Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-29
THE DEoAoENos or OUR RACE.
One OF the Lessons We Can Learn from the
Rise and Fall Of Early Civilization.

THE DEcADENCE or OUR RACE,
One OF the Lessons We Can Learn from the
Rise and Fau OF Early Civilization.
An English author has just published
a book In which he endeavors to prove
that the races OF men which nre now
dominant in the world have already
began 10 decay, and that the time isap-
preaching when the subordinate races
will rise up and take tho place OF these
decaying races. The English race.
both In America and Europe this
writer maintains has already reached
its decadent period. The French and
German races, also have attained the
summit Of their greatness, and here
after must retrograde rather than nd
vance. The great ruling races Of the
world, this writer asserts, have had
their day, and must now begin TO make
way for the inferior races, which have
hitherto remained In the back ground.
In other words the civilized man of to-
day may be the savage Of some future
generation, and the savage OF to-day,
sometime in the evolution of the races
of men, may come TO the front and be-
come civilized. II is favorite theory
with many, that races, like individual
men, rise, eliminate ana decay. That
none remain long stationary, and that
all are either progressing or retrogress.
ing,
These previously Interior races are
the people Of South America and the
people OF Africa. Some one, indeed.
has said that no race can reach n high
grade of civilization unless 1t lives In
land where the snow flies hut the his.
tory Of antiquity disprovcs this. Nearly
all the great nations Of the ancient
world inhabited warm climates
1t is not probable that il u revolution
like this Is ever effected 1t will he Of.
fected In one generation, or In one CON
tury, or, indeed, In n thousand years.
These great racial notifications have
been effected many tunes In the past
But the change is u process Of slow de-
velopment,
At the beginning of the Christian era
the people who inhabited the present
countries Of Germany. England and
Francc,Uere merely savage barbarians.
The Roman civilization, which en-
braced the countries extending along
the shores of the Mediterranean sea,
was a civilization in many RESPECTS OF
a high order. I Wa4 ,ho proudest and
most confident civilization the world
has ever known. And no subject of
Rome in the early days OF our Christian
FRA could have been made to believe that
the time would eNer come when these
savage northern nations would lay her
pride in the dust.
But yet the Roman empire, the great
est governmental structure ever reared
by man, for many centuries, has been
no more. II was overrun and conquered
by the hardy and savage barbarians Of
the north.
These savage barbarians have. in
their turn, become civilized and from
them has sprung the great modern
countries of Europe. The Englishman
and American of to-day, She French
man, the German, and the Scundina-
giau are all descendants OF men who
were barbarians and savages when the
old Roman empire was in its vigor.
Roman civilization in its turn re-
placed Greek Civilizations civilization
the highest In many respectsl that tho
world has ever seen. Greek Civilization
supplanted the Persian, and the Per-
siau suppIantcd tho BabylonIan and As
syrian
So, IL will be seen, that the world has
thus far evolved by the alterations OF
civilizations. A dominant race is over
thrown by less conspicuous one,
which, in its turn, flourishcs until IL is
overthrowp Ly some other less eonspic-
qous race,
And so the process has gone on.
Whether II will continue to go on In
this way until the end Of time, Of course,
the foresight OF man can not determine.
But II we reason from the past the ar
gument from analogy is strong that Il
will so continue.
OF course this Is not pleasant theme
Tor us TO contemplate, None of us wish
TO have our race transformed into de-
ladent and dying condition.
But the way TO avoid this Ia 20 make
a study OF the great empires OF antiqui-
~ and note the causes that brought on
their decay and ruin.
We find that these great nations OF
ancient times were sapped by luxury
and enervated by excuses. Mon grew
wealthy, luxurious and weak, and lost
the strong and sturdy qualities that
iuade their nation dominant. They
emasculated themselves by weak, friv-
olous and vicious indulgencics, and so
made themselves easy victims for the
northern barbarians, who came down
with vigor unvitiated and strength I'M
diminished by excuses. II modern ma
tions do not wish 10 suffer She tate OF
the ancient nations, they should be
Warned by their example and avoid
their Vices and their follies.
In the meantime let the savage ma.
tions Of Africa, and the partially bar.
barous nations Of South America, come
forward. There may be qualities in
these races which no civilization has as
yet veloped-qualities which have
lain dormant for ages, but which, when
they have once been developed, will i'm,
measurably help along the progress OF
the world. Let us hope that these
races can advance without the retro
gression Of any other races. w.
Ford, In Yankee Blade.