
formed us, within few weeks, that in their
opinion the whites will shortly have to aban-
don it altogether, Mr.. Willis, in his interest
ing sketches of the West Indies, especially
Martinique, assures us that the free negroes
(all are free there) are rapidly returning to
their original type, though surrounded with
examples of the most elegant character, of the
good taste, skill and former splendor of the
French sway. In the broad sun light the
men and women lie down to sleep, resting
their heads on wooden pillows, which they
garry with them for the purpose. Labor they
will not, even for themselves. The French
expect, ere long, to be driven from their
beautiful residences, and the stately mansions
md fine towns they erected in happier days,
when the Beauharnais were among them, are
,rumbling to dust umid these thoughtless
natives. Now, whose fault is all this? Neither
by themselves, or fer themselves or Others,
10 they anywhere make any advances. We
to say that the British colonies in
Africa, wherever they have given the blacks
'hare in the government, have been a total
allure; and The late deposition of the Cape
;oast King is another proof of our assertion.
We also assert that even Liberia is constantly
indebted to the United States, in its charity
nd liberal support fo- even its present
Whose fnult Ia il that such nm unfor,nnate