New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-01
THE LOGIC OF PROTECTION.
BY EMIL SCHALK.
THE DISTINGUISHING FEATURE OF CIvIrI
ZtTfON

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Protection in every form in its fullest meaning.
applied TO every sphcre Of lifc is the Distinguishing
feature Of civilization. without protection
society and civilization cannot exist: bar0arism.
savage life, the life Of brute, alone prevails.
Protection is the slow-worl<ing agency which grad
ually lifts man TO higher planes OF CIVILIZATION.
IL reduces the dangers and chances IN the struggle
for life Society charges itself with guarding tho
individual against dangers and difficulties By which
he may be beset In the natural state eacb lhol-
vidual has to fight hunger AMI thirst. the inclem-
cncies OF climate and weather, and his mortal enc
mics besides, who ever plotting his destruHton
II is BIZ means Of protection that the life Of man
differs from that OF the animal; for protection -
the resu Of mans highest intellect of his faculties
Of reflection and forethought. We build houses To
protect ourselves by day and night from the IN
clemencies of the weather. We make clothes TO
suit the season, now TO shield from the scorcf-
ing rays of the sun, and then 10 protect us aganss
the freezing winds Of the north. We cultivate
fields and erect st0rchouses raise cattle ana coi-
lect provisions to ward of starvation: we create
insurance companies against accident and fire; we
create life insurance to protect the brood should
the wagc-earner die; we create savings banks 20
prevent want in our old aye, and thus through
every phase Of civilized life protection may Ia
traced like the red threads in the ropes Of the
English Navy.
Governments, laws, institutions. are but so many
arrangements for the protection Of the individual
in his life limbs, possessions and in his right To
enjoy life and happiness. Civil laws define his
rights and courts protect him in them Crimi
nal laws are enacted to shield society from the
efforts of the wicked police and courts are there
70 enforce the protection Armies and nayics servs
no other purpose than TO protect nations against
other nations. But the protection which civiliza-
tion today accords the individual goes far beyond
.hat of life and limb and material possessions.
Names honor, thoughts, writings, inventions, bush
ness, even the name a man may choose TO give his
goods or merchandise are protected And among
civilized natl ms some 90 still further and accord
TO individuals protection in their occupations, ther
means of earning living against the inroads mads
nv individuals OF other nations. These countries
take to heart ShyloclS's words:
You take my house. when you do take the prop
That doth sustain my house you tek" my lie,
When you do take the mems whereby live
And Just as this protection in the means OF earn'
ing q living is but natural and logical conse-
ouer,e in n @ advance of civilization another link
in the chain of protection which makes up civil.
lied life. so is free trade the very Of pro-
lection and civilization. II is q return 10 tbs
methods of barbaric life Ii is the fight OF each
against all; Of indiy iduas against the species ana
of entire organized species against the individual
II means want of foretfought and reflection In the
individual and in society who g.
EMIL SCHALK.