New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20
iUERTClN ETUNOIOGY.

That was a most gratifying announcement
made in yesterdays Tribune. that Mr. Morris
Ii. JpslIp IS adding 10 his many henefactlons 10
science by sending out two expeditions 10 nvcs-
tgatc the much-mOOtcd question OF the origin or
the native American peoples. There Is no more
fascinating problem in the whole range Of eth
nolOgy There Is none concerning which the
world is more in the dark. There Is none the
solution Of which would fill greater gap in the
chain Of human knowledge. And there Is none
that appeals more directly and forcibly to this
country as the dominant American power Of the
present and future. Hitherto. 1t must be con-
fessed, research into American antiquities has
been intr,,sted to Europeans more than 10 Amer-
cans, and what has been ascertained has been
credited TO European scholarship and enterprise
rather than to American. That IS not credit
able to us. 1t Is we'll TO send out American cX
petitions to Central Africa and to the North
and South poles but it Il not we'll to neglect
own continent.
A mere enumeration OF the theories serious
" set forth concerning the first settlement OF
America woull be voluminous. There Is scarce
ly land on the globe from which the settlers
have not been said to have come. Nor is that
all. There are those who. with much plaus-
bility, argue that no such settlement over took
place, but tina, the American Continent was
the cradle Of the human race, from which other
lands were colonize1 What Is certain Is that
traditions to that Effect existed ages ago among
the foremost Of the American peoples, and that
the very nomenclature of tie land in ac
cordance Herewith. II Is also certain that
centuries ago n high state Of civilization exist
cd upon this continent with literature and art
md with architecture that rvale1 that OF
Egypt in colossal majesty and that OF Burmah
and India in delicate elaboration Of detail
There aro apparent rcscmblances between
American and Aslatic and Egyptian ciyilizl-
lions so close as To afford conviction Of q COM
mon origin. but whore that origin was is an
unsolvod-we shall not yet say insOluble-prob
lem.
The two expeditions sent out by Mr. Jcsup
are we'll directed. One goes to Alaska through
which migration Is supposed by many 10 have
been effected from Asia. by way OF Behr!nS
Strait In support Of this theory Il is observed
that the present inhabitants OF Alaska, the
Thlinkcts and others, show marked rcscm-
blanccs to the Chinese. The other expedition.
which will probably prove the more profitable
goes TO Mexico and. II Is to be presumed, to
Yucatan and Central America That Is the
region In which the extraordinarily fruitful and
Illuminating lnbors Of DR.. Le Plongeon have
been chiefly expended with the result OF al
most rchabilltatng the irts and civilization OF
the Mayas tho foremost OF nil the ancient
American races. II this expedition shall sue
cee,l I'm adding TO the knowledge already gained
by DR.. I.e PlOngcoh. il will NOT have lnborcd In
vain. The world will await with eager interest
the outcome Of both expeditions and will owe
n lasting debt OF gratitude 10 their muniiicent
patron