218 THE PI.ANT WORLD 



which did not fail to command our respect. But it is not the province 

 of these notes to discuss matters of this nature. In all churches there 

 are men who keep their vows and men who break them ; and it is not 

 strange that in this little island, so far removed from the discipline and 

 supervision of a bishop and peopled by human beings naturally affectionate, 

 resolutions made under the influence of ascetic surroundings and the 

 example of men shielded in their monasteries from the attractions of 

 women should be overwhelmed by the mighty force of love, which has 

 filled the world with living creatures. Of course, society must be pro- 

 tected by codes of morals, and there must be a legal as well as a religious 

 tie to bind husband and wife. Otherwise polygamy might prevail and 

 many mothers would find themselves abandoned without the right to 

 appeal for support from those equally responsible for the advent into the 

 world of their helpless little ones. It was not charged by any one that the 

 friars had been licentious. They were accused simply of having mated 

 without possible authority of the law or sanction of the church. The 

 affection shown by the poor women who were questioned yesterday could 

 not have been feigned ; rather, I should say, it could not be concealed. 

 I am sure it inspired us all with respect. Considered logically, the 

 unhappy condition of these women and many others before them living 

 on this island is apparent. Here they are, with all the responsibility of 

 bringing up their little ones and of making good men and women of them, 

 without the material or moral support of a strong mate to help them, and 

 with no hope for further happiness except in the love of their children. 

 After all, most of the rules which society has evolved are founded on a 

 sense of what is right and just. 



On our way to the landing the General questioned me further regard- 

 ing our system of land taxation. I am afraid he was not in thorough 

 sympathy with my endeavors to make it impossible for men on this island 

 to acquire large tracts of land. He said that we must look forward to 

 the progress of civilization, and that if there was general equality among 

 men there would be little achieved for mankind in general. Wealth and 

 capital are necessary for advancement, and the specialization of human 

 beings is necessary for the prosperity of a race just as specialization of 

 the various organs of the body is an advantage to each being. This 

 seems very logical, and yet when I looked down upon the little farms 

 and thought of the just pride of each family on this island in its coconut 

 grove, coffee plantation, or corn-field, I felt that if a simpler state of 

 organization means greater and more general happiness, simpler it should 

 remain. After all it seems no more than fair that hardworking members 

 of the body, as told in the fable, should growl at the ease and comfort 

 enjoyed by the belly. If it were not for specialization they would not 

 die with the destruction of that important part. In Guam if one member 



