The sun., 1900-08-19
VI.

What was the Rraie OF social advancen ent
reached In Mexico on tho one hand and in
Peru on the other' Our authors reply TO this
question differs equally from the views Of those
who have exagg gerate1 the degree Of civilization
reached In those countries bofore the Spanish
conquest and from the views OF those who
recently have seemed disposed to lower that
grade almost TO the level attained by the Iro-
Quois In central New York, or exemplined
in the eItant pueblos OF New Mexico Mr.
Payne regards the Mexican advancement
a. a unique example of barbarism. remarkable
alike as the nearest approximation 70 civilized
life among the American aborigInes, and as
the highest culture attained In any community
whatever without the aid Of large dornesticated
animals 1t presents undoubtedly incongrui-
ties which at nrst sight are startling and per-
picking; these, however, DO not arise out Of
Its essential elements. and our author would
explain them by the circumstances In which
the Advancement was produced. He main
tsins that the essentials OF advancement. TO
wit an artificial food supply and system
OF defence. are everywhere the same. In Mexico
both were adequstel, n not ahundantly,
provided. The food basis comprised all In
digenous food plants capable Of being artin-
caly produced. besides the few indigenous
animals amenable to domestication: and in a
district peculiarly liable 10 the failure Of crops
through cold, drought and destructive insects,
a land system. which secured the bulk OF the
produce TO the governing class and insured thu
storage OF grain in SUFFICIENT quantities 10 feed
the whole population during several years.
At the Conquest nearly seventy years had
elapsed since the last serious famine Although
newcomers OF other stocks had been allowed
TO establish themselves In the district OF Ana
huao and the two great dominant pueblos
OF Mexico and Tezcuco alike owed their origin
10 tribes which had thus intrude1 hostile in
vasion was unknown, and the settlement effected
by the Nahuatlacan immigration had not been
materially disturbed
The defensive organization secured at the
same time the cultivation OF the SOIL the wor-
ship Of the gods and the general order Of the
community. Chiefly based as the dominion
expanded, on the feuda system, though the
ancient tribal system partially survived, this
organization fostered agriculture favored the
increase Of wealth and population. and pro-
NOTED general Industry; social and family dis
cipline were firmly established: n customary
law was regularly administered by qualified
officials and n general code OF duty was recog-
nizcd. binding the ruling and the industrial
classes together MS a single people who derived
from II their distinctive name. In these favor
able circumstances property had increased,
and trade had naturally followed the accumu-
ldtion Of property Not only had the exchange
OF commodities become common but there
was large inland commerce. an export trade
was springing up which possibly might have
led 10 great widening Of the field Of knowl-
edge and enterprise. and there were several
recognized standards Of value. Habits Of
life had reached some degree OF refinement; the
useful arts we're we'll uuderstood and the prep