The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1909-08-21

Der that a century Of years might be
required for the growth of an oak -
warning against the use of an AK
that might lay low in an hour. but
not even the biologists can number
the centuries during which man must
grow to the moral and spiritual stat
IRE to which he has now attained
the same president who deplored our
waste of the oak spoke lightly of the
waste of human lives and the neces-
sity Of providing material for the sac
rihce. Perhaps the most noted step
toward a better appreciation of rela-
tive values OF this connection comes
from the financial sense-a New
York insurance association, fin ding
that y per cent of its losses could
be charged to consumption, will en-
ploy physicians, build up sanatoriums
and devote some of its revenue to
the salvation Of human life as a bust
ness asset. The appropriation of
million dollars to such an effort IS
said TO mark an epoch IN the history
of life nsurance-1night it not be
just as true to say that it will also
mark an epoch in the history Of hui
man morals. It has long since been
shown that prevention IS cheaper
than cure, and the governments now
take measures to guard the public
health; what will be the outcome of
the business demand that human life
be considered an asset?
The child IS the. property OF the
parent-the government has adopted
The child and Undertaken to train it
for the performance Of public duties
Each man once guarded his own life,
and it was the duty of the family
70 average d murder-these are now
matters Of public concern so far as
punishment for injury enters into
considerations 1t would seem that
another step along the same road
would make it the duty of the govern
fnent to make we'll the i'll as it sought
90 set bounds to epiiemcs This
Insurance association declares it loses
q risk from tubercolsis every thirty
Two minutes. and pays forty-seven
claims every day; to prolong hall
ehese lives for ten years would make
the proposed expenditure a profitable
Investment. The calculation is cas-
.ly made. and appeals with force to
the stockholders of the corporation.
But may we not be pardoned if we
express surprise that a matter OF
profit and loss could do more than
love for humanity, religion and pa
triotism in all the centuries these
have been exploited as proofs Of
civilization and advancement
Have we no enemies as cruel as
tuberculosis May not bad govern
ment prove as destructive as all the
physical disease taken together? Tc-
day America is in need of labor and
supports million tramps; today the
poor and weak are taxed to the break
| ing point that the rich and strong
NAV add Injuries that sicken both
mind and body. Today industry is
burdened that armies may be main
tanned and ships kept afloat for the
avowed purpose of destroying lie by
wholesale. and those most honored
among us whose genius contributes
| effectively to the agents Of destruc-
ton. May corporation be more
philanthropic than a government OF
| the people, by the people, May a
corporation save life as a business
proposition, while Christianity stands
/ aside and love for our neighbor to
await the coming of the Good Sa-
naritan2 Is there more money IN
vested in life insurance in America
than in the material asset of religion.
| Both have places, both have treas
| uries, and both have highly paid
officials to think for the bodies they
govern: which IS responsible for the
step III advance? Might we not sup
pose that what is good business for
/ insurance would also be good busi-
ness for the church or for the gov
ernment?