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The Cherokees went further； they created a written language； established a permanent form of government； and as everything proceeds rapidly in the New World； before they had all of them clothes； they set up a newspaper。 *o
＇Footnote o： I brought back with me to France one or two copies of this singular publication。＇
The growth of European habits has been remarkably accelerated among these Indians by the mixed race which has sprung up。 *p Deriving intelligence from their father's side； without entirely losing the savage customs of the mother； the half…blood forms the natural link between civilization and barbarism。 Wherever this race has multiplied the savage state has become modified； and a great change has taken place in the manners of the people。 *q
＇Footnote p： See in the Report of the Committee on Indian Affairs； 21st Congress； No。 227； p。 23； the reasons for the multiplication of Indians of mixed blood among the Cherokees。 The principal cause dates from the War of Independence。 Many Anglo…Americans of Georgia； having taken the side of England； were obliged to retreat among the Indians； where they married。＇
＇Footnote q： Unhappily the mixed race has been less numerous and less influential in North America than in any other country。 The American continent was peopled by two great nations of Europe； the French and the English。 The former were not slow in connecting themselves with the daughters of the natives； but there was an unfortunate affinity between the Indian character and their own： instead of giving the tastes and habits of civilized life to the savages； the French too often grew passionately fond of the state of wild freedom they found them in。 They became the most dangerous of the inhabitants of the desert； and won the friendship of the Indian by exaggerating his vices and his virtues。 M。 de Senonville； the governor of Canada； wrote thus to Louis XIV in 1685： 〃It has long been believed that in order to civilize the savages we ought to draw them nearer to us。 But there is every reason to suppose we have been mistaken。 Those which have been brought into contact with us have not become French； and the French who have lived among them are changed into savages； affecting to dress and live like them。〃 （〃History of New France；〃 by Charlevoix； vol。 ii。； p。 345。） The Englishman； on the contrary； continuing obstinately attached to the customs and the most insignificant habits of his forefathers； has remained in the midst of the American solitudes just what he was in the bosom of European cities； he would not allow of any communication with savages whom he despised； and avoided with care the union of his race with theirs。 Thus while the French exercised no salutary influence over the Indians； the English have always remained alien from them。＇
The success of the Cherokees proves that the Indians are capable of civilization； but it does not prove that they will succeed in it。 This difficulty which the Indians find in submitting to civilization proceeds from the influence of a general cause； which it is almost impossible for them to escape。 An attentive survey of history demonstrates that； in general； barbarous nations have raised themselves to civilization by degrees； and by their own efforts。 Whenever they derive knowledge from a foreign people； they stood towards it in the relation of conquerors； and not of a conquered nation。 When the conquered nation is enlightened； and the conquerors are half savage； as in the case of the invasion of Rome by the Northern nations or that of China by the Mongols； the power which victory bestows upon the barbarian is sufficient to keep up his importance among civilized men； and permit him to rank as their equal； until he becomes their rival： the one has might on his side； the other has intelligence； the former admires the knowledge and the arts of the conquered； the latter envies the power of the conquerors。 The barbarians at length admit civilized man into their palaces； and he in turn opens his schools to the barbarians。 But when the side on which the physical force lies； also possesses an intellectual preponderance； the conquered party seldom become civilized； it retreats； or is destroyed。 It may therefore be said； in a general way； that savages go forth in arms to seek knowledge； but that they do not receive it when it comes to them。
If the Indian tribes which now inhabit the heart of the continent could summon up energy enough to attempt to civilize themselves； they might possibly succeed。 Superior already to the barbarous nations which surround them； they would gradually gain strength and experience； and when the Europeans should appear upon their borders； they would be in a state； if not to maintain their independence； at least to assert their right to the soil； and to incorporate themselves with the conquerors。 But it is the misfortune of Indians to be brought into contact with a civilized people； which is also （it must be owned） the most avaricious nation on the globe； whilst they are still semi…barbarian： to find despots in their instructors； and to receive knowledge from the hand of oppression。 Living in the freedom of the woods； the North American Indian was destitute； but he had no feeling of inferiority towards anyone； as soon； however； as he desires to penetrate into the social scale of the whites； he takes the lowest rank in society； for he enters； ignorant and poor； within the pale of science and wealth。 After having led a life of agitation； beset with evils and dangers； but at the same time filled with proud emotions； *r he is obliged to submit to a wearisome； obscure； and degraded state； and to gain the bread which nourishes him by hard and ignoble labor； such are in his eyes the only results of which civilization can boast： and even this much he is not sure to obtain。
＇Footnote r： There is in the adventurous life of the hunter a certain irresistible charm； which seizes the heart of man and carries him away in spite of reason and experience。 This is plainly shown by the memoirs of Tanner。 Tanner is a European who was carried away at the age of six by the Indians； and has remained thirty years with them in the woods。 Nothing can be conceived more appalling that the miseries which he describes。 He tells us of tribes without a chief； families without a nation to call their own； men in a state of isolation； wrecks of powerful tribes wandering at random amid the ice and snow and desolate solitudes of Canada。 Hunger and cold pursue them； every day their life is in jeopardy。 Amongst these men； manners have lost their empire； traditions are without power。 They become more and more savage。 Tanner shared in all these miseries； he was aware of his European origin； he was not kept away from the whites by force； on the contrary； he came every year to trade with them； entered their dwellings； and witnessed their enjoyments； he knew that whenever he chose to return to civilized life he was perfectly able to do so … and he remained thirty years in the deserts。 When he came into civilized society he declared that the rude existence which he described； had a secret charm for him which he was unable to define： he returned to it again and again： at