Introduction

Woods (1879 p.xxxviii) in his observation of events that were happening in the 19th

century said that, ‘Without a history they have no past, without a religion they have no

hope, without the habits of forethoughts and providence, they have no future. Their doom

is sealed, and all that the civilized man can (sic) do ... is to take care of that the closing

hour shall not be hurried on by want, caused by culpable neglect on his part’. The

Aborigines during the 19th century, had notion that they were a population fated to make

way for a superior societies. This was due to their conscience being lessened by those

whose natural compassion was superior to theirs therefore amounting to their

displacement. This paper offers to discuss Woods words in the context of what was

happening in the nineteenth century.

This kind of prevailing situation and notion in the 19th century resulted to poets and

writers as well as musicians producing sensational compositions insinuating the looming

extinction of the Aborigines (Allan 1993). Due to colonization of weaker society of the

Aborigine, there were formulated perceptions and expressions like ‘soothing the pillow of

a dying race’ and or ‘smoothing the dying pillow’ designed by philanthropists as

campaign slogan to save the endangered Aborigine. This campaigns in the 19th century

lead to the creation of reserves that would be used as safe zones for the aborigines. Such

measures also signified the aborigines’ inability to overpower their assumed biological

inability.

This supposition by Woods was a confirmation to earlier observation by a British

sociologist Herbert Spencer (1820-1903) in an article titled A theory of population.

Woods insinuated that the unavoidable scramble on resources, a law of nature and
therefore scarcity, conflict and starvation were all as a result of overpopulation. In the

article, the journalist argued that social conflicts would in future accompany competition.

However, this competition would always be worn by stronger societies therefore resulting

to racial strife and colonization of minority societies (Derry 2009).

In this statement, Woods provided indications on influence that the superior civilized

societies had on other people in the 19th century. However, as applied in ‘stage theory’,

this acceptance is countered with a request for time that will also be an opportunity for

gradual change in the inferior societies (Derry 2009). This call for more time is supported

by the idea that ‘Their doom is sealed, and all that the civilized man can (sic) do ... is to

take care of that the closing hour shall not be hurried on by want..’ which insinuates that

change has already been incepted and should be allowed to develop gradually. This

gradual change requires that the civilized man should practice some degree of being

accountable by not hurrying change. This thought is supported by earlier changes that

those communities that regard other minority groups as inferior must have also

undergone this change. As a result of the Aborigines taking their role of working towards

civilization, the other group should practice patience so as to realize a common goal of

change that would mean universality (Allan 1993).

Conclusion

In conclusion, according to provided historical information on change, there are varied

observations and thoughts regarding the process of civilization that is also said to be the

source of racial and ethnic prejudices that were witnessed in the 19 th century. It is also

believed to have enhanced existing suppositions that increased diversity of humankind

through the context of this shift.

Bibliography

Woods J. D., (1879). The Native Tribes of South Australia. Wigg & Son, Aderlaide

(p.xxxviii)

Allan D., (1993).Virtue learning and Scottish Enlightenment: Ideas in Scholarship in

early Modern History. Edinburgh University Press

Derry J., (2009). Darwin in Scotland Edinburgh Evolution and Enlightenment. Whittles

Publishers.