Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-05-26
Slavery In Brazil.

Although slavery WAS to cease in
Brazil after 1870. and measures were
taken to suppress that already existing,
it will take more than thirty years 10
accomplish it. Ola population of H.
000, 900 more than l,jO0, 900 are slaves,
and the relations OF some travellers
represent their coalition rs by no
means enviablc. The system of large
hsldings prevails, the estates sometimes
measuring not by miles, but by leagues,
and ON these vast properties the labor
of the slaves is severe and continuous.
often running far into the night. Severe
punishments follow any misbahavior,
and it is almost impossible for Il slave
to escape, his recapture or death by
starvation following in a short period.
In some cases it is said iron masks are
strapped over the faces of the SLAVES 10
prevent them from killing them>rly".
by eating clay. On the other hand. VI.
Couty, of the Museum ut Rio Janciro.
says that the slaves are very well treat
ed, kindly cared for when sick. and sup
Eorted when old and dccrcpit; that
ihare is no prejudice against the
blacks, and all colors mingle
freely ut the table, the theater, in
the saloons and public places. and
even in the Legislative assemblies. lie
adds that any sudden emancipation of
slaves such rs was practiced in France,
England and the United States, is out
of the question in Brazil, on account of
her economic position. In that country
all wealth depends upon slave labor,
and every kind Of enterprise. agricut-
ural and manufacturing, is performed
by slaves. Brazil exports about two
thirds of the coffee consumed by the
world, and this is all prepared by slaves,
as are the cotton, cocoa and sugar. In
some instances free labor has been tried,
and has succeeded where the production
is in part spontaneous, rs in caoutchouc
and tobacco; and some comparisons be-
tween the results obtained by free and
slave labor have always shown the ST.
periority of the former Slave labor is
specially adapted to the cultivation of
coffee, but the small coffee plantations
worked by free labor are relatively far
more productive than the vast coffee
fields tended by slaves, and this result
will apply to all industrial operations
undertaken by slaves. A free laborer
performs the work of two or even three
slaves. 1t is doubtless in part due to
the wide employment of slave labor that
the resources of Brazil are not more
rapidly opened and worked, though
in recent years there has been q
large immigration of free labor, which
may Increase as slavery dies out. The
product of slave labor is. of an inferior
quality, and this fact may account for
the market fall in the value of Brazil
| ian coflees in the markets of the world;
and also for the fact that the cotton of
Brazil, though grown under more favor
able circumstances, is regarded as infe-
riOr to that produced in the United
States. These conclusions have been
reached. not from general theory, but
from actual experience. for in many
parts of Brazil comparison is rendered
possible by the existence side by side OF
plantations. the one worked by slave
and the other by free labor. But while
thus clearly recognizing that slavery is
a great drag on the progress of Brazil,
Cor the present the gradual substitution
Of free for slave labor will produce less
arrangement to the social conditions OF
the country than sudden and complete
emancipation T. Post.