The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-20
PRODUCT OF CIVILIZATION.
Sentimental Weakness Keeps Alive
the Predatory Glasses.

There has been much speculation con-
corning the large pauper class Whlch
exists among all civilized races. 1t is
a product of civilization.
There are no paupers among the saw
age races, which have a maxim that
the able bodied man who will not exert
himself to secure subsistence must go
hungry. Those who by their tender
years or their extreme age are unable
to support themselves were cared for
by the active members of their families
or in some cases of emergency the aged
ard HELPLESS members of the tribe are
put to death to get them out of the way
These summary methods were in use
among the nomadic races whose condt-
ton required that they should be fire.
uuently on the move. either for pur-
poses of war and plumber, or for hunt
ing After a people had abandoned
such precariOuS methods Of life and had
devoted themselves to agriculture and
adopted permanent habitations. they no
longer needed to slay their aged and de-
crepid members, and respect and pity
for the aged and the helpless were in
ccrporated in their religious and social
institutions.
But the aged and helpless individuals
in a community or tribe had to become
so by 70 fault of their own, and had
done nothing TO forfeit the regard of
their fellows while there We're severe
laws against the able bodied loafers and
oilers They were not tolerated by saw
age or barbarous peoples and formed no
part of the population. They became
thieves and robbers and were constant
" under a ban. Sometimes the robbers
were forced to flee for their lives, and
they formed communities of their own
and even founded nations Rome was
founded by a horde of robbeMs who had
established themselves among the hills
and marshes of the Tiber. There are
robber tribes in Asia and Africa, and
the brigands of Europe are nothing
more, being numerous and powerful
Jafx- 7aT7<c &c
those of Italy and Turkey, and the Slav
states of southern Europe. In all prob
ability these brigands are countenanced
or licensed by the governments they
seem 20 defy.
But it is only in a high state of civil
ization that extensive classes of pau
pers and criminals can exist in the
midst Of the population and under the
eye of the law These conditions are
maintained partly through the undue
sentimental weakness of the people, and
partly through the corruption of the po-
liticaI systems upon which governments
are carried on. Through most proper
and praiseWorthy pity. aSylums are
esta blished for the helpless little ones
and the decrepid and dependent of all
classes Many persons finding that
through these most worthy institutions
they ear shirk the responsibility of
caring for their dependents, shuttle them
off on the public or on the eharitab BILE
people Then there are the loafers and
/ idlers, who refuse TO perform any pubic
or private beneficial service, and live on
the labors and often on the shame and
crime of others. Then there are the
criminal classes1 who are constantly en-
gagged in operations by which they seek
! to secure by unlawful means the prop
erty of others
The 1oefers. the tramps. the classes
I engaged in vicious and criminal prac
tices by which they swindle and splunder
the honest and Woodworking masses,
number in the United States more than
a million of people. and for the most
mart they are known to the local Off
Gals of the government in every COM