The Indians Are Natural Slaves & The Indians Are Our Brothers

The Indians Are Natural Slaves

• Argument for Spanish Rule:

  • The Spanish are justified in ruling the indigenous peoples of the New World and adjacent islands due to their perceived superiority in prudence, skill, virtues, and humanity.
  • The comparison made:
  • Spanish to barbarians analogous to adults to children and men to women.
  • Significant differences likened to:
    • Savage and cruel races versus the most merciful.
    • The intemperate and moderate versus temperate individuals.
    • The comparison extended to the differences between apes and men.

• Critique of Indigenous Behavior:

  • Questioning the capability for temperance or mercy from those engaged in intemperate and frivolous activities, including cannibalism (eating human flesh).
  • Disputing the notion of a peaceful pre-colonial era, asserting instead that indigenous tribes were involved in continuous and fierce intertribal warfare, seeking victory only to consume the flesh of enemies.
  • Observations on ingenuity among natives stated to be insufficient:
  • Native crafts compared unfavorably to the complex creations of animals and insects, which supposedly exceed human competence.

• Social Structure of Indigenous Peoples:

  • The socio-political organization described as communal rather than individualistic:
  • No personal property or inheritance; everything belongs to the rulers (incorrectly termed as "kings").
  • Life dictated by the whims of these rulers, indicating a lack of personal liberty.
  • The willingness of indigenous peoples to accept this state of servility is interpreted as innate slavery rather than voluntary servitude.

• Conclusions on Indigenous Population:

  • The argument posits that, should the natives be subjected to a less harsh servitude, they would readily accept new masters, i.e., Christians, who embody human virtues and true faith, thus suggesting a capacity for change under different leadership.