Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-09-02
The Birds Title to n Livelihood.

Man appears to have taken advantage of his superior
intelligence in usurping despotic sovereignty the
other animals of this globe By his practice he clearly
acknowed no rule of action but his will Manlesy
however, law exists which puts limit to his sovereign
ty. He has Of right dominion over the fish of the sea
and over the fowls of the air, and the cattle and
all the earth, and every living thing that iveh
upon the EARTH But in the very next verse but one
it also ordained that to every beast of the earth and
every fowl of the air. and to everything that creepb
upon the earth, wherein there is e is given every green
herb for meat"
1t follows logically from this that man holds but
divided empire; that robin has good right to
cherry which he finds growing the herb called cher
ry-tree as man has. May not pigeon take as much
buckwheat, much corn be finds in his way
whether above ground or under? Who shall find fault
with the domestic hen for pou9hng the soil as well as
man, and appropriatng what she finds beneath it, Just
as he does A bobOlink has all ndubitable title to
the ripe apple, peach plum, when he his family
wants them, he has to the ground that craws
In the orchard
Mark the selfish tyranny of mankind. The swallow
the bat, and the nghthawk may seize unquesoned up
on the bug, spider fly, and the mosquito, because tor
sooh these happen not to be the avortes of race
But the moment robin Or portrayal bird abstracts a
cherry from his ove"burdened trees he is condemned as
maleactOr to the forfeit Of his life without Judge or
jury, or benefit of clergy; and add most emphacaI
ly, without warrant from law-that Divine law which
governs and beasts and birds and fishes and every
where plays the tyrant and the bigot, and among
the nnumerabe worlds in the abysses of space where
such creature as man does not probably exist
1t may be said of the various creatures Of the earth
that each has Its respective rights and claims
rightly monopoze the whole and subject all other beings
to his resoute and irresponsible will. OF the fruits
of the EARTH for example, man may lawfully take what
Is needed for his subsistenceand enOymen and may
the bird the beast, and the worm. The highest created
Intelligence is not permitted to transcend all responsible
ty and monopoize all happiness.
The lowest brute that waows in filth is not an out
law, but entitled to the share of his general felicity
Such is the law which binds all to let Others live
and enjoy while he lives and enjoys himself. All are
tenants with differing privileges and capacities of the
great bountul Giver Let not the qubber pretend
that the vine and the tree exclusive property man.
being the sole product of his labor portion of them
is so, but not ALL the principle part of either The
good mother EARTH the generous OF the Susenance OF all
her offspring, animal and human is after ALL the largest
donor OF the elements which constitute the herbs OF the
field both great and small In her the beast and
the fowl put in for portion of their fruits, and are sure
to get much they entitled to- Man takes
the lions share
If the birds, however, about which we are now
cerned should in human courts be found guilty Of stealing
cherry from one of mans trees, strawberry from
OF his vines, why should the penalty be death, while
men escape scotree not only when they steal jewels and
wives, and tens of thousands of dollars but when they
take the very life of their fellow beings? Is this right
Is it doing we would be done by? For the golden
rule, regard it, loses half its value if not inepe
ted to comprehend the whole sensitive creation
There are brutes who kill birds when not trespassng al
all. They not ashamed to murder them when brood
ing over and protecting their young Staying them
al family altar, hardly less sacred than that Of the
church. But speak not of these barbarians but Of
those who imagine the larceny of kernel of corn or
pea by poor bird is justification enough for his destruc
ton The indignant protest against the taking Of Their
lives for the very greatest of Crimes and yet would
deal death all around among creatures little inferior
without thought, much less pang.-Nercark Adr.