National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-02-16
The American Indian.

Gen. Custer in his notes on the plains
has the following interesting sketch OF
the Indian
II the character OF the Indian is envel
oped in mystery, how much more so is
his origin. From his earliest history ia
the present time learned men have striven
to unravel this mystery, and to trace the
genealogy of the red man TO its original
source. But in spite OF all study and the
deepest research capable OF being
brought to bear on this subject, it is to.
day surror ID by darkness almost MS
deep and netrable as that which en-
folded it c.uturies ago. Various wri-
ters of ability have attempted to prove
that the Indians came from eastern Asia;
others trace them to Africa, others to
Phnnicia, while another believes them to
be autochtbones. In favor of each of
these beliefs strong circumstantial evil
dence can be produced. BY closely
studying the custcrgs -J7stumes, faith
and religious traditions of the various
tribes, striking homogeneity is seen to
exist. At the same time and from the
same sources we are enabled to discover
satisfactory resemblances between certain
superstitions and religious rights prac-
ticed among the Indian tribes and those
which prevailed one time among the an
cient Persians, the Hebrews and the
Chaldeans. They who adhere to the be-
lief OF disparity of origin may readily ad
duce arguments in refutation of an oppo-
site theory. The apparent similarity
found to exist in the customs, dress, and
ral; r,t &c 4 X..L l..
partially accounted for by their long in
tercourse under like circumstances, the
effect of which would necessarily be an
assimilation in beliefs and usages to a
greater or less degree. The preponder-
ance of facts inclines strongly in favor of
that theory which does ascribe unity of
origin to the Indian tribes. Passing
down the Mississippi to Mexico, and
from Mexico to Peru, there existed an
unbroken chain of tribes, which, either IN
peaceful or warlike manner, maintained
connection and kept up an intercourse
with each other. In various ways proofs
have been discovered that at one time
the most northern tribes must have held
intercourse with the civilized nations of
Peru and Mexico. These evidences must
have been seized upon by certain savants
to support the theory that the Indian
tribes of North America are descend
ants of the Atzecs and other kindred ma
tons of the South-arrivipg at this con-
clusion from the fact of an apparant sim
ilarity in history, psychology, traditions
and customs. But by studying the mi
grations and tendencies of ancient na-
tions, and making allowance for such
as climatic influences, in
contact with civilization,
and an altered mode OF living would ne
cessarily produce upon any branch of
the human race Remembering, too, that |
in the vast majority of cases relating to
our subject we must be guided By ira
dition rather than histQry-it is not diff
cult to establish strong typical likeness
between the tribes of American Indians
and some of the nations of most remote
antiquity. When or i'll what ex-
act manner they first reached this conti-
nent is problem difficult of solution
This theory necessarily involves
the admission of emigration TO this
continent centuries before the landing of
Columbus. Upon this point there is
much that must be inferred, and not a
title susceptible of strong proof.