Rights of Anhnals, 209 



gence has become like cohesion, in ice and in the 

 soHd rock, which keeps them in form, and gives 

 strength to the iron, and beauty of form to the crys- 

 tal, in spite of gravitation, though they never escape 

 wholly from its power. 



From this capacity of animals for suffering and 

 enjoyment, we infer that they have rights, though 

 this is denied, on technical ground, as their power 

 of thinking has been denied. 



Animals have the right to get all the good out 

 of life they can, in subordination to the higher be- 

 ings placed over them. It is said animals have no 

 conception of such rights, and therefore cannot 

 have them. That they have no such conception 

 remains to be proved ; but in the mean time, we 

 appeal to the sense of kindness implanted in their 

 masters, till that is blunted by brutality, or a phi- 

 losophy that has Httle to recommend it. 



An invasion of their right to enjoyment, they 

 instinctively repel. And the natural feelings of 

 men, cry out against any wanton infliction of pain 

 upon dumb animals. Those who torment them, are 

 always cruel to men. The laws justly protect them 

 against cruel masters ; and in these laws, the com- 

 munity recognizes the rights of animals. Such laws 

 ought to be better enforced than they are. The 

 bodily suffering of animals may not be as keen, as 

 that of a man, — if it were, they could hardly endure, 

 as long as they do, all the cruelties practised upon 

 them, through thoughtlessness, pride, anger and 

 avarice. 



