The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-08-15
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cotton planter near Memphis. Tenn.
employs sang of twenty monkeys
who plck cotton al much cheaper
rate than Il can be done by human
labor. Our correspondent believes thar
larger breed OF monkeys. the apes.
may possibly cultivate and strip our
cane. This suggestion L. interesting
II not practicable. Il II pity that
We do not have an Experimental La
Dor Station, In which this. and other
trials can he made for the solution of
the labor problem.
The many facts regarding the capa-
city of the Simians for manual labor
have been demonstrated, and the
evidence may be found in the book
titled Animal Intelligence" of which
the late Prof. Romancs was the author.
Prof. TIL. Ribot, the French Scientist.
shows that the higher order OF animals
possess reasoning power which may
be greatly developed under suitable
instruction. Prof. Romanes says that
a monkey succeeded by methodical
investigation, without assistance, In
discovering for himself the mechanical
principle Of the screw" Some years
ago. one Of the stewards on the Pana-
ma line OF steamers owned Brazilian
ape, which polished the brass work
about the cabin. The substitution of
Simian for human labor may relieve
the white man of his Burden. There
are millions of able-bodied. and large
apes including the ourang -outang, who
are at present leading idle and vicious
lives in the woods Of Oceanica, Africa
Asia and South America. who should
be elevated to take a part in the or
ganized glory of things" and be made
to contribute something for the adj
vancement of the human race. The
elephants are at work in the saw mills.
the collie dogs are valuable shepherds.
the horses and the cattle are indus
trious workers while the Simians have
been allowed for ages to consume the
products of the earth without paying
taxes. or making any return for this
bountiful generosity. Man. out of
| respect for his ancestor. or out of
jealousy at his possible rivalry, has
| ignored the Simians heretofore. but II
| is possible that the progress Of civiliza-
ton now demands that these relations
| Of man should be compelled to aid IN
the evolution Of the human race.
The large species OF apes, the goril-
las. have more strength than men for
the stripping of cane. Their food is
simple and inexpensive. They require
no clothing. and will prefer to sleep in
algerOba trees. They require no
monthly payment Of cash. They may
he subjected to any kind OF punish
ment without interference from the
| courts. They will not strike. Like all
animals they appreciate rewards, and
dislike punishment.
They require only rudimentary
| education for the sugar cane industry.
An Industrial School for Simians,
established on one of the Islands
would prepare them for their simple
duties OF planting, hoeing, and strip
ping cane. In such school. conduct
ed by expert instructors, all classical
| knowledge would be discouraged, and
useful manual training alone would be
| enforced. While labor Is the tails
man that has raised man from the con-
| dition of the savage special efforts
| would be made to prevent the Slmians
| from rising to a point at which they
would demand political rights. The
prevailing theory is that they have no
souls. They are not BuddhistS, or Con-
| fucians. or ,Protestants, or Catholics,
and are Indifferent about theological,
social and economical questions. They
are not even Hcatheus. It would not
| be polite TO develop their moral
natures. beyond impresSing upon them
that their duty in life is to con-
scicntiously work in the rane field,
and ask no questions. They would be
beyond the reach of political bosses.
As living machines. they would be
rated as simply mechanical, and not
human forces, which COS; nothing but
their keeping. The cost Of making
sugar would he vastly reduced. and the
dividends Of the plantations equally
! increased.
There might be few feeble voices
which would pipe mp in objection TO
/ This labor system that apes and goril-
/ las do not make desirable bone and
,tucw' for the country Neither do
. horses or collie dogs. or oxen. II the
labor Of he Islands can be supplied 10y
$4,000 well trained and industrious
Simians the Anglo-SaNon here will be