QUOTES FROM RACE AND MANIFEST DESTINY THE ORIGINS OF AMERICAN RACIAL ANGLO-SAXONISM by Reginald Horsman
The American Indians were the main subject of Morton’s work, and his conclusion was that “the intellectual faculties of this great family appear to be of a
decidedly inferior cast when compared with those of the Caucasian or Mongolian
Races.” While contending that the inaptitude of the Indian for civilization had been clearly demonstrated by experience, Morton showed his usual caution by admitting that it was not possible to tell how near the Indian could approach the Caucasian if a single family were educated for several generations. The Indians, Morgan argued, were a separate race, distinct even from the Mongolian, and divided into two families- the
American and the Toltecan.
Pg.127
In his phrenological essay Combe emphasized that the size of the brain was indicated by the dimensions of the skull, and that nationalities as well as individuals could be differentiated by the size of their brains. He was particularly scathing in his discussion of the American Indians. In Africa, he argued, some of the inhabitants had at least advanced beyond “the savage condition” to create “cities, rude manufactures, agriculture, commerce, government and laws; and in these respects they greatly excel several of the tribes of native Americans, who have continued wandering savages from the beginning to the end of their existence.” Though there were some exceptions, he said of the Indians,”speaking of the race, we do not exaggerate in saying, that they remain to the present hour enveloped in all their primitive savageness and that they have profited extremely little from the introduction amongst them of arts, sciences and philosophy.
The American Indians were the main subject of Morton’s work, and his conclusion was that “the intellectual faculties of this great family appear to be of a
decidedly inferior cast when compared with those of the Caucasian or Mongolian
Races.” While contending that the inaptitude of the Indian for civilization had been clearly demonstrated by experience, Morton showed his usual caution by admitting that it was not possible to tell how near the Indian could approach the Caucasian if a single family were educated for several generations. The Indians, Morgan argued, were a separate race, distinct even from the Mongolian, and divided into two families- the
American and the Toltecan.
Pg.127
In his phrenological essay Combe emphasized that the size of the brain was indicated by the dimensions of the skull, and that nationalities as well as individuals could be differentiated by the size of their brains. He was particularly scathing in his discussion of the American Indians. In Africa, he argued, some of the inhabitants had at least advanced beyond “the savage condition” to create “cities, rude manufactures, agriculture, commerce, government and laws; and in these respects they greatly excel several of the tribes of native Americans, who have continued wandering savages from the beginning to the end of their existence.” Though there were some exceptions, he said of the Indians,”speaking of the race, we do not exaggerate in saying, that they remain to the present hour enveloped in all their primitive savageness and that they have profited extremely little from the introduction amongst them of arts, sciences and philosophy.
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