The new age. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1902-190?, 1902-09-13
sARsARITY VS.. CIVILIZATION
BY Nora E. Hulings Siegel

we near OF the barbarity and heath
enishness of the tribes of Western Az
rlca- No praises have been sung of
tnem; no beautiful poems written
as has been of our North American
indians. | wonder why Is IL be.
cause they are so far beneath recog-
milton along these lines Is II be-
cause OF the entire lack of response
In the black mans heart which must
exist in order to awaken rytbmical
expression within the poets breast
NO. think these are not the reasons
but because their first introduction
10 us was unfavorable to these.
When We place ourselves under
lasting obligations to another through
cruelty to him We are not apt speed
lily to turn about and sing his praises
as is the case in our relation with
the Negro.
doubtless were We to go among
them in their so-called native wilds.
with no knowledge of their unfor-
tunate enslavement, go among them
with thoughts only of good in our
hearts towards them we would have
many things to their credit and would
then Sing a new song" Their ma
tive language is musical to the ear
OF the regenerate mind and surely
beautiful sounds do not eminate from
the souls of creatures whose thoughts
are intensely animalistic, are cruel
and entirely craven.
| can not see that the cruelty of So
called barbarity is more terrible than
that of civilization. | sincerely be-
lieve were the abjettress of both to
be weighed on a balance, the scales
would go down in condemnation to
civilization. In lieu of the inexper-
ience and innocence, love will favor
the former.
Being ''as wise as a serpent and as
harmless as a dove" can be made
use of for good only in the regenerate
mind. The chicanery of civilization
and the serpent-like wisdom are on
a par with each other and remains a
detriment to him who uses them with
out the refining power of love, and in
the end makes toward blighting his
soul. No lasting good may come to
the person or nation who deals in
such wisdom. "As you sow so shall
you reap" can not be repeated too
often. 1t must be kept in mind.
Our negro does not inherit his
bad points from his African fore
but prenatelly from the suf-
fering his mother was called upon
% endure during slavery, before his
birth. The wonder is that they are
Is universally good as they are. Had
hey not an unusual amount of in
ite love they would have developed
1ends and cut throats without an
exception, but because of the fore
,earance of the mother their spirits /
we're not broken.
Our civilization unciyilized is far |
more to be lamented. is farther from
deal love of which creation of form- /
d than the uncivilizatiOn of barbar-
ty. God-love is not illustrated so .
much in pomp as in simplicity. Not
o much in show as in innocense.
The careless simple faith in the
hild towards its mother bespeaks
he wisdom of God-love more nearly
han the trust of the sage towards his
lcal. The child does not trust alone,
knows nothing Of trust. Trust is a
esult come at by experience through
he medium of reason. The child
imply expects TO be cared for by its
,otber and does not question her
aitbfulness. The child of nature, a
o-called barbarian. Is akin TO the
babe ib tis relation TO God7loye'
ruth.
Uncivilized civilization Where
y Won find it the better illustrated?
n the simple hearted colored man
,bo can not read. or in the intellect
al bigoted white man who has had
II the advantages Of culture and re-
nement who does not scruple to
AXE Nd arms against his brother in
Ear who does not question his right
> rsa any means in his power in or
er TO defraud his fellows in bust
ass relations 4? One is reserved in
,is "dove-like" harmlessness; the
,ho- preserved in his serpent-like
wisdom.