Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-08-10
CANNIBALISM STILL DEVOURS US!

Labor produces all things, and gene
rally lacks all things. This seems 10
be the law. as it has only few eNcep-
tions. and they Of the kind that are said
to prove the rule Is this law one of
nature. or is it an artificial law. con-
trived or instituted by men? 1t is
hardly n natural law. because it Is
really unnatural, and even more unjust.
Some men, it is true. kill the bees to
rob them OF their surplus. or stored
honey. which is needed for winter by
the bees: and so some men kill people
to rob them of their possessions. or
surplus accumulations,-the savings for
rainy and other days when there can
be no labor. But both of these practices
are unnatural, inhuman and unjust.
The predatory habits of some animals
ara unnatural for in n state OF nature
the lion and the lamb lie down together,
in equal peace and safety.-the lion
being abundantly provided for by the
accidents of life and the surer supplies
of natural death. The predatory in
clination is developed by necessities
created by man and his multiplication.
Man has deprived the lion of his natu-
raj sources OF subsistence: he has to
live upon what he can get; he acquires
an appetite for fresh meat; and he kills
to live-sometimes devouring man,
But man, the most predatory and
carnivorous OF all animals and beings
what of him? Was he originally can
nibal by nature and instinct? 1t is GER
tain that cannibalism widely prevailed
among men in their early history, and
Gtill exists among uncivlizcd and saw
age men. But, by mutual agreement,
or otherwise, enlightened men have.
gradually substituted the flesh of all
other animals for the human: yet with
the same instincts, cruelty, greed ana
unscruL Llousncss, with which they once
laid in wait for each other to MUIR
der one another, to pick his bones after
roasting him. they have adopted the
society in which the weak have at
tempted to protect themselves against
the strong. But, also, we were all 50
full OF the cannibal and the ideas of
cannibalsm that we thought chiefly of
the safety of our bodies TO the cxclu-
sion or subordination of other things
of greater value: the result bein.,
that our bodies are ordinarily safe from
cannibalism, while it is stu rampant
and voracious in everything else.
The marked characteristic OF n can
nibal is that he is a consumer and II
producer. The consumer who also
produces is rarely Il cannibal. though
have been known to cat flesh The prev
OF the cannibal is still his fellow man
and he lies in wait for him as of old.
not to murder him and then roast and
pick his bones, but TO rob him of his
substance. and grow fat while his vic.
tim grows loan. The cannibal is armed
with club. net or trap, n dagger and
q supply OF narcotics that may easily
become poisons, If need be in the wav
OF business" These are employed as
the occasion and the victim may re-
quire; and the consumer always knows
where to find his laborcr and producer
for he has a regular track which he
pursues, going or coming, with the
regularity OF a machine.
We are told that the laborer is worthy
Of his hire. and that the producer
should enjoy the fruits of his produce
ton: but does he? No! There Is al
ways "the middle-man." lying in wait
to intercept the hire and the fruits, and
& instead of the laborer and producer get
= ting anything. the canhibai gets" him
and all he has. The cannibal let's him
Keep his body, because the law pro-
3 tects that from his filed and sharpened
teeth: but he takes all else that would
support and solace the body, because
the law. we are assured. allows that.