Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, — 



I am here to say a few, very few, words — not on 

 the particular object for which this meeting has been 

 called — but on the whole question of the treatment of 

 animals by our civilised selves. For I have no special 

 knowledge, like some who will speak to you to-night, of 

 the training of performing animals, I have only a certain 

 knowledge of human and animal natures, and a common 

 sense which tells me that wild animals are more happy 

 in freedom than in captivity ; domestic animals more 

 happy as companions than as clowns. And— quite apart 

 from definite question of inhumanity — of which I per- 

 sonally have no right to speak — it is perfectly clear to 

 me that these animal shows are among the many sur- 

 viving evidences, the lingering symptoms, of a creed 

 that — thank heaven !— is beginning to pass, and must 

 pass, from us. That creed said : We human beings 

 have the right, for our pleasure, convenience, and dis- 

 traction, to disregard in the m^atter of dumb creatures, 

 those principles which our religion, morality, and educa- 

 tion have fixed as the guiding stars of our conduct 

 towards human beings. (In parentheses — please note, 

 that I do not to-night touch on the question of our 

 rights over dumb creatures in so far as our actual self- 

 preservation is concerned ; I limit my words for the 

 moment to pleasure, convenience, and distraction.) 



Now: '*Do unto others as you would they should do 

 unto you ! " is not only the first principle of Christianity, 

 but the first principle of all social conduct ; the essence 



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