DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29898#0103
Part II.
INTIODUCTION.
67
c
0-
Morals.
One of the most striking characteristics in the morals of the Semitic
races is the improvement in the position of woman, ancl the attempt to
elevate her in the scale of existence. If not absolutely monogamic,
there is among the Jews, and among the Arabic races where they
are pure, a strong tendency in this direction; and but for the example
of those nations among whom they were placed, they raight have gone
further in this direction, and the dignity of mankind have been pro-
portionately improved.
Their worst faults arise from their segregation from the rest of
mankind. With them war against all but those of their own race is
an obligation and a pleasure, and it is carried on with a relentless
cruelty which knows no pity. To smite root and branch, to murder
men, women, and children, is a duty which admits of no hesitation,
and has stained the character of the Semites in all ages. Against this
must be placed the fact that they are patriotic beyond all other races,
and steadfast in their faith as no other people have ever been ; and
among themselves they have been temperecl to kindness and charity
by the sufferings they have had to bear because of their uncompro-
mising hatred and repugnance to all their fellow-men.
This isolation has had the further effect of making them singularly
apathetic to all that most interests the other nations of the earth.
What their God has revealed to them through His prophets suffices for
them. “ Gocl is great,” is a sufficient explanation with them for all the
wonders of science. “ God wills it,” solves all the complex problems
of the moral government of the world. If not such absolute fatalists as
the Turanians, they equally shrink from the responsibility of thinking
for themselves, or of applying their independent reason to the great
problems of human knowledge. They may escape by this from many
aberrations that trouble more active minds, but their virtues at best
can be but negative, and their vices unredeemed by the higher aspira-
tions that sometimes half ennoble even crime.
Literature.
In this again we have an immense advance above all the Turanian
races. No Semitic people ever used a hieroglyph or mere symbol, or
were content to trust to memory only. Everywhere and at all times
—so far as we know—they used an alphabet of more or less com-
plicated form. Whether they invented this mode of notation or not
is still unknown, but its use by them is certam ; and the consequence
is that they possess, if not the oldest, at least one of the very oklest
literatures of the world. History with them is no longer a mere record
INTIODUCTION.
67
c
0-
Morals.
One of the most striking characteristics in the morals of the Semitic
races is the improvement in the position of woman, ancl the attempt to
elevate her in the scale of existence. If not absolutely monogamic,
there is among the Jews, and among the Arabic races where they
are pure, a strong tendency in this direction; and but for the example
of those nations among whom they were placed, they raight have gone
further in this direction, and the dignity of mankind have been pro-
portionately improved.
Their worst faults arise from their segregation from the rest of
mankind. With them war against all but those of their own race is
an obligation and a pleasure, and it is carried on with a relentless
cruelty which knows no pity. To smite root and branch, to murder
men, women, and children, is a duty which admits of no hesitation,
and has stained the character of the Semites in all ages. Against this
must be placed the fact that they are patriotic beyond all other races,
and steadfast in their faith as no other people have ever been ; and
among themselves they have been temperecl to kindness and charity
by the sufferings they have had to bear because of their uncompro-
mising hatred and repugnance to all their fellow-men.
This isolation has had the further effect of making them singularly
apathetic to all that most interests the other nations of the earth.
What their God has revealed to them through His prophets suffices for
them. “ Gocl is great,” is a sufficient explanation with them for all the
wonders of science. “ God wills it,” solves all the complex problems
of the moral government of the world. If not such absolute fatalists as
the Turanians, they equally shrink from the responsibility of thinking
for themselves, or of applying their independent reason to the great
problems of human knowledge. They may escape by this from many
aberrations that trouble more active minds, but their virtues at best
can be but negative, and their vices unredeemed by the higher aspira-
tions that sometimes half ennoble even crime.
Literature.
In this again we have an immense advance above all the Turanian
races. No Semitic people ever used a hieroglyph or mere symbol, or
were content to trust to memory only. Everywhere and at all times
—so far as we know—they used an alphabet of more or less com-
plicated form. Whether they invented this mode of notation or not
is still unknown, but its use by them is certam ; and the consequence
is that they possess, if not the oldest, at least one of the very oklest
literatures of the world. History with them is no longer a mere record