It is not necessary to prove that the measurement of the Temple on Mount Moriah, and that at Palenque, are identical, in order to establish the analogy now under consideration, because local applications of their respective dimensions would create essential variations. In the previous reign (that of David) King Hiram sent his Tyrian Architects to Jerusalem, and built a Palace for the Monarch of Israel,—and in the reign of Solomon, (who resolved to erect the Temple) the same King of Tyrus was applied to for artists to build the great Mansion of Religion,—Solomon did not command how it should be built,—or in what order or style of Architecture;—that he left to the Tyrians, who were practical artists,—THEY gave HIM the design, upon his expressing to the Chief Architect the "wants" of the edifice.
"Now these are the things wherein Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God," &c. [2 Chron. iii. 3.]
We have expressed in the previous pages, that no Tyrian Ruins in Asia or Africa are found, whereby the style of that Nation's Architecture could be identified,—none exist in Sidon, Tyrus, or Carthage;—but, the never-decaying Volume of Religion, contains a living picture of Tyrian art and style at Jerusalem, that never can be in Ruins:—though the identifying marbles of Phœnician architecture,—like the first stone-tablets of the Decalogue,—are broken and lost "beneath the Mount" of Time,—yet upon the page of Holy-Writ do they both appear as new,—as perfect,—as when first erected by Tyrians for the Son of David,—or traced by the finger of God for the instruction, and civilization of mankind!
The Temple of Solomon, upon the authority of the Bible, was of Tyrian Architecture, (for the Israelites, we repeat it, had no knowledge of the Arts at that time,) built and adorned by the Tyrians,—the same Architecture is found in the Ruins of Ancient America, and consequently Tyrian,—while the substructure being a portion of a Pyramid, justly authorizes (we submit) the new term of Egypto-Tyrian.
We cannot dismiss this interesting discovery of an analogy between the Architecture of the Temples of Jerusalem, Palenque, and Copan,—thus proving the two latter to be Tyrian,—without the remark,—that if no other similitude could be found in this volume in order to identify the Mexican Aborigines as Tyrians, we think that the analogy of the Temples alone, would satisfy the reader upon that point; as also, that this History has not been written without that due regard to testimony, and undeniable evidence, demanded by the importance of the subject;—and which, being novel and surprising, requires more than usual proof to convince the mind, that it is analyzing a proposition of truth, and not one of sophistry.
The ignorance of the Israelites in reference to the practical arts will be enlarged upon in the next volume.[8]
Having stopped the Press to insert these remarks upon Mr. Stephens's second visit to Yucatan, we cannot refrain from offering a few observations upon a paragraph by one of the most learned and accomplished Reviewers of the present day,[9]—and one who has the distinguished honour of having first brought the Ruins of Ancient America to the general notice of Europe, through the medium of his talented periodical. In reviewing[10] Mr. Stephens's volumes upon "Incidents of Travel in Yucatan," (2d Visit,)—the Editor writes as follows:—
"The difference in declension between Central and North America offers a problem worthy of philosophical consideration. In the former case, the Mexican Indian, notwithstanding massacres of merciless atrocity, has been allowed to remain, albeit scattered on the soil of his ancestors, and to enter into a combination (i. e. Marriage) whence another race of mankind has sprung: in the latter [the Northern] the white invader (Anglo-Saxon) has chased him from his native possessions and driven him to limits, where utter extermination seems to be his doom. The comparison could hardly be made without indicating a conclusion highly favourable to the iron-clad Spaniards of what we choose to call an ignorant and a barbarous age (1520), and against the more modern offspring (1620) of our country and enlightened times. Though the thirst of gold was the same in both instances, it does appear, and it is melancholy to reflect upon it, that something of nobler impulses belonged to the elder (or Spanish) æra."
We have quoted the entire paragraph to which attention is desired, and shall now review the several parts,—and trust in a few remarks to remove the unintentional stain upon the Anglo-Saxon race, which the above extract has placed upon them:—as also, affording an additional opportunity of supporting our previous assertions, that the Aborigines were two distinct People.
"The difference in declension [i. e. of the existing Aboriginal population] between Central and North America offers a problem worthy of philosophical consideration." We had already solved this problem in the first pages of this volume, before the above was brought to our observation. The solution is founded upon historic truth,—viz., that the Aborigines of the North will not intermarry, or cohabit, with any race but their own,—they have a Religious abhorrence even at the supposition of such a sacrilege,—for in their minds it is one. This principle of the House of Israel is even followed in European Society by the Jewish family,—and that after ages of intercourse with the Christian. It seems impossible to eradicate the prejudice with the Aborigines of the North,—and this has been one of the greatest barriers to the propagation of the Christian Religion among them. As a most convincing proof of the above, we offer an historic fact not generally known even in America, and certainly not in Europe,—but it is given upon the authority of the late President of the United States,—General Harrison,—and it is, therefore, unimpeachable. In writing the forthcoming Life and History of that distinguished Patriot, it came under our observation during the required researches,—and is found in a document of his as late in date as 1838,—viz., At the commencement of the American Revolution in 1775,—the government of Great Britain (through the influence of her traders), engaged all the North-western Aborigines in her cause, for the purpose of laying waste the frontiers. The Continental Congress, most anxious to destroy this junction and impending calamity,—sent delegates to convince them that they were not a party to the quarrel, and therefore should be neutral. The application met with no success, for the Aborigines viewed the Colonists as their enemies and invaders,—because they were the actual possessors and occupiers of the land and homes of their ancestors. The Congress knowing that from the time of the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth, (1620) the Aborigines would never associate as a community with the Anglo-Saxon race—by the great family bond of Intermarriage;—the Congress then had recourse to the following novel proposition,—and it was actually embodied in a treaty concluded with the Delaware Tribes in 1778,—viz., That the Aborigines of the North, by remaining neutral in the War,—should be consolidated into a State by themselves, and upon the achievement of National Independence, should be incorporated into the Republic of the United States! The following are President Harrison's words,—viz., "Nothing can shew the anxiety of Congress to effect this object in stronger colours, than the agreement entered into with the Delaware Tribes, at a treaty concluded at Pittsburgh in 1778. By an article in that Treaty, the United-States proposed that a State should be formed, to be composed of the Delawares and the other Tribes of the North,—and contracted to admit them, when so formed,—as one of the members of the Union."—[Historical Discourse, Ohio, 1838.] The above fact of History certainly proves the anxiety of the Congress, not only to avoid their enmity, but to provide at a future day for their continuance as a People, and not their "extermination." The same policy of the United-States has now placed all the Tribes on the West of the Mississippi,—(for they would form no community founded upon intermarriage), and there to be protected by the Government of the United-States against all invaders. In vain shall we search the Spanish Annals for an instance (in their Mexican Conquests,) of humanity like these acts of American commiseration and Christian policy.
In the second sentence of the paragraph quoted from the Literary Gazette, the Editor has given the identical cause why the Mexican Aborigines are still found upon their lands,—not as owners, but as Slaves,—viz., that they did intermarry—("enter into a combination," &c.)—thence the two races are apparent upon the strongest ground of argument,—viz., Religious principles,—and which, with all Aborigines are the guides to their actions. Therefore, the Editor by his remarks upon the Mexican race, actually solved, though unconsciously, the problem proposed in his first sentence. In forming a "comparison" between the Spanish invasion by Cortez, in 1520, and the landing of the Pilgrim-Fathers in 1620, any writer must fail,—for without similitude there can be no comparison;—contrast is the word, and never in the history of nations was there a greater contrast than between the Spanish and Anglo-Saxon races, in their motive in landing in Mexico and in New-England: but the Editor has written "Though the thirst of Gold was the same in BOTH instances, it does appear, and it is melancholy to reflect upon it, that something of nobler impulses belonged to the elder (or Spanish) æra!" Cortez and Pizarro, and their bands of pirates, were alone possessed with an unquenchable "thirst of gold,"—it was "the god of their idolatry,"—even the humane Columbus could only hold his power with the Spanish Government by sending home the precious metal,—and when it failed, so declined his influence; and it at last compelled him to have recourse to making Slaves of the natives of Hispaniola,—and each had allotted to him a task of bringing a small bell full of gold from the mountains, and if they failed, stripes were their punishment; and of all the natives, not one acre of land was purchased, or even attempted. The Spaniards found, as we will prove, branches of Christianity!—and yet with the Crucifix in one hand, and the brand or dagger in their other,—they sacrificed eleven millions of human beings to their unhallowed invasions, lust, and thirst for gold:—but were the English so possessed when in the depth of dreary winter they braved the dangers of the broad Atlantic?—What drove that band of Pilgrim-Fathers forth to seek an unknown wilderness for a home and shelter? Was it gold?—would they have dealt with money-changers in the Temple?—No!—One thought alone throbbed within their hearts,—viz., To worship their God and Saviour according to the solemn dictates of their conscience! They were Englishmen, and the first promulgators of Religious and Civil freedom in the Western Hemisphere.—Upon their landing did they enslave the Natives for gold-finders?—No!—They offered the hand of amity,—and in it they gave gold for acres, and obtained the land by fair and honourable purchase. Entering upon their pilgrimage upon the principle only of Religious freedom,—the Northern-native has been ever permitted to enjoy the same; and not a record of that land will prove, that the English ever sacrificed a human being upon the ground of Religious belief or disbelief. It is the very principle of the Contrast between the Spanish conquest and the English landing on the Western Continent, that has made the essential difference, even to this day, in the stability of the Governments of the two European races, Spanish and Anglo-Saxon. The former was based upon injustice, lust, and avarice,—thence can be traced the eventual downfall of the Spanish principles in South America; but the latter was Freedom-founded, and based upon laws, virtue, equity,—and thence, as a consequence, the Anglo-Saxon family still remain firm and secure. Their House being built upon a Rock, and daring,—like the Parent-Country,—the wild elements of tyranny even to approach the foundation, they fear no "comparison" with a blood-stained Mansion erected upon the Sands; and which the waves of Time have so far swept from view, that even the false proportions would have been lost, had not History placed them in her archives as a warning to posterity! Apology, we trust, is not required for this almost digressive note;—the just defence of the character of England and the United-States has been our only motive;—and that being our rule of action through life, either in public or private, we could not avoid it. G. J.