democracy in america-1-第8节
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very prominent。 The languages spoken by the North American tribes are various as far as regarded their words； but they were subject to the same grammatical rules。 These rules differed in several points from such as had been observed to govern the origin of language。 The idiom of the Americans seemed to be the product of new combinations； and bespoke an effort of the understanding of which the Indians of our days would be incapable。 *h
＇Footnote g： With the progress of discovery some resemblance has been found to exist between the physical conformation； the language； and the habits of the Indians of North America； and those of the Tongous； Mantchous； Mongols； Tartars； and other wandering tribes of Asia。 The land occupied by these tribes is not very distant from Behring's Strait； which allows of the supposition； that at a remote period they gave inhabitants to the desert continent of America。 But this is a point which has not yet been clearly elucidated by science。 See Malte Brun； vol。 v。； the works of Humboldt； Fischer； 〃Conjecture sur l'Origine des Americains〃； Adair； 〃History of the American Indians。〃＇
＇Footnote h： See Appendix； C。＇
The social state of these tribes differed also in many respects from all that was seen in the Old World。 They seemed to have multiplied freely in the midst of their deserts without coming in contact with other races more civilized than their own。 Accordingly； they exhibited none of those indistinct； incoherent notions of right and wrong； none of that deep corruption of manners； which is usually joined with ignorance and rudeness among nations which； after advancing to civilization； have relapsed into a state of barbarism。 The Indian was indebted to no one but himself； his virtues； his vices； and his prejudices were his own work； he had grown up in the wild independence of his nature。
If； in polished countries； the lowest of the people are rude and uncivil； it is not merely because they are poor and ignorant； but that； being so； they are in daily contact with rich and enlightened men。 The sight of their own hard lot and of their weakness； which is daily contrasted with the happiness and power of some of their fellow…creatures； excites in their hearts at the same time the sentiments of anger and of fear： the consciousness of their inferiority and of their dependence irritates while it humiliates them。 This state of mind displays itself in their manners and language； they are at once insolent and servile。 The truth of this is easily proved by observation； the people are more rude in aristocratic countries than elsewhere； in opulent cities than in rural districts。 In those places where the rich and powerful are assembled together the weak and the indigent feel themselves oppressed by their inferior condition。 Unable to perceive a single chance of regaining their equality； they give up to despair； and allow themselves to fall below the dignity of human nature。
This unfortunate effect of the disparity of conditions is not observable in savage life： the Indians； although they are ignorant and poor； are equal and free。 At the period when Europeans first came among them the natives of North America were ignorant of the value of riches； and indifferent to the enjoyments which civilized man procures to himself by their means。 Nevertheless there was nothing coarse in their demeanor； they practised an habitual reserve and a kind of aristocratic politeness。 Mild and hospitable when at peace； though merciless in war beyond any known degree of human ferocity； the Indian would expose himself to die of hunger in order to succor the stranger who asked admittance by night at the door of his hut； yet he could tear in pieces with his hands the still quivering limbs of his prisoner。 The famous republics of antiquity never gave examples of more unshaken courage； more haughty spirits； or more intractable love of independence than were hidden in former times among the wild forests of the New World。 *i The Europeans produced no great impression when they landed upon the shores of North America； their presence engendered neither envy nor fear。 What influence could they possess over such men as we have described？ The Indian could live without wants； suffer without complaint； and pour out his death…song at the stake。 *j Like all the other members of the great human family； these savages believed in the existence of a better world； and adored under different names； God； the creator of the universe。 Their notions on the great intellectual truths were in general simple and philosophical。 *k
＇Footnote i： We learn from President Jefferson's 〃Notes upon Virginia；〃 p。 148； that among the Iroquois； when attacked by a superior force； aged men refused to fly or to survive the destruction of their country； and they braved death like the ancient Romans when their capital was sacked by the Gauls。 Further on； p。 150； he tells us that there is no example of an Indian who； having fallen into the hands of his enemies； begged for his life； on the contrary； the captive sought to obtain death at the hands of his conquerors by the use of insult and provocation。＇
＇Footnote j： See 〃Histoire de la Louisiane；〃 by Lepage Dupratz； Charlevoix； 〃Histoire de la Nouvelle France〃； 〃Lettres du Rev。 G。 Hecwelder；〃 〃Transactions of the American Philosophical Society；〃 v。 I； Jefferson's 〃Notes on Virginia；〃 pp。 135…190。 What is said by Jefferson is of especial weight； on account of the personal merit of the writer； of his peculiar position； and of the matter… of…fact age in which he lived。＇
＇Footnote k： See Appendix； D。＇
Although we have here traced the character of a primitive people； yet it cannot be doubted that another people； more civilized and more advanced in all respects； had preceded it in the same regions。
An obscure tradition which prevailed among the Indians to the north of the Atlantic informs us that these very tribes formerly dwelt on the west side of the Mississippi。 Along the banks of the Ohio； and throughout the central valley； there are frequently found； at this day； tumuli raised by the hands of men。 On exploring these heaps of earth to their centre； it is usual to meet with human bones； strange instruments； arms and utensils of all kinds； made of metal； or destined for purposes unknown to the present race。 The Indians of our time are unable to give any information relative to the history of this unknown people。 Neither did those who lived three hundred years ago； when America was first discovered； leave any accounts from which even an hypothesis could be formed。 Tradition … that perishable； yet ever renewed monument of the pristine world … throws no light upon the subject。 It is an undoubted fact； however； that in this part of the globe thousands of our fellow…beings had lived。 When they came hither； what was their origin； their destiny； their history； and how they perished； no one can tell。 How strange does it appear that nations have existed； and afterwards so completely disappeared from the earth that the remembrance of their very names is effaced； their languages are lost； their glory is vanished like a sound without an echo； though perhaps there is not one which has not left behind it some tomb in memory of its passage！ The most durable monument of human labor is that which recalls the wretchedness and nothingness of man。
Although the vast country which we have been describing was inhabited by many indigenous tribes； it may justly be said at the time of its discovery by Europeans to have formed one great desert。 The Indians occupied without possessing it。 It is by agricultural labor that man appropriates the soil； and the early inhabitants of North America lived by the produce of the chase。 Their implacable prejudices； their uncontrolled passions； their vices； and still more perhaps their savage virtues； consigned them to inevitable destruction。 The ruin of these nations began from the day when Europeans landed on their shores； it has proceeded ever since； and we are now witnessing the completion of it。 They seem to have been placed by Providence amidst the riches of the New World to enjoy them for a season； and then surrender them。 Those coasts； so admirably adapted for commerce and industry； those wide and deep rivers； that inexhaustible valley of the Mississippi； the whole continent； in short； seemed prepared to be the abode of a great nation； yet unborn。
In that land the great experiment was to be made； by civilized man； of the attempt to construct society upon a new basis； and it was there； for the first time； that theories hitherto unknown； or deemed impracticable； were to exhibit a spectacle for which the world had not been prepared by the history of the past。
Chapter I： Exterior Form Of North America
Chapter Summary
North America divided into two vast regions； one inclining towards the Pole； the other towards the Equator … Valley of the Mississippi … Traces of the Revolutions of the Globe … Shore of the Atlantic Ocean where the English Colonies were founded … Difference in the appearance of North and of South America at the time of their Discovery … Forests of North America … Prairies …Wandering Tribes of Natives … Their outward appearance； manners； and language … T
