The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-05-11
PREHISTORIC CIVILIZATION OF
AMERICA.

When we examine the various facts
brought to light by the explorers OF the
Hayden survey in the Western Territories
and also the trophies Of their Industrious
search after ancient remains, we cannot re-
sist the conviction that, at a period SO re-
mote as to be literally prehistoric, this con-
tinent, and particularly that portion lying
between the fortieth parallels of northern
and southern latitude, was inhabited by
race or races Of men who enjoyed state Of
civilization SIMILAR to that Of the early
Egyptians. The evidences Of this civiliza.
iion are quite numerous in South America,
where, by reason Of an earlier settlement by
the white race, a more complete knowledge
has been obtained Of their character. With
in eur own territorial limits such knowl-
edge is slhowly coming into our possession,
and we are gradually establishing connect
ing link between the two regions which will
enable us to trace their ancient inhabitants
to common crigin-what we might term
the period Of the suspension Of development
or. perhaps more properly, the deviation Of
the Western from the Eastern civilization,
and the line Of progress which for obvious
reasons, was common to both up to the time
when intercourse ceased, marks an impor-
tant feature of the data on which we base
our theory.
Perhaps we may establish it from the fact
tina; ali the great public works of = certain
style OF construction which occupied the at
tention and taxed the energies Of the people
Of ancient Egypt have been reproduced in
scale, plan and object by those Of South and
Central America. Palaces for the rulers,
| temples for the deities, monuments to the de
parted great ones, are alike in character in
| both countries; while the works Of public
utility, the canals for irrigation, the great
paved highways for commerce, even the
many Fashioned fortresses for defence, show
a co-origination of ideas between these won
derful people that leads US to no other con-
clusien than that they were OF the same race
We have in the constitution and peculiari-
ties Of the Chinese and Japanese civiliza'
tons instances Of what nations, completely
isolated from outside influences, will &C.
complish in the developments Of their so
cial and political conditions Cortes and
Pizarro found order, enlightenments and Q
high degree Of civilization in Mexico and
Peru.
| The Montezumas and the incas exercised
| a more benefcient way over their respect
i've people than the Neros or Caligulas die
over the Romans or the feudal chiefs an,
princes in later days. Where we find tho
evidences of civilization with barbaric sur
roundings we must infer that an overwhelm.
| ing incursion Of savages has blo,ted out Of
subjugated the original occupants Of thu
country The VanLals, the Goths and thu
Scythians never attempted to decivilize con
quered peoples; they destroyed them. The
present Indians Of the West are decidedly
Of Mongolian origin. They entered thu
country via Behring Strait, and being Of
fierce and warlike character they inall,
drove the original and civilized people fur
Their south until they were finally Destroyer
by the Spanish invaders. The remains 0
ancien. pottery and other articles whicl
have been brought to light in New Mexic
and Arizona by the Hayden servey, show
that these Territories were among the las
resting place Of an expiring race. Tn
merciless cupidity Of the white man as em
bodied in Cor.es completed the work Of tn
| savages.