120 



CARLYLE^S REMEDY* 



exclusively of an animal nature, which he can and does 

 supply with very little labor. He will not work more than 

 is necessary to supply those wants, without receiving exor- 

 bitant wages. But it is a law of our nature, says the 

 writer, " that no black man who shall not work according 

 to what ability the gods have given him for working, has 

 the smallest right to eat pumpkin or to any fraction of 

 land that will grow pumpkin, however plentiful such land 

 may be ; but has an indisputable and perpetual right to be 

 compelled, by the real proprietors of said land, to do com* 

 petent work for his living. That is the everlasting duty 

 of all men, white or black, who are born into the world." 



Mr. Carlyle proceeds to claim that pumpkins are not 

 "the sole prerequisites for human well-being." Many 

 other things grow among these islands useful to man, such 

 as sugar, coffee, cinnamon, and precious spices, " things 

 far nobler than pumpkins ; and leading towards com- 

 merces, arts, politics and social developments, which alone 

 are the noble product, where men (and not pigs with 

 pumpkins) are the parties concerned ! * * * * 

 " If Quashee will not honestly aid in bringing out those 

 sugars, cinnamons, and nobler products of the West Indian 

 islands, for the benefit of all mankind, then I say neither 

 will the Powers permit Quashee to continue growing 

 pumpkins there for his own lazy benefit ; but will sheer 

 him out, by~and-by, like a lazy gourd overshadowing rich 



