The discussion of the moral and intellectual diversity of races totally independent of the question of unity or plurality of origin--Leading propositions of this volume, with illustrations and comments.
Perishable condition of all human societies--Ancient ideas concerning this phenomenon--Modern theories 105
ALLEGED CAUSES OF POLITICAL CATASTROPHES EXAMINED.
FANATICISM--Aztec Empire of Mexico.--LUXURY--Modern European States as luxurious as the ancient.--Corruption of morals--The standard of morality fluctuates in the various periods of a nation's history: example, France--Is no higher in youthful communities than in old ones--Morality of Paris.--IRRELIGION--Never spreads through all ranks of a nation--Greece and Rome--Tenacity of Paganism 114
INFLUENCE OF GOVERNMENT UPON THE LONGEVITY OF NATIONS.
Misgovernment defined--Athens, China, Spain, Germany, Italy, etc.--Is not in itself a sufficient cause for the ruin of nations. 138
DEFINITION OF THE WORD DEGENERACY--ITS CAUSE.
Skeleton history of a nation--Origin of castes, nobility, etc.--Vitality of nations not necessarily extinguished by conquest--China, Hindostan--Permanency of their peculiar civilizations. 146
THE MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL DIVERSITY OF RACES IS NOT THE RESULT OF POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS.
Antipathy of races--Results of their mixture--The scientific axiom of the absolute equality of men, but an extension of the political--Its fallacy--Universal belief in unequal endowment of races--The moral and intellectual diversity of races not attributable to institutions--Indigenous institutions are the expression of popular sentiments; when foreign and imported, they never prosper--Illustrations: England and France--Roman Empire--European Colonies--Sandwich Islands--St. Domingo--Jesuit missions in Paraguay 172
THIS DIVERSITY IS NOT THE RESULT OF GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION.
America--Ancient empires--Phenicians and Romans--Jews--Greece and Rome--Commercial cities of Europe--Isthmus of Darien 201
INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIANITY UPON MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL DIVERSITY OF RACES.
The term Christian civilization examined--Reasons for rejecting it--Intellectual diversity no hindrance to the universal diffusion of Christianity--Civilizing influence of Christian religion by elevating and purifying the morals, etc.; but does not remove intellectual disparities--Various instances--Cherokees--Difference between imitation and comprehension of civilized life 215