The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-05-17
NEGRO CIVILIZATION.
BY THEODORE FOSTER

Hence. much mind does much while At.le
mind does little in the same circumstances.
What is done by any mind i. an evidence 9f
the power Of that mind. This Is Tire stau-
lard Of character b, which We judge inli-
viduals.
30 we also pass a similar Judgment oa
masses OF mind. These masses show char
acteristics as distinct as those u tie scre-
raj Individuals composing them. Thus. IF
We take the several empires which will ul-
fimately divide the whole earth between
them. we shall find that seventy millions of
Russians are somewhat different from thirty
millions ot Engiishmen. or thirty millions
OF Frenchmen or thirty millions 81 Ameri-
cans. Each OF these masses as q whole.
has distinctive character clearly defined
by tie record of what i has done.
Iu the same way We may extend this gen
erallzuion 20 the i've races of men in the
earth The civilization achieved by goo
millions OF tie white race. i- different frum
that which distinguishes 400 millions of thc
lvel0w Face; and both of these are different
from that ofthe brown. red and black races.
These several races have each "a separate
character working out their peculiar sepa
rate destiny. from aye to age. according TO
their sever, ] locations in The earth and the
abilities with which they have heen'uiowci
by their Creator.
We propose in this paper. 20 discuss the
lciv.ization of tAe negro race; AMI we will
endeavor to answer these three inquiries:
!. Has the negro, in his home in Africa.
sufficient facilities for an advanced ciyiza-
tion.
2. To what extent have these advantages
been improved?
3. How does the civilization ot Tie negro
compare with that OF the other races OF
mem
| AFRICAN DISCOVERY.
| From the earliest period of antiquity. the
African continent has been an object of en-
riosity and Of inquiry 10 the more enlisht-
eucl part Of the human race. The north
ern portion OF Africa was, indeed. tie seat
of Egyptian civilization and of Cartilage
nian greatness: and in succeeding ages il
constituted most important part Of the
Roman empire. But the power Of Rome
never extended further south than the
TrOpic of Cancer; the immense deserts and
the unfavorable climate forbade all further
advance; and the ancicnts were sometimes
tempted 10 believe. that the region they
could not penetrate must ever remain des-
/ tfftrfn .F iu4alffaHf.- nf4.I s4tfru.rll
their fancy 10y peopAng the vacant space
with headless men, or rather monsters;
with horned ana ciOven-foOted satyrs, with
fabulous centaurs; and with human pig-
mics, who waged a bold and doubtful war
fare with the cranes Tho improvements
ia navigation have enabled modern nations
to circamnavigate the peninsula, and to
acquire some knowledge of is coasts; but
the compact form Of the continent the
i small number Of large and nayigaOle NV
ers tie savage character oi the inhabi-
tants, and the deadly nature Of the climate,
have presented barrier t. the exploration
OF the interior, that has been thus far 10 a
, | great extent, insuperable 10 the enterprise
i of commerce. the curiosity Of the traveller,
and the zeal OF the missionary. But du-
g ring the present century. the exploration
8 Of Africa has been prosecuted as an object
y Of scientific inquiry: the path OF each sue
, | cessive traveller has been easier and less
y dangerous than that of lis predecessor: the
1t influence of the Anglo-Saxon colonies j.
e gradually extending; and We may reasona-
J. bly anticipate that a century hence every
,r portion Of the continent will be accessible
to the researches Of commerce. and Of phi
lauthropy.
GENERAL FEATURES OF AFRICA.
b Africa Is the third in size OF the fOul
great divisions Of the globe: and II extend.
Is from Cape Blanco. in thirty-scven degree,
n of north latitude, to Cape das Agulas, in
.s the thirty-fih degree OF south latitude
" distance of about five thousand miles. Iu
D. eastern extremity IS Cape Garlatui in Ion
y gitudc iiity-oue degrees east: and H., mos
" westerly point is Cape Verde, In loncituj,
seventeen degrees west. The distauc,
from east to west l. not much less thar
that from north 20 south: and the area O
= the continent il estimated toinclule twolv,
G., millions Of square miles At the Straits o
r. Gibralter, Africa approaches within Ten
81 miles of Europe. al the Straits of Babel
% mandeb the shores OF Africa aud Asia ar
distant only sixteen miles. while at th
north the two continents ara joined b'
p the IsthmuS fSuez. which extends seventy
TWO miles-irom tine northern extremity d
q the Red sea to tie Mediterranean. Afric
5' is distinguished from other continent, b
SO lis coasts extending, mostly. in contiuuou
unbrohen lines. having but few indeutation
OF the sea and no extensive peninsulas: :
be that it forms a compact and undivided mas
'' Of land.
Notwithstanding its vast extent OF coast
~ IL has only one considerable island. TIL
'f uniformity or the outline Of Africa seem
y TO be In accordance with the uniformity 4
'. It's interior The whole OF the contineu
south of the Equator. and north of Il Up Z
len degrees Of latitude, seems % constitu.
an extensive table-land, fringed in mo.
parts by comparatively narrow strip
ei low land along the sea.
d North of this table-land, between ten an
20 thirty degrees north latitude. extends a
a immense but low plain. the greater part
at which is occupied 10y the Desert Of SAhar.
~ \ tract OF mountainous country, incluiin
~ Atlas and lis dependencies. separates Oh
desert from tile Mediterranean Sea. o
,he east. the deser, Is separated from III
Ice Red Sea by the Mountains Of Abyssiuia.
en DESERT OF SAHARA.
nd The Desert Of Sahara forms most prom
n neni and important feature ln the iandscar
OF Africa. In lis fail extent IL reach,
from the Atlantic Ocean on the west. To I'll
frontiers Of Nubia and Egypt On the eas.
a distance OF three thousand miles: Viii
80 its breadth between Soudan and the Ba
90 barry states. Is in some places a thousan
and in none less than seven hundred an