Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-28

T1iIEar stage Of our own Indians, and the
so-ealled civilized stage, the community
which recognizes and, at least TO some
extent, respects the rights OF both ma
tons ana individuals, with individual
TERRITORIAL rights and privileges.
Having thus awaited itself of the ma
terial easily accessible. the evidences OF
the development Of primitive race ex-
isting at the very door of modern and
energetic civilization. the Bureau OF
Ethnology has farniliarized itself with
the mental process Of this race. and is
now prepared to point the way in which
TO lead the primitive mind up TO that
mental attitude described as modern
civilization
But as has been said, the work out
lined Is almost completed, except that
no history is ever complete, and the
question Of the hour is, TO what next
will it turn its attention? The answer
promptly presents itself. The Indian
and the Caucasian have not lived 50
long is juxtaposition without an inter
mixture of blood, and type almost
worthy 10 be called race, the mestizos,
has been the result. The extent to
which the nestizo exists in American
society Is probably realized by few who
have not studied the subject. And yet
| 1t is fact that hardly an American
Congress assemblies without several
representatives Of this adnixture of
races. Probably the most striking rep
resentative Of the mestiZo in the public
eye is President Diaz Of Mexico, a born
leader, combining in his views the fire
and energy of the Indian with the in
telligence and refinement of the white
man What. then, are the results OF an
admixture of Indian and Cauca sian
blood, what the fecundity, the viability,
the mental and physical characteris-
tics? Science can give no answer now.
Perhaps when the Bureau of American
Ethnology has turned its attention to
this subject a satisfactory answer will
be forthcoming.
The negro race in this country rep
resents another interesting problem to
which the bureau hopes in time to de-
vote its energies. Each year the CEN
sus represents less and less accurately
the negro population of the United
States. According to its figures. all
men with African blood in their veins
are negroes, and yet it is doubtful II
one-half the number enumerated are
pure Africans. Some authorities main
tain that the admixture of negro and
Caucasian blood results In sterility.
Others vigorously contest the PROPOSE
ton. but no scientific study Of the sub
ject has as yet been made, nor is it
likely to be until the Bureau of Ameri-
can Ethnology extends it's scope to take
in this problem also.
Still another interesting problem is
presented by the progress Of the Japan
ese and the development Of the Chinese
Legislating from largely sentimental
reasons, Congress has excluded the
Chinese. The japanese are still free to
enter the United States. What will be
the eventual result of the admixture OF
Monaghan and = Caucasian blood?
Which will survive? What mental and
physical characteristics will result?
What will be the effect on that develop
ment called civilization? Even this
brief outline of a few of the problems
which remain to be solved clearly indl-
,ates how far from completed Is the
work of the Bureau of American Eth
nology. and partially answers the ques-
ton as to the further excuse for It's
existence.