The following excerpt is from “Save the Redwoods” by John Muir. Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot defend themselves or run away. And few destroyers of trees ever plant any; nor can planting avail much toward restoring our grand aboriginal giants. It took more than three thousand years to make some of the oldest of the Sequoias, trees that are still standing in perfect strength and beauty, waving and singing in the mighty forests of the Sierra. Through all the eventful centuries since Christ’s time, and long before that, God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand storms; but he cannot save them from sawmills and fools; this is left to the American people.

Closely analyze the following sentences.

Through all the eventful centuries since Christ’s time, and long before that, God has cared for these trees, saved them from drought, disease, avalanches, and a thousand storms; but he cannot save them from sawmills and fools . . .

Which of the following options BEST identifies the rhetorical strategy used here?
A.
appeal to emotion
B.
appeal to morality
C.
appeal to logic
D.
appeal to authority

Please select the best answer from the choices provided

A
B
C
D