New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-09
TIE LOGIC OF PROTECTION.
BY EMIL sCHALK.
TIE DISTINGUISHING FEATURE OF CIVIL
ZATION.


Protection in every form, in its fullest mean
ing applied to every sphere Of life, is the dis
tinguishing feature Of civilization Without pro-
lection society and civilization cannot exist; bar
barism, savage life, the life Of brute, alone pre-
walls. Protection is the slow-worlIing agency
which gradually lifts man TO higher planes OF
civilization. 1t reduces the dangers and chances
In the struggle for life. Society charges itself
with guarding the individual against dangers and
difficulties by which he may be beset. In the
natural state each individual has to fight hunger
and thirst, the incemencies Of climate and
weather. and his mortal enemies besides, who are
ever plotting his destruction. 1t Is by means oil
protection that the life Of man differs from that
of the ANIMAL for protection is the result OF mans
highest intellect, of his faculties of reflection and
forethought. We build houses to protect our
selves by day and night from the inclemencies OF
the weather We make clothes to suit the season,
now to shield us from the scorching rays of the
sun, and then to protect against the freezing
winds of the North. We cultivate fields and erect
storehouses; we raise cattle and collect pro-
visions to ward of starvation; we create insur-
ance companies against accident and fire; we
create life insurance to protect the brood should
the wage-earner 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 protection of the in
dividual 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 enacted to shield society from
the efforts Of the wicked; police and courts are
there to enforce the protection Armies and
navies serve no other purpose than to protect
nations against other nations But the protec-
ton which civilization to-day accords the indi-
yidual goes far beyond that Of life and limb and
material possessions Names, honor, thoughts,
writings Inventions business, even the name
man may choose to give his goods or merchandise,
are protected. And among civilized nations some
60 still further, and accord to individuals pro-
lection in their occupations, their means of earn
ing q living against the inroads made by individ-
uals of other nations These countries take to
heart ShyloclI's words:
GYou take my house, when you do take tho prop
That doth sustain my house; you take my life,
When you do take the means whereby l live"
And just as this protection in the means Of earn
ing o living is but natural and logical conse-
uuence in the advance Of civilization, another link
in the chain of protection which makes up civil
lied life, so is free trade the very reverse Of pro-
lection and civilization. It is return TO the
methods of barbaric life. It is the fight Of each
against all Of individuals against the species, and
of entire organized species against the individual
It means want of forethought and reflection in the
individual, and in society as q whole.
EMIL SCHALK.