Page 125 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

ANNUAL ADDRESS. 121
The exact identity of all the tribes of men, in their physical
organization and mental and moral faculties, one would suppose
might suffice to establish their unity. In addition to this, we
may notice what every one at all acquainted with the results of
antiquarian research knows-that the oldest remains of art, are
found in the region where the race has been supposed to have
originated, and that as we proceed outward from that centre, the
most ancient remains of art become evidently more and more
recent in their origin; and in the general ratio of their distance
and difficulty of access from that centre; and I hesitate not to
predict that, ere long, the antiquarian will be able to track the
race, step by step, in its progress from Eden to Labrador. But
could it be established that all mankind did not oiiginate from a
common parentage, still the established facts of Indian history
would render the indigenous theory of their origin, extremely
improbable; and I will dismiss this topic with the remark that
had it not been supposed that the Bible teaches the unity of the
race, I do not believe the opposite theory would ever have been
invented by intelligent men.
We may inquire then, from what quarter of the globe did the
American tribes originate? Did they first appear on the east-
ern or on the western side of the continent? To solve this
question we will endeavor to line them on the back track of
their progress over the continent, and, if possible, get the
bearings of their origin.
This is easily done. It is a common tradition among the
tribes north of the Gulf of Mexico, that they came from the
west, or north-west, and it seems impossible that a belief so
general could be without foundation in truth. The Mohican or
Stockbridge Indians were found by Europeans, on the eastern
border of the continent; and, as I have been informed by some
of the most intelligent men of the remnant of that tribe, a tra-
dition had been preserved by them, in which they had entire
confidence, that, long ago, they had migrated from the west,
leaving part of their tribe behind. On their removal to Green
Bay end being brought into intercourse with the Menomonees,
15m ,