8 Conservative.
THE ORIGIN OF THE AMERICAN
INDIAN.
As a well grounded premise , it inuy
bo assumed that the ancestors of the
present Indian wore the aboriginal in
habitants of America. This contention
is fairly well supported by the evidence
of unearthed skulls , bones , paleolithic
instruments , and petrified or dried hu
man bodies. All these archaeological
relics lead to the conclusion that there
lias been but one race of natives in
America , despite the peculiarities of the
various Indian and Aztec tribes ; this is
well attested by the school begun by
Lewis II. Morgan , and sot forth in his
masterly essay called "Moutozuma's'
Dinner. "
If we accept the hypothesis that all
the Indians canio from a single root , the
next step is to discover that root. Ob
viously , the only way to find it is by de
duction from the present evidences.
Many theories have grown up about the
Indian , some as plausible as the others
are absurd.
They could not have come from
Africa , because wo find no lingering
similarity either in physique or char
acter. Further than this , there existed
no means by which the primeval Afri
can could cross the stormy Atlantic.
Schools of European scientists have
tried to trace the origin of the Indian
to the Welsh , the Norse , the French ,
and even to the Italians. These are but
vague theories , which are unsupported
by even the most elastic facts. If there
were any race connection , it seems
probable that there would be some
physical similarity. Another class , in
fatuated with Biblical teachings , hunt
in America for the lost tribes of Israel.
As far as absolute facts are concerned ,
this theory is a product of the imagina
tion , without the slightest foundation.
A pretty example of evolution , from
Tubal to Sitting Bull ! That the Indians
are the remnants of lost Atlantis is
picturesque , fanciful and romantic , but
highly improbable.
The closest physical resemblance to
the present Indian is found in the na
tives of northern China , and eastern
Siberia. The high cheek bones , and , in
fact , nearly all the physical and mental
traits in one , find a faint counterpart
in the other. The flexibility of the hu
man body under climatic changes easily
accounts for this difference. If a Cau
casian , dwelling for a few weeks under
the tropical rays of a southern sun , be
comes darkened , it is not strange that a
Mongolian. race , living for centuries in
the wilds of America , should repress
some of their old characteristics and de
velop others more suited to their now
manner of living. The probability of
such a change is explained by the the
ory of evolution. According to the
slight resemblance between the Indian
aud the Mongolian , which is closer
than the resemblance between the In-
diau and any other race , it is not fanci
ful to assunio some distant blood con
nection.
Manifestly , all theories which argue
that the originators of the Indian race
came hero in vessels must bo incorrect ,
because the preponderance of evidence
points to the conclusion that they came
here long before the era of boat-build
ing. It is hardly plausible to say that
a people using unpolished stone imple
ments were advanced enough to con
struct sea-going vessels. Equally im
possible is it to maintain that a horde of
savages could sail for days and days
across a rough ocean on a crude raft. In
proof of the length of time that the In
dians have been hero , wo point to the
fact that an enormous period must have
elapsed for the Indians to have changed
as radicaliy from all known races as
they have done. The ancient paleolith
instruments hidden beneath an undis
turbed glacial debris at Trenton , New
Jersey , prove that the Indians , or their
ancestors , were here long before any
means of navigation were known. The
difference in the Indian mode of living ,
as shown by the tribal distinctions and
by the Aztec civilization , argue a long
residence in America.
If , as is most probable to believe , the
ancestors of the Indians were Mongol
ians , they evidently dwelt first on the
Pacific slope , and then spread about the
country. For the argument that Mon
golians were early inhabitants of Amer
ica there are many theories. One
theory , accounting for their arrivalthat
a disabled junk would bo carried by the
Pacific currents to the Californian
coast , is supported by about one hun
dred actual instances. This specula
tion , however , is open to two vital ob
jections : first , a small body , unpre
pared for colonization , would have gone
wild and eventually become extinct ,
rather than multiplied to a great people.
Secondly , this theory furnishes no ex
planation for the marked similitude of
flora of western America and eastern
Asia.
The theory which is least vulnerable
is the supposition that during an interglacial -
glacial period , band after baud of Mon
golians crossed to America at Behriug's
Sea. Geologists furnish proof that the
sea bed probably emerged at that time ,
thus forming a connecting isthmus be
tween Asia and America. At present
Bohring's Sea is very shallow at Beh-
ring's Straits , averaging only about one
hundred and fifty feet in depth. This
supposition is the only plausible plan
which can account for the coutinoutal
connection which must have existed to
allow the plants of Asia to migrate to
America. Plants cannot swim or fly ,
they must migrate by land. Only by
this theory could enough men come
here to form a race , and the number of
bands , which probably carne , may part
ly explain t tribal differences among
the Indians. A small body in a low
state of culture would breed , interbreed
and eventually become extinct.
During the inter-glacial period , when
wo suppose that the bed of Behring's
Sea was elevated , the climate was warm
enough to allow free emigration. As
proof of this wo have the tropical shells
found in Alaska which must have been
carried there by the Japanese Stream.
The presence of a warm ocean current
would greatly modify the rigorous clim
ate of Alaska. Still further , the fossils
of tropical palms and ferns found in
that region are absolute proof that there
was no climatic reason to prevent the
Mongolians from coming hero.
Hence by these bare facts it seems
most probable that America and Asia
were at ono time united at Bohring's
Straits , and that successive migrations
of wandering Tartars invaded America
and formed the germ for a new race.
This swarming back and forth was ap
parently stopped by the formation of a
glacier , and the submersion of the con
necting land , thus cutting off further
immigration. The immigrants were
then left to wander as they pleased , and
to live as best they could. This lack of
intercourse with native Mongolians and
the necessity of adapting themselves to
the country , in countless centuries ,
gradually changed the Tartar into a
distinctive type which is now known as
the American Indian.
WILMOT B. EVANS , JR. ,
"Everett Republican , " Everett , Mass.
BIRDS AND FASHIONS.
We do not doubt that this dead
bird question' will settle itself in
time , in the simplest way in the
world. Birds will simply go out of
fashion. All the lawmakers and or
nithologists can roar themselves
blind , and not a sparrow will fall
from a woman's hat ; but let a still ,
small whisper bo hoard "Birds are
no longer worn" and you will as
soon see a woman wear blue overalls
as a lid with a fowl on it. We hope ,
for the birds' sake , the day may come
soon. And it is as likely to happen
one day as another. Nobody knows
who makes the laws for the women.
How long is it since they all had
holes in their ears , with gold and
precious stones dangling from them ?
Yet you could look a long time now
without finding a woman with
pierced ears , and the young girls ,
bless them , have never heard of that
savage custom. But when did their
mothers forsake it , and why , and
how did the idea strike them all
over the world at once , after they
had boon boring their ears for thous
ands of years ?
STOPS THE COUGH AND WORKS OFF
THE COLD.
Laxative Bromo-Quinine Tablets cure
a oo'd 'in ono day. No Cure , no Pay.
Price 25 cents.
r
