eaten, and every
woman taken as a wife. The only people free from this law were the
Tongans.
The state of the Fijians is wonderfully changed--even an American infidel
may now visit those people without being flayed and roasted and devoured.
"The Samoan islands have been entirely christianized. Out of a population
of forty thousand, thirty-five thousand are connected with Christian
churches.
"In 1830 the native Christians in India, Burmah, and North and South
Ceylon numbered 57,000. Last October there were 460,000. Facts similar in
character might be given of Madagascar, South Africa and Japan."
_Evangelist._ What a curse (?) the Bible is to the poor heathen. It robs
them of their "long-pig," human flesh, as well as their cruel, murderous
habits, and curses them (?) with virtue and the hope of "HEAVEN."
ARE WE SIMPLY ANIMALS?
What is man? The materialist says, "He is the highest order of the animal
kingdom, or an animal gifted with intelligence." If such be true, it may
be said with equal propriety, that animals are men without reason. Are
they? Does manhood consist in mere physical form? Can you find it in
simple physical nature? Man holds many things in his physical nature in
common with the animal; but is he, on this account, to be considered as a
mere animal? There are plants that seem to form a bridge over the chasm
lying between the vegetable and animal kingdoms. Are those plants animals
without sensation? Why not? What is the logical and scientific difference
between saying plants, which make the nearest approach to the animal are
animals without sensation, and saying animals are men without
intelligence? Let it be understood at all times, that if man is simply an
animal endowed with the gift of reason, an animal may be simply a
vegetable endowed with the gift of sensation. "The bodies of mere animals
are clothed with scales, feathers, fur, wool or bristles, which interpose
between the skin and the elements that surround and affect the living
animal." All these insensible protectors "ally animals more closely to the
nature of vegetables."
"The body of a human being has a beautiful, thin, highly sensitive skin,
which is not covered with an insensitive, lifeless veil." Man's body is in
noble contrast with all mere animals. It is so formed that its natural
position is erect. "The eyes are in front; the ligaments of the neck are
not capable of supporting, for any considerable length of time, the
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