Humanity to animals should be particularly inculcated as a part of
national education, for it is not at present one of our national
virtues. Tenderness for their humble dumb domestics, amongst the lower
class, is oftener to be found in a savage than a civilized state.
For civilization prevents that intercourse which creates affection
in the rude hut, or mud hovel, and leads uncultivated minds who are
only depraved by the refinements which prevail in the society, where
they are trodden under foot by the rich, to domineer over them to
revenge the insults that they are obliged to bear from their
superiours.
This habitual cruelty is first caught at school, where it is one
of the rare sports of the boys to torment the miserable brutes that
fall in their way. The transition, as they grow up, from barbarity
to brutes to domestic tyranny over wives, children, and servants, is
very easy. Justice, or even benevolence, will not be a powerful spring
of action unless it extend to the whole creation; nay, I believe
that it may be delivered as an axiom, that those who can see pain,
unmoved, will soon learn to inflict it.
The vulgar are swayed by present feelings, and the habits which they
have accidentally acquired; but on partial feelings much dependence
cannot be placed, though they be just; for, when they are not
invigorated by reflection, custom weakens them, till they are scarcely
perceptible. The sympathies of our nature are strengthened by
pondering cogitations, and deadened by thoughtless use.
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