Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-09-13
THE SEMITE rs
GEO. c, STGEBELlNG, NJ. D.

pTDuaule lhdt llle WnllH race mas eNOlVeu
from the yellow one in two separate
regions, namely, in the Hindoo Koosh,
karakorum and Himalaya mountains
between 60 to So East longitude and
30 to 40 North latitude, and in the
Taurus mountains and on the table land of
Armenia, between 30 to so East lougi.
tude and 30 to 400 North latitude. The
life conditions of these two regions must
have differed somewhat; for the white
tribes developing there differed slightly,
but constantly, in certain characters so
as to become two distinct varieties or
sub-races-the SemiteS in the latter and
the AryanS in the former region. After
having increased to such numbers that
they had no more room at their original
seats, both commenced to emigrate.
The Semites went South east to Mesopo-
tamia and South along the coasts of the
Mediterranean Sea to Syria, Arabia,
and Africa, everywhere suhjugating,
driving away or discriminating the ma
tive inhabitants of the dark races Thus
they founded the states of Babylon,
Assyria Palestine, Phrnicia, Egypt
and Carthage. But none Of these exist
to-day; in the course of time they were
conquered and overthrown by nations
of the Aryan type (Persians, Greeks and
Romans). Nevertheless, the Semites
have greatly Influenced the develop
ment of mankind,
The records, accounts, or mentions of
deeds and events inscribed by them on
their temples, monuments, tombs, etc,
are the earliest documents we have of
their history and are therefore, of the
highest value. From them it is apparent
that the Babylonians and Assyrians
Called also Chaldeans), and especially
the Egyptians, about $500 years B. C. had
already discovered and understood the
| first elements of art and science in agri-
| culture and manufacture, in architec-
ture and geometry, in physics, meteorol-
| ogy, astronomy and mathematics. To
the Phpncians is due the improvement
of navigation and the spreading of com
merce to foreign nations and distant
countries; besides, they are said TO have
invented the arts of writing by letters
| Il. e. signs representing sounds) and of
calculating by ciphers. The Hebrews
or Israelites are mainly distinguished by
first having advanced from polytheism
to monotheism and thus having laid the
| foundation of Christianity - fact
which brought about very important
results, since Christianity became the
leading religion of the Aryans. And
with the Arabs originated another form
of monotheistic faith--the Islam or
Mohammedism, which spread among
all races, especially in Asia and Africa.
However, in spite of their early supe-
riority, the Semites could not compete
with the Aryans in later times. When
they had progressed from nomadism to
agriculture, manufacture, and COM
merce, their patrlarchal governments
gradually turned into despotisms. The
institution of slavery grew more and
more they subjected to it not only the
dark races, but even vanquished ma
tons Of their own type, ~hile stimuli
taneously manual labor fell into con-
tempt as being dishonorable for the free
born. Thus arose soon the social
contrast of rich and poor On the one
side accumulation and concentration of
wealth with its train Of luxury, volup-
tuousness, loss of energy, want of
principles, gluttony and dissoluteness;
on the other abject poverty coupled
with wretchedness, ignorance, distress,
brutality and desperation. Hence We
need not wonder that the Semitic state
government became unstable and at last
broke down through internal conflicts
and external wars.
With them also declined and decayed
the culture and civilization of the Semi
ties. Some remnants of it were taken up
by the Aryan conquerors and re appear.
ed in the culture and civilization of the
Greeks and Romans, to the development
of which no Semitic nation contributed
directly But when the acquisitions
and attainments of the classical age were
buried under the ruins Of the Roman
Empire and the Aryan nations fell back
into deep mental darkness and barbarity
lIt AIdDldHS anu lllS I1cbItNS IeSulutu
the way of progressive evolution by
preserving and fostering the Greek and
the Latin sciences and arts, wherever
they met them. This happened TO the
Arabians, since they had subdued and
occupied Persia, Syria and Egypt, in
order to spread their falth-the Islam
GAO years after Christi They found all
overin great abundance vesli ges and resi-.
dues of the ancient culture and civiliza.
ton which they carefully cherished and
studied. The cognitlons and abilities thus
gained, allied to an intense religious
feeling, enabled them TO pursue their
victorious career to a great distance: