CHAPTER XIV.
REVIEW OF THE TYRIAN ÆRA; OR, THE FIRST EPOCH
IN THE PRESENT
ORIGINAL HISTORY OF ANCIENT AMERICA,
AND
THE EVIDENCES TO SUSTAIN IT.
In summing up a case to the Jury, it is generally understood that both Plaintiff and Defendant have been heard,—and especially that the witnesses have been cross-examined: in assuming, therefore, our present position in regard to the summary of evidence, we have endeavoured throughout this historic cause, not only to be Plaintiff for the History, but have also in many places been Defendant and cross-examined our own points and witnesses, and even ourselves, in order to anticipate and answer demurrers or objections. Whether any apparent objections yet remain, and if so, whether they have been sufficiently overruled by the arguments, is for the Jury (i. e. the Public) to decide; and whether the verdict be in the affirmative for the Plaintiff—or in the negative,—we shall receive the announcement from the Foreman (i. e. the Press) with perfect acquiescence in his judgment; and while our blood and nature will not permit a cringing of the knee for favour or for flattery,—yet we ask, and expect, from that intellectual Foreman (whose voice is now potential with the Jury) that liberal Justice which he knows so well how to dispense: and especially in a novel case, comprehending so enlarged a field of original argument, reasoning, and resources as the present one.
To establish that the Aborigines of South and Central (i. e. Mexican) America, were from the Last of the Tyrian family in Asia, the following arguments and evidences have been produced: viz.—The separation of the Aborigines of the Western Hemisphere into two distinct races, or people;—and that division justified by absolute contrasts in their moral and physical condition and manners,—in their political and Religious customs and observances;—and in addition to these powerful contrasts, is the fact,—that North America possesses no Architectural stone ruins,—while in the Mexican portion of the Continent, many Cities and Temples have been found.
The great and injurious error of naming the Aborigines—"Indians"—was pointed out,—as well as the Author, and the cause of the misnomer, and its effects. The title of the first Epoch was then given, and the arrangement of the several propositions for establishing its truth.
An elaborate argument was next founded upon the important and interesting question,—"Are the Fine-Arts of sufficient authority, to be received in evidence, for establishing historical records or events?" Having produced an answer con amore,—and especially illustrated the answer, by the resuscitation of the Ruins of Rome, we proceeded in the belief that the argument was conclusive and in the affirmative.
The fact was then established of the discovery of the ancient Ruins in Southern or Central America,—viz., at Mitla, Cholula, Uxmal, Palenque, Quirigua, Ocosingo, Tecpan-Guatimala, Gueguetinango, Quichē, Copan, Chi-chen, Zayi, Kabah, Espita, Ticol, and Labnah,—and these severally upon the high authority of the justly renowned Humboldt,—the Spanish Commissioners Del Rio and Waldeck,—Dupaix and Galindo,—and last, not least, the enterprising American Traveller, Stephens,—and his artist-associate, Catherwood:—and to which list may now be added the name of Norman. Stephens has investigated other Ruins in Yucatan, but they are precisely analogous to that of Uxmal. Reference was then made to the Mexican Paintings preserved in the Vatican, Bologna, and Madrid, and republished in the folio Volumes by Lord Kingsborough.
Extracts followed from the descriptions of the Ruins of Copan, Palenque, and Uxmal, with such commentaries as were required, for illustration of the Architecture and Sculpture, or for detecting errors.
A Critical analysis was then presented of the conclusions arrived at by Stephens, in reference to the Architecture, and of the Nations rejected by him as the builders. His errors were shewn by his own contradictions; and the basis of his argument being founded upon those errors, the conclusions, as a necessity, fell to the ground; for it was shewn that the only Nation or People that could claim to be the Architects, and having means to reach the Continent, were not so much as mentioned by him, and consequently not investigated. If he had done so, it would instantly have interfered with a favourite conclusion, which he was determined to arrive at; if not by artistical and scientific reasoning, at least by one of the noblest traits in the human character,—viz., Love of Country. This was so pardonable in a book merely of "Incidents of Travel," that while it could not deprive honest criticism of exposing the sophistry, it at once, from pure sympathy in the sentiment, withheld the shaft of condemnation.
We then proceeded to prove, upon the direct rules of Art, that the pyramidal ruins forming bases for receiving—and with the peculiar superstructures on them, that they were only traceable as Egypto-Tyrian Architecture—that the Sculpture aided this conclusion, and finally established the Nation to be Tyrian, from recording the celebrated worship of Saturn,—the victim-craving Moloch of Canaan's descendants.
A no less strong than interesting proof, we submit, was brought to the consideration of the reader, in the general identity between Solomon's Temple of Jerusalem, built by Tyrians, and the Temples of Palenque and Copan.
A convincing catalogue of Analogies was then produced, establishing direct identity between the ancient Tyrians and Mexicans; even as to the manner of disposing of the dead, as illustrated in the discovered Mummies of the two Nations: to which proofs were added the historical traditions of the Aborigines as to where they came from,—viz., "the East:"—the place where they first landed,—viz., "first touched at Florida," &c.; and the period of their arrival,—viz., "before the Christian Æra." Mr. Stephens's second visit to Yucatan was alluded to, and it was shewn that the additional discoveries did not only not oppose this History, but on the contrary actually supported it. In support of their own assertions of having reached the Continent by means of Navigation, it was then stated, upon the authority of the Spanish historian, Sahagun, that they produced to Cortez, Maps and Charts of the Bay of Honduras; and so accurate were they from ancient times, that the Spanish Conqueror was saved from wreck, during a perilous voyage in those Seas, by following their direction.
The remains of an ancient Galley were mentioned as having been found, deeply imbedded in the sands of the eastern, or Atlantic shore, of South America; and this was given upon good authority.
These facts, analogies, and traditions, naturally turned the mind to a Nation, having the "means and appliances" to reach the Western Hemisphere at so early a period as that contemplated by the antiquity of the Ruins,—or the ancient days in which the traditions originated; and having already established the builders, from the Architecture and Analogies, to be Tyrian, it was with singular pleasure when we found that the Nautical investigation enabled—it compelled us—to arrive at the same conclusion.
Tyrus, therefore, being as it were the Founder of Ancient America, called for her antecedent history:—commencing with a review of the Phœnician nations generally, we proceeded to give the history of the chief events of Tyrus,—analyzing the romance and spirit of the Tyrian People; unfolding her ill-directed commercial policy and monopoly—tracing her rise and fall to their causes, and thus removed the wonder created by contemplating the terrible but certain effects. This we humbly consider is the only true philosophy of History. As we dwelt upon the reign of Hiram the Great with that pleasure arising from delineating the blessings of Peace and the progress of the Arts; so were we elaborate in our description of the Siege and Fall of Tyrus, through the invasion by Alexander of Macedon,—that the horrors and curses of War, and the destruction of civilization, should be the more forcibly estimated by contrast; that Invaders or Conquerors should receive the scorn and curse they deserve, and Patriots and Peace-Makers the praise and blessings they merit, and must receive from God and Man! Our history of the Tyrian Nation is indeed but a picture of the past; yet we shall dare hope that it contains no useless record, but that in each event delineated, may be seen the secret lesson for the present and the future!
In Chapter VI. (Vol. i., Book ii.) was investigated, the first circumnavigation of the African Continent by the Tyrians, and we respectfully submit, that it was established to have been accomplished, and that the Fortunate Isles were discovered during that voyage. The "means" possessed at that time for such an exposition, or any other, were detailed; as also, especially, the causes, effects, and locality of the East-Wind of Scriptural language, and its influences in propelling or opposing vessels to, or from, the Western Continent.
Having identified the builders of the ancient Cities (from the Architecture, Analogies, and Traditions) to have been Tyrians, it followed as a necessity for the commencement of the History of Ancient America that we must establish the year in which those Tyrians landed,—still having regard to the antiquity of the Ruins. That the migration to the Western Hemisphere was not undertaken by the Nation of Tyrus in its days of prosperity was, and is, conclusively established by the fact that the voyagers never returned to announce the accomplishment of the expedition, as they would have done had they been sent by the King or Nation, as in the case of the Voyage around Africa. If it had been a National expedition, and they had under that authority discovered the Western Continent, they must have returned to Tyrus,—for the absence of the fair portion of our race would prevent their remaining,—or if they did remain, arguments in reference to descendants could not be advanced, and therefore an useless hypothesis in regard to the present history. Since then the Tyrians did not reach the Western Continent during the period of their national prosperity,—that fact pointed at once to an æra when decay or desolation had the ascendancy, and this did not exist until their last doom and fall, when fire and sword felled the nation—as an Island-Tree—to the earth,—a few leaves only were rescued by a friendly gale, and thus escaped the conflagration! That last day of Tyrus we distinctly pointed out, and from undisputed history, to have been the 20th of August, 332 years before Christ, which date is not opposed by the character of the Ruins, or the traditions of the Aborigines,—but supported by both.
It was then pointed out that the "remnant" saved by the Sidonians could nowhere land upon the shores of the Mediterranean, from the natural fear of Alexander's continued vengeance; and the "remnant," or their descendants, cannot be traced in Europe, Asia, or Africa,—except upon the Isle of Teneriffe,—as evidenced by the discovery of the Mummies,—the identity between them and those in Peru, we mentioned, formed at once a connecting chain across the Atlantic. The Fortunate Isles discovered by their ancestors were their only refuge immediately after the desolation of their country,—and being there, the fears of pursuit would naturally possess them. With means furnished by the Sidonians, it was submitted that freedom was assured to them; for, upon leaving the Island of the snow-crowned Peak, their knowledge of Astronomy, and the power of the Rowers would aid their voyage,—but apart from those powerful adjuncts, it was proved that the constant East-Wind would waft them Westward, and with their double-rudders lashed amidships, their Galleys must "touch at Florida," on a direct line from Teneriffe, and within the changes of a moon,—thence the voyage could not be of that duration to compel return from the want of the means of sustenance.
In the translation of the Sculpture of the Chief Altar at Copan, it was shewn that the magic Art had portrayed the identical act of friendship leading to the safety of the Tyrians; and their Nation is perfectly illustrated by the accessories upon the Altar,—and having translated the Sculpture, we maintained (in humble submission to the opinion of others) that the definition of the hieroglyphics on the surface of the Altar was also arrived at,—upon the admitted ground of argument that one but illustrated the other.
We have reserved a strong conclusive proof of the correctness of the date assigned for the Migration until this time,—and although not necessary for evidence, yet it will (we believe) not fail to have its due effect upon the critic. We will illustrate this proof in brief chronological order: viz.—
606 B. C.] Voyage around the continent of Africa by the Tyrians.
585 B. C.] Commencement of the first Siege of Tyrus; the mainland capital destroyed in the thirteenth year, and thence became a vassal Nation.
515 B. C.] Restoration of Tyrus as a Nation, after seventy years of vassalage from the beginning of the above siege, according to Prophecy.
484 B. C.] Herodotus wrote his History of Egypt; in it he mentions the great expedition around Africa in 606 B. C. by the Tyrians; but that voyage only, therefore, down to his time [viz., 484 B. C.] the Migration to the Western Hemisphere had not been attempted, and he wrote only 152 years before the Alexandrian Siege.
332 B. C.] Siege and destruction of Tyrus by the Macedonian. Arrian makes no allusion to any migration to, or knowledge by the Tyrians of, a Western Continent, at any time during the period from Herodotus to the last Siege,—it is, therefore, a fair deduction that none took place, nor was it known to that period,—viz., 332 B. C.—but at that Siege, upon the authority of the same author, many fugitive families were rescued (during the storming of the capital) by the Sidonians.
Down, then, to the period of the Siege of 332 B. C., no emigration to, or discovery of, a Western Continent was known or recorded, and yet Tyrians are found to have been upon that distant land,—both points we claim at once to be admitted; and will, therefore, instantly establish that the Tyrians landing in America could be no other than those rescued by the Sidonians, and as a necessity the date is correctly given for commencing the History of Ancient America at 332 B. C. To sustain this proposition of additional proof the following brief argument is presented: viz.—Upon the annihilation of Canaan-Tyrus;—and all its inhabitants found within the walls being either murdered or sent as slaves into Macedonia and other nations,—Alexander repopulated the destroyed Capital with people from the Grecian countries, and speaking the language of the Greeks; the same was done at Alexandria, and this language was there, and at Grecian-Tyrus, continued to, and after, the time of The Saviour; and it had a material effect in advancing Christianity, for Jerusalem being between Tyrus and Alexandria, and the three capitals having that language as the general medium of writing and conversation, the early Doctrines of the Christian Church were rapidly promulgated and promoted. After August 20th, then, [332 B. C.] the Greek language only, in compliment to, and by the command of Alexander, was spoken at Greco-Tyrus; therefore (will not the critic anticipate?) as an absolute necessity, admitting of no denial, if the Greek-Tyrians had left Phœnicia, and landed on the Western Continent after the year 332 B. C.; and it has been shewn that none of the ancient Tyrians reached there before that period—the Greek language would be found upon the Altar of Copan; instead of which, hieroglyphics are only there; and they,—being translated by analyzing the story of the attendant Sculpture,—at once unfold the last incident in the Asiatic history of the Tyrian family, descended from Sidon and the House of Canaan!
As the Author, we stated in commencing the above illustration, that this last proof of the correctness of the date, was "a strong conclusive" one,—will it not be regarded by the historic Reader as absolute and conclusive?
If any documents of antiquity could be found,—written in the Phœnician character, and distinctly stating the fact, that the Tyrians did migrate to the Western Continent, and in the year specified, no one would doubt that evidence; well then, those documents of the olden time have been found, and readable only in the Tyrian language;—they are to be seen at this day, upon the walls and altars in Ancient America,—Architecture and Sculpture were the true Historians,—and Old Time,—the twin-born with Creation,—has been the faithful Keeper of the Archives, and which unfold undeniable Truths of Prophesied Religion!
And finally,—we brought forward for reflection and solemn consideration, five branches of a great and dormant Prophecy;—yet each within itself a Prophecy,—and how truly they have been fulfilled, the previous arguments (we shall dare believe) and the historic facts have illustrated and established. If then these Tyrian Prophecies are admitted to be correctly applied,—and the proof of the last one, being identified as having been fulfilled in Ancient America,—then, as a necessity, the conclusion is,—that the Seal of that Prophet is placed for ever upon the truth of this branch of the present History.
An additional claim we now with confidence advance, for receiving an acquiescence in the entire Work, and as a necessity, in this portion of it,—viz., That the first Prediction in the Bible concerning the Human Family, together with the Malediction of Noah upon a branch of it, are both proved to have been fulfilled by the Tyrian and Israelitish identity in the Western Hemisphere, and their Conquerors being of the Spanish and Anglo-Saxon race;—therefore, the last words of the Diluvian Patriarch sustain the present summary of our evidence. This interesting discovery will be enlarged upon in the following and concluding chapter, devoted to the refutation of atheistical denials of the Truth of Sacred Prophecy.
In the belief—from the "foregone conclusions"—that the first Epoch of the Western Hemisphere, identifying the Southern division of it as Tyrian-America,—will be received a verdict in the affirmative, we shall proceed with the other branches of our cause,—viz., Israel and Christianity,—with renewed energy, arising from the same firm conviction of their Truth. The commencement of the Annals of Ancient America will, consequently, be dated from the last siege of Canaan-Tyrus by Alexander of Macedon, 332 B. C.