Evening journal., 1888-05-24
LoGso or PROTECTION.
The distinguishing Feature Of Civil
fzaaton, by Emil schalk.

Protection in every form, in its
fullest meaning, applied to every
sphere of life, IS the distinguishing
features Of civilization. Without pro.
lection society and civilization. can
not exist; barbarism, savage life, the
life Of brute, alone prevails. Prntec
tion is the alow.working agency which
gradually lifts man to higher planes
OF civilization. II reduces the dangers
aud char css in the struggle for life.
Society charges itself with guarding
the Individual against dangers
and difficulties by which
no may be bsset. In the
natural state each individual has
70 Ashs lungrr and thirst the in
clsmsuoias I. climate and weather,
and his mortal enemies besides, who
are ever plotting his destruction. 1t is
by no means Of prot clion that the life
OF man differs from that Of the animal;
for protection is the result Of mana
highest intell,c ct, Of faculties OF rehec-
tion or aforethought. We build houses
to protect ourselves by day and night
from the inclemencies Of the
weather. We make clothes to
suit the season, to shield us
from the ecorching rays Of the
sun, and then 10 protect us against the
freezing winds OF the North. We cul.
tivate fields and erect storehouses; we
raisa cattle and collect provisions to
ward Off starvation; we create insur-
ance companies against accident and
fire; we create life insurance to protect
the brood ehould the wage Garner die;
we create savings banks to prevent
want in our old age, and thus through
every phase Of civilized life protection
may be traced. like the red threads in
the ropes Of the English navy.
Governments, laws, institutions, are
but so many arrangements for the pro-
lection 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. Criminal laws are en-
acted to shield society from the efforte
of the wicked; police and courts are
there to enforce the protection.
Armies and navies serve no other pur-
pose than to protect nations against
other nations. But the protec-
tion which civilization to-day ac-
cords the individual sgoes far be
yond that of life and limb and
material possessions. Names, honor,
thoughts. writings, inventions, bust.
ness, even the name a man may
choose to give his goods or merchan-
disc, are protected. And among
civilized nations some 60 still further,
and accord to individuals protection in
their occupations, their means Of earn.
ing living, againit the Inroads made
by individuals Of other nations. These
countries take to heart Shylock's
wordt:
"You take my houss. when do you take
the prop
That doth sustain my house, you take
my life,
When do you take the means whereby
liven
And just as this protection in the
means Of earning living is but nat
ural and logical consequence In the ad
vance Of civilization, another link il
the chain of protection which makel
up civilized life, 80 is free trade th'
very reverse of protection and civil
ization. 1t is return to the method
Of barbaric life. 1t is the fight Of eacl
against all of individuals against thl
species, and of entire organized specie
against the individual. 1t means wan
OF forethought and reflection in the in
dividusl, and in society as a whole.