W. S. Kennedy
Man’s Dominion Over the Earth
「1858」 Reverend W. S. Kennedy, “Man’s Dominion Over the Earth, Delivered at Sandusky, Sept. 12, 1858,” in The Thirteenth Annual Report of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture for the Year 1858 「Google Books」 (Columbus, 1859) 29-41.
Man seldom apprehends the importance of the dominion assigned him over the brute creation, nor discerns the large part borne by the animals in this world’s economy. We are too apt to assume authority over the beasts of the field merely because we have the power, without thinking whence the power came, why it was given, or how it should be used. Probably we, in our pride, also, to much deprecate the whole animal creation, and certainly too little regard our obligations to them. Hence i see not only something beautiful in the affection that occasionally subsists between a family and a favorite animals, but something right, and that ought to be more common. (36)
Every creature shows forth something of the Creator’s power, wisdom and goodness. The diversity of animals suggest the versatility of the divine mind; their numbers indicate his desire to fill the world with conscious enjoyment and life. Every inch of space and atom of matter has its throb of vitality, and beast of happy existence. (36)
This suggests the rights of animals in man. They have the right to be governed, and man’s reason is to be used for their direction and control. But dominion ever involves the duty of protection, and never should be willful, oppressive or despotic. Animals are entitled to care and kindness and reasonable treatment in all respects. And therefore all over-working or over-driving, or other cruelty, is unlawful and wicked, as well as impolitic. Horse-racing, cock-fighting and bull-baiting are violations of the rights of animals, cruel sports, wanton and brutal, and therefore necessarily dissipating, degrading, and kindred to every kind of vice and cruelty. (38-39)
My text gives「man」 rights of dominion…By it man is no longer left as an animal among animals, but as lord among beasts. It places man partly in the attitude of a providence over animals; and involves the right of determining the life or death of a creature, according to the general good of all.…But dominion justifies no wanton cruelty…so that he who neglects or abuse his beast, has no right to its services. (37-38)
