Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-04-27
III CAME FROM ASIA.

Replying TO rather scornful reler-
ence, In a leading American journal,
TO the Russians as having come from
Asia, the Springfield Republican emu
merates a list Of achievements and
contrivances that all came to us from
Asia. 1t Is q rather remarkable list.
II shows most conclusively that with
out the genius of the Asiatics, our
civilization would have been impos-
sible
Among the things for which We are
indebted 20 Asia, are such as, our al
phabet, our numerals, the mariners
compass. gunpowder printing, paper,
silk, playing cards, chess, porcelain,
the Gothic arch, and. finally, Chris
tianlty itself II It were possible to
imagine what the world would be
without the progress these various
monuments OF civilization stand for,
we might realize how great our In
dobtedness "a to the nations that have
lived and died IN Asia, and on whose
descendants We are apt to look down
with contempt. To mention only one
little thIng-the numerals which
game with the Arabs that slwarnied over
certain parts OF Europe. Suppose that
the old Roman numerals had still been
I'm use, so that we had TO write
lxxxyii instead OF IS. What would
that mean for booklSeeping2 And how
would mathematics be possible with
such q system of annexation? Let the
mathematician try simple problem
in division with Roman numerals and
then a calculation such az astronomers
have TO make. It Is really astonishing
how far-reachlng consequences the
most simple thing sometimes has.
II would be wrong, however, TO con-
cludo that Asia Is the first cradle of
civilization. Evidence Is accumulat-
ing for the view taken by the eminent
archaeologist, Augustus lie Plongeon,
that the civilization OF Asia
originated on the American con-
tinents. Literature, architecture, arts,
navigation, he traces to the Western
hemisphere lie thinks that at one
time in the very dim past the Atlantic
and Pacific were plowed by American
vessels that carried the products and
influence Of this country to all parts OF
the world. This was before the dcluge.
our alphabet he traces to a poem COM
posed on this continent The first
Biblical narratives, he thinks, relate
events that took place here, 1t Is well
TO remember that America, and NOT
ASIA in all probability is the first era
die Of civilization,
1t is also well TO remember that as
far as the testimony Of history goes.
no nation, no race, ever civilized Itself.
Archbishop Whately used to urge this
against those who claimed the ape-oi-
gin Of man. As far as we can ascer-
tain, he argued, civilization has always
come from some outward source. II
can be traced from nation 10 nation AZ
far back as 1t is possible to see, by the
| Hight of history Nations and races
have deterlorated, and forgotten
achievements once attained, but pro-
grcss has always been the result Of
light from without. civilization, then
he itself evidence Of revelation from
God, since man could as little ciyilI2t
| himself, us child could master arts
and sciences without any teacher what
over And again, Il man Is unable
without outside assistance, to 20 from
stugo Of sayagery to one Of ciyiliza.
ton, there Is sim less possibility for an
animal TO rise TO the level and dignity
of man The lessons Of the history OF
the rise and fan OF civilization are mum
orous and important,