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2 Our Dumb Animals 1 (1869-1870)

handle is hein.journals/animals2 and id is 1 raw text is: AS MbA M WHO CANNO7, 4 1 &A 0 I would not enter on my list of friends, Though graced with polished manners and fine sense, Yet wanting sensibility, the man TWho needlessly sets foot upon a worm. Vol. 2. BOSTON, JUNE 1, 1869. No. 1. Our Dumb Animals. Published on the first Tuesday of each Month BY THE (i dt to Jimals, AT THE SOCIETYP*S ROOMS, 46 Washington Street . .... Boston. TERMS.-$1.00 per annum, in advance. Postage in the city, FREE. To all parts of the United States, outside of Boston, TWELVE CENTS PER ANNUM for each package of four ounces, payable in advance, at the oflice where received. Articles for the paper and subscriptions may be sent to the Secretary. GEORGE T. ANGELL . . . . . . . . . . President. HENRY SALTONSTALL . . . . . . . . . Treasurer. FRANK B. FAY . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary. CHARLES A. CURRIER . . . . . . . . . Special Agent. Speech of Rev. E. N. Kirk, D. D. At a Public Meeting of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in Music Hall, March 30, 1869. Mr. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:-We have this as the first essential point before us to- night:- What is Cruelly? Many who are cruel refuse to apply this epithet to their actions or their characters. Let us, then, agree in starting, that it is not solely the infliction of suffering; because there are cases when there is no doubt, at least in the minds of man- kind generally, that punishment is necessary. But the infliction of punishment is the infliction of suf- fering. It is not, therefore, per se cruelty to inflict suffering. Moreover, the Creator has made man and inferior animals carniverous. But we cannot live on animal food without first frightening the creatures that fur- nish it, and without making them suffer. Therefore we must avoid extremes, and not maintain that the mere infliction of suffering is essentially, universally and per se cruelty. I suppose that in this case, as in the case of all evil, the essence of cruelty resides in the motive; and therefore should say that cruelty is the infliction of pain to gratify an evil temper or feeling. Towards human beings, it may be envy, anger, revenge; towards the inferior animals, anger and (the most fiendish thing, probably, about man) delight in the suffering of other sensitive beings for its own sake. You have seen men in these streets beating their horses when they and others looking on the scene appeared to have a fiendish delight in the suffering of the poor creatures. This indifference to cruelty practised by others is cruel. To aggravate the suf- ferings incidental to killing animals in order to put pence in your pocket is more brutal still than merely to look on with indifference, for the finer and nobler sentiments of the human heart cannot have a place in your breast. You must not call yourself a man, if, simply because those creatures are inferior to you, and are in your power, you treat them cruelly, and make nothing of their sufferings. Is it not enough that you must kill the animal? You must kill it. You cannot make the ox into beef for your table without killing him; but ought you not to go reluc- tantly to the dreadful task? Ought you not to say, Poor beast! I will spare you every pang I can. My Creator has designed that I should take your life, but I do it reluctantly; I do it from necessity; and I will mitigate all your pains, as far as I can ? That is a feeling that elevates man. To do it ruth- lessly, in cold blood, indifferently, is not a mark of humanity. Let us then distinctly observe,- What is Wrong in Cruelty? It is a violation of our sacred trust. In the first book of the inspired code we have a transcript of the Creator's deed of enfeofment to man; the charter of dominion, authority and owner- ship over the inferior part of creation: And God blessed them; and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. This ownership and domin- ion puts man on trial. If he inflicts suffering upon the inferior animals for its own sake, he betrays his trust. He was not placed in authority over them for that purpose. Then, again, its origin also reveals the wrong of cruelty. It springs from and betrays a bad spirit in man. To look on a suffering dog or horse, and feel no sympathy, at once betrays you unworthy of your humanity. I say, to look on a suffering animal, and not feel yourself pained, is a declaration that you are not worthy to stand in rank above the animals. Then to torture a poor animal, for the sake of making whiter veal, and thus putting a few more dollars in your purse. Thus its origin exhibits it to be essen- tially wrong. But, moreover, this. is seen in its effects on personal character. Hardening Effects of Cruelty. It closes the heart to all sweet, gentle, humanizing influences. Children are refined or brutalized by their treatment of animals. So are men. I know not which most to pity, the man in the street abusing his horse, or the poor beast. I do pity the animal. But every blow the man strikes recoils upon his own nobler nature. Every blow debases him, and puts him further off from the kingdom of heaven. That is to be felt by us, that is to be seen, just as slavery was seen to be perpetually working backward upon our national character. You cannot treat men, you cannot treat beasts, unkindly or unjustly, without paying for it; and the pay-day is terrible. For, when you come to settle this account, you will find it takes out some of the nobler elements of your nature. National Character effected by it. Mr. Bergh, I think, alluded to the fact that na- tional character takes its stamp in part from the treatment of animals. The Romans could never have become the moral conquerors of the world, because she delighted in gladiatorial fights. Her coliseum revealed her character, and accounts for her doom. The first thing a Roman governor did in a conquered country, was to build an amphi- theatre, in order to gratify the thirst for blood in the people. The savages of our wilderness never can come into true civilization until the brutal spirit is taken out of them; but sometimes they have seemed to be less savage than some of the pale faces, who are supposed to be civilized. Spain has felt, as has been said to-night, the terrible curse of the Inquisi- tion, because the Inquisition had familiarized the minds of her people with cruelty. Nor can they rise while they take delight in the horrible, brutal bull- fight, against which a plea of remonstrance should be sent from every civilized nation. 77his Society opportune. Now, it seems to me, that this Society has been founded very opportunely. We want it. This last war has certainly given a powerful impulse to the Christian sentiment of this nation. We have learned many lessons; we have felt a great many elevating impulses; and I take this to be one. I am rejoiced to be here to-night. I came here with all my heart to say, Brethren, go on, and God be with you. I am delighted with this Society, because it embraces every humane man, without regard to other distinc- tions, and only leaves out what is inhuman. But the other party, too, are our brothers, and they will W-V, 150 Es

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