The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-29
Will They Be Absorbed
BY the Whites?
WHENCE CAME THEY?
A Glance at the Civilization of the ToI.
tees, Mayas and Aztecs. a Civil
zation That May Have Ante
Dated the GIories of
Egypt.
BY CICERO W. HARRIS.

Washington. Jan. 2S.--It was u sig
nific2ntly true remark of Representa-
tive Lacy. of Iowa. during the debate
On the Indian appropriation bill in
the House that in a reasonably short
time the Indians will be swallowed
Up in the general mass of the popu-
Iation II is Il popular misconcept.on
of facts that the number of red men
steadily decreases With advancing
civilization. I saw figures a Very few
years ago showing that, on the con-
trary. there had been an increase. The
Significance of Mr.. I.acy's remark lies
la the reason for it stated in the con-
text. during the past ten wears, ana
since the passage of the Curtis act
and establishment of the Dawes Com
mission 4 rapid advance toward civ
Iization and White mans government
has been effected. In North Carolina
the cherokees, rs early as 1896, or
even earlier, had begun the work of
untribine themselves. if | may coin a
word to express an idea. The people
of the Old North State are long ia
miliar With educated, Christian. vot-
ing Indians. In some other States, as
New York, Connecticut. Florida. etc.
there have been remnants of once
mighty Indian tribal organizations
gradually disintegrading and finally
SONG to pieces.
Since Columbus sighted San Saliva
dor In 1872, the problem of what
would become of the aborignes and
the other problem of the origin of
these aboriginal People have enlisted
the close attention OF thoughtful per-
sons. especially Of historical students
ADMINISTRATORS ana ethnologistS. That
hn
call the red men OF North and South
..merica to different ate them from
the inhabitants of India. are of East
cln origin is generally accepted The
prevalent opinion that they came from
enc general stock and belong 70 one
great branch Of the human family
seems to have solid basis to rest
upon. The most learned Of American
ethnologists appear to agree in say
ing that the different IT bes Of the
TWO great American continents of Cen
trail America and Of the islands. excep,
the obviously EsuuimauX-d derived
population Of tho Alaskan al'cnipelago
are of essentially the same general
type physically, morally and intel
lectuaily, although in various stages
of barbarism or GENERALIZATION. II
is believed that the Taltics and Aztics
Of Mexico. the Mayas of Yucatan. the
mcas og Peru entered the hemisphere
originally at one point and spread out
from there. Archaeological and
liugual discoveries made in Yucca an
and Central America seem TO point to
Il civ iZation older than that Of Egypt.
But the analogies may not be borne
out by subsequent research. The
Frenchman who maze these has only
Published them in limited way for
lack Of FUNDS to illustrate his work.
Or. Brinton In his book only goes 50
far as to claim that the North and
South and Central American Reds are
all one people in their origin. He
and other philolog SITS are far from
trying to prove Il civilization in
America older than that of the East.
What of the futore? some of the
best blood in Virginia is proud Of its
ailmixture with that of the PoWhatans.
The author of the bill referred to
aboye is partly OF Indian descent. and
shows it in complexion and features
Al. through the Mexican republic the
former proni.ictors Of the whole ter
ritory are occupants and part govern
ars Of that territory at present The
deliVerer Of that country from foreign
lbIe-the last deliNeref. / mean--