Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-09-08
The Growth of Humane Sentiments.

he Growth or Humane Sentiments
Chicago Humane Journal
The sentiments of humanity to dumb
animals have become more tborongblv
Incorporated into the structure of civ
ilized society during the present oen-
Grafton than in any previous era of hu-
man experience. 1t is true that some
people have always inculcated kind
ness to animals, but it remained for
the civilization of Europe and America
70 place this reform upon the high
level of human duty, as one of the
recognized features of the moral code.
quite as important and binding upon
man as any other of its precepts. A
regard for property rights in animals
and for the attendant economies has
long influenced enlightened minds in
the treatmen tsof these dependents, but
the organization of humane societies
dated new era in the history of our
relations to animals. The recognition
and practical observance of humane
sentiments and action have become
positive requirements of social life.
The rights of the lower creation. and
especially of the domestic animals to
such happiness and enjoyment as the
Creator has given them capacity for,
is now undispdted, and the Importance
of their mission is acknowledged. To
infringe upon these rights and priyi-
leges in manner, and for purpose
that cannot promote the welfare of
human beings, is regarded by all mer-
clful persons as an injustice and a cru
city that have no excuse save that of
ignorance of the effect of such action.
Yet there are always stratas of igno-
rance that are slowly permeated with
the growing reforms of the age, as
there are degraded instincts whose
passions and vices are cultivated
through the infamy of their surround
ings Do we wonder that cruel men
still exist, who fail to recognize the
rights of animals? Notwithstanding
the teachings of Christianity for eight
cen hundred years, society is not ex
empt from crime and immortality of all
grades, and each generation must be
taught anew the truths of Christianity
and the lessons of the moral CODE Al
though mankind may never reach per-
fection, there is such perceptible i'm
provement in the condition to which
the race has attained, under the con-
slant exercise of the powers of EN-
lightenment and legal repression, that
the apostles of reform may well be en-
couraged at the grand results. To
have established the fact that humani-
ty to animals is a doctrine as impor-
tant and essential to the best civiliza-
tion as any other requirement of reli-
gion or morality is in itself a great ad-
vance over former generations. To
have enlisted in this cause to a consid-
cradle extent the great forces of the
pulpit, the press, and the schools is a
feature of promise. To have called
together i'll hundreds of communities
bands of devO ed men and women to
abor without hopes of reward, or
he incentive of fame that attaches to
many public movements, is subject
for congratulation. To see this work
grow slowly but surely. gaining solid
strength and firmer foundation, is es-
pecially gratifying. We may certainly
look for a more rapid development of
h1mane sentiments in the future, as
every day adds new converts to and in
creases the public interest in behalf of
this movement.