The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-04-27
Prehistoric Civilization Of America.

When we examine the various facts
brought.to light by the explorers of
the Hayden survey in the Western Ter
ritories and also the trophies of their
Industrious search after ancient re-
mains, we cannot resist the conviction
that, at a period so remote rs to be lit
orally prehistoric, this continent, and
particularly'that portion lying between
the fortieth parallels of northern and
southern latitude, was inhabited by a
race or races of men who enjoyed a
state of civilization similar to that of
the early Egyptians. The evidences of
this civilization 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. Within
our own territorial limits such a knowl-
edge is slowly coming into our pos
session, and we are gradually estab.
fishing connecting link between the
two regions which will enable us to
trace their ancient Inhabitants to
common origin-what we might
term the period of the suspension of
development, or, perhaps more prop.
erly, the deviation of the Western
from the Eastern civilization, and the
line of progress which, for obvious
reasons, was common to both upto the
time when intercourse ceased, marks
an important feature of the data on
which we base our theory. .r...
Perhaps we may establish it from
the fact that all the great public works
of q certain style of construction
which occupied the attention and tax.
ed 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, monu.
ments to tho departed 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 wonderful peoples that leads III
to no other conclusion than that they
were of the same race. We have in
the constitution ennd peculiarities OF
the Chinese and Japanese civilizations
instances of what nations, completely
isolated from outside influences, will
accomplish in the, developments OF
their social and political conditions
C0rtes and PiZarro found order, en-
lightenments and a high degree o1
civilization in Mexico and Peru. ,',1:'
: The Montezumas and the Incas exer
cised 4 more beneRcient sway over
their respective peoples than the Ne
ros or Caligulas did over the Roman.
or the feudal chiefs. and princes il
later days. Where we find. the eyi
dences of civilization with barbara.
rroundings we must infer that AZ
Overwhelming incursion Of savaQos ha!
blotted outsor subjugated tho origina
occupants, Of the /, country, - TIL,
Vandals, the .Goths. and the Scythian.
never attempted to decivilize con
quered peoples; they destroyed them
The present Indians of the West ar.
decidedly Of Mongolian origin. They
entered the country via Behring Strait
and being of q fierce and warlike char
acter they finally drove the aorigina
and civilized peoples further south un
I'll they were finally destroyed by. tn,
Spanish invaders. The remains Of an
cient pottery and other articles which
have sbeen# brought sts. light in New
Mexico and Arizona by the Hayde1
survey, show that these Territories
were among tho last resting place b
] an expiring race. The me1ciless GU