The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-05
DOGS ABB TRACT
SENSE OF DUTY
MORAL NATURE IN CONNECTION
WITH MANS GOVERNMENT.
Sense Of Right and Wrong Consider
ably Developed Akin to
q Religion Of Dogs They Are Often
Willing to Meet Death with Their
Masters.
London Spectator.

/ .-.
That moral sense may exist in ami
mails we think no one who has ever kept
dogs will deny. It is not easy to COM
pare it, however, with the moral sense
as it exists in men. If we set dogs
conscience beside mans, the first thing
we shall notice is that the former is
upside down. To avoid violence and
deceit, and to distinguish between his
a own property and fosD ths else are
Of the moral character Of an average
civilized man. Standing On this foun-
dation we find in greater or less degree
the higher virtues -sympathy, loyalty,
self-sacrifce, resignation; all these
things in short, which. may be roughly
summed up in the word uself- devo-
tion.n Now all these fine qualities
form the basis of the moral character
Of good and civilized dog. Upon this
basis some Of the palmer virtues may
be superimposed; but unless supported
edifce is never very steady.
The truth is that dogs have no alb
stract sense of right and wrong, but
they have, in addition to a high de-
gree of intelligence, which teaches them
| to avoid pain by virtuous practice, a
faculty analogous to the religious facnl-
| ty in man. They worship the higher
| race, apart from whose influence they
have no conscience at ALL Their minds
| in contact with the mind of man dis
play at times an astonishing amount
Of moral perception.
Take the fact that the average dog
understands the nature of an accident.
He makes allowance for motive. We
have seen a sharp-tempered terrier very
suspicious Of strangers receive a severe
blow accidentally inflicted by some one
he did not know, without showing any
temper, and accept the careless person s
apologies with the utmost graciousness.
Had he suspected wanton cruelty, he
and in the case Of any injury inflicted
by another dog, he would not have
considered the motive, but would have
had instant recourse to violence to ease
his feelings. Nevertheless, all dogs
will steal unless they fear punishment
have never heard Of a dog who avoided
stealing from other animals. They
love to fight and feel not the slightest
remorse when they see their adversary
lying dead before. them. They taxi
pleasure in killing any small, helpless
thin below them in animal rank.
Yet toward the children of the highe
race their forbearance is endless. Afte
any successful piece of deceit--travelini
, in railway trains when forbidden to g
on journey, or creeping behind hedge
J that they may accompany their mas
, tiers upon a forbidden walk-they shov
: signs of extraordinary contentment an
! pleasure. On the other hand, reall
clever and devoted dog will strain ever
mental faculty that he may enter int
. the mood of his master, and be able t
! show him sympathy and resign hlmsel
!. to his masters will, and, when his mas
ter g actions are dictated by temper o
!, caprice, will forgive him till sevent
! times seven. -,ssr--,-~--z. ----szt
highly courageous animals; but md lo
3 viduals among them have timid Idle
syncracies, which alone they seem III
able to control; yet anxiety for tn
Il safety of a master or mistress will SUI
!. tply them with moral force to keep dow
: physical fear. The present winter ca
. vouch for the fact that a dog who a
= his life has exhibited an extreme an
/ ridiculous terror for cattle, refusing
: 90 thru a field in which he could 81
e q few cows, and insisting on maxim
h long detours to avoid going near theI
one day saw from distance that b
l. mistress was being chased by CO.
vt who finally knocked her down. t
% rushed to her aid, and by the time son
y laborers could get to the held the al
Is NAL was not only driven on, put sever
e " torn and injured. That dogs pref
n to meet death with their masters fath
= than to save their lives alone Is Ia
Ia too well known to need insisting on.