National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-04
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.
FIRST.CLAss PRIZE ESSAY.
The Composition Of Pupil Of the Washing
ton Huslneaa CsIIeEe.

The Composition Of n Pupil Of the Washing
ton Business College.
The following Ia the essay for which the writer
received a first-ciass Ct25) gold medal from the
Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals
This medal was awarded for the best essay pro
duced by nOn-attendant Of the public schools
Cruelty to Animals Versus Kindness.
ny CRYrTI PALNoSf.
IFUteen wars NJ ugc-d pupil ~ the Washington
business C0iiege,l
When the Almighty created the animals Of the
earth lie gave Adam the privilege Of naming
them and Of holding dominion over them. lie
did not think the smallest animal upon the face
Of the globe unworthy Of His notice. Nay, even
the most minute creature breathing doth com
prise In itself perfect piece Of machinery, made
by the Creator Of the world TO he Of service TO the
human family. lie intended we should use them
for our comfort, hut, Of the same time, should
care Tor and treat them kindly,
We cannot, perhaps, imagine Of what use many
" the wild beasts are TO us, or the insects that
disturb our rest and torment US. When an insect
lnnirts pain upon ~, We should remember that
we, too, often tnniCt pain upon Others, by singing
words amt thOughtlcss, cruel acts. We may he
pose, and II i only our extreme Ignorance that
prevents us from rendering them harmless and
from seeing their utility. Al any rate, we cannot
give them life, and therefore should not take II
from them without good cause.
The domestic animals, all will grant, are Of
great service 10 man. without them we could
I NOT prosper UNll so Wtil-uuNt NOuOl very NlutU
whether we could prosper at all Il entirely left
berett Of them, for they now, under the cruelty
and brutality Of mankind, perform the heaviest
labor, which, II u were not for them, would fall
! upon man himself So II Is clear, then, we owe
| TO animals our civilized eNistenCe-aye, our very
! lives are dependent upon thcm-and yet we con-
tinuc to treat them with most unmerclful bru-
talty.
Mans cruelty to any Of God's creatures will
always recoil upon mankind. Immediate gratln-
cation Of cruel propensties- IA but brief, and h
Invariably fDllUwpu Inv evil Fpstilta. Cruelty Ia n
sin, and every sin engenders suffering and sOr-
row. The human family, as a unit, feels through
! all Its members every wrong which every In
dlvidual commits, either against his own kind OF
against the lower animals Of creation.
| All animals are designed to he suhserylent to
mans intercst-tO increase his wealth and multi
I ply his comforts Kindness bestowed even upon
the savage and untamcd brute Il seldom unre-
war'led. Where Ia there one beast which man
has not hunted and abused that will not readily
yield to caresses; that Will not submit to obey
and serve the noble and guileless mann
/ Daniel feared not and received no harm when
east into the lions den. His heart was full Of
good VIII TO ali living creatures, and there was
nothing In him to arouse the evil nature Of the
lion; besides, "legion Of angels" always stand
guard over the upright In heart"
The serpent which Paul cast into the Ore fas-
tened itself upon his finger, but did no harm 20
him. Paul had grown to be humane; but had he,
too like Daniel, never been cruel to any Of Gods
creatures, doubtless he would have been spared
much suffering and bitter repentance. The ser
pCnt his old enemy, tthe DeyilD was suffered TO
attack him, hut could do no harm.
We are taught to be "wise as sorpcnts, but
harmless as doves" Kindness Ia harmony, and
| springs from love, and God Is loye;n while cru
city is worse than wrath, for wrath Is cursed
| "bccause II Is cruel"
| Cruel treatment to the cattle on whose nesh we
feed eau but breed reheiOus riot IN our blood,
and sore afiCtiOn In our 1csh; nor eau the mind
or soul itself escape from the suffering endured
by the life we imbibe from the life we abuse,
Then II we must feed upon flesh, and honor the
carcass OF the beast with burial In our own bodies,
lifting IL higher nlnup Of existence Z n
pcnsatiOn for the life we take, let us not torture
that life, which, changed In form, becomes incor-
pOmte with our own, lest the spirit Of strife re-
mains, and we become inherited Of the strifes
and suffering indicted on the life we thus abuse.
As the spirit Of man approaches In perfection
and IN Kindness to the divine essence ot his
Maker, his power II seen and felt over all within
the sphere Of his influence, cNaltlng and en-
nObling every surrounding phase OF existence
] Not only the animal kingdom yields willing
obedience TO mans bcntgnant sway, hut the
vegetable creation, In all It's vast variety OF
beauty, spreads forth Us foliage and It's fruits,
conforming to his cultivated order and design TO
| adOm that earth which the peaceful spirit OF the
gentle man may make paradise, or which the
savage monster else may render but bowling
wilderness. Yea, the very elements become sub
seryent TO the gentle arts Of the peaceful man,
amt In holy harmony chime In response TO the
pure OdpOuTngs OF all the kindlieT manifesta-
tons OF his nature; manifestations which over
now from that wisdom, gentleness and affection
that have their fountain In the ineNhaustlhle
. source Of unbOunded love.
The man who needlessly sets foot upon worm
violates the harmony Of nature, and who can say
there Is no fixed, albeit unknown punishment
which Il invariably inflicted upon the offender
for every such offence? May not tho subtle and
unseen nOwcTs nf nature he all-surCIent To as
sert the inviOlability and TO vlndlGAe all the laws
Of God? Who can tathum the INFINITE WhUc can
say when or how man receives compensation or
inCurs the penalty Of u violated aw7 The invls-
lille forces are ever the most potential and Us
electricity Is only visible when It's current 10
broken or ts equilibrium Is disturbed, so all the
Of the uuIVpFaR only visible In