Universal equality,--the equality of the African with the Caucasian,
or the savage with the civilized races, is no more possible than to
blend right with wrong. The inequality exists in nature, as
indubitably as the varied magnitudes of the stars. And the
characteristics of the various savage races differ as widely as their
varied physiognomy. There is no equality among them, mental or
physical,--not even equality of degradation. The gigantic Patagonian,
and the dwarfish Laplander; the wild Feejeeian, and docile Guinea
Negro; the stolid Indian, and ant-like plodder of teeming India,--are
but the outward symbols of that contrariety of moral, or rather
immoral existence which is the fate of barbarism. They have no
equality of beauty nor ugliness, leanness nor obesity, vice nor
virtue, but varying differences, such as the spontaneous growth of
uncultured nature in different climes exhibits in the vegetable and
lower orders of the animal creation. What a contrast is this to
that trained, drilled conformation to the order and proper
conventionalities of civilized life, which our free schools, free
press, social rites, laws, and customs impose.