Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-17

| SUICIDE IN JAPAS.-lt appears from recent
| reports that suicide is going out Of fashion in
| Japan a debate in the parliament about three
years ago, Oct. &. 1862 showed that the mem
/ bers were not prepared TO introduce any change
/ 10 the law then, for three members only in a
/ house Of 200 could be found to vote for the
| abolition Of suicide. When member Of the
! two swOfdsd class, or Samurai, commits crime
| a message Is sent that be is permitted to xiii
himself Dr. disembOweling, which custom is
| called the harakiri or seppuku. It seems that
the practice vas considered so honorable that
many men committed il without waiting the
imperial permission, and this was considered
highly improper. The clerk of the house had
very sensiDy put the question before the
delegates in this manner: eft should be
remarked that most two sworded men who
commit seppuku are men Of parts, and with
strong sense Of shame. II Is needless TO
say that If such men reDented, and, urged
BY an indignant sense Of their errors employed
their talents indusiriOnsy, they would do their
country good service; bur, in my opinion death
for a fault or two oil doubtful character, at the
same time blocks up the way OF sei-examna-
ton to the individual, and is at variance with
the imperial plans for the national prosperity.
think advantage ought 10 be taken Of the pres
ent reform Of tue government TO prohibit this
practice" The members thought differently, and
recorded their votes as we have said. Let US
TahscflOe one or Two speeches.
haJi Matazayem0u.-lt may seem at first sight
an immoral act to die without awaiting the
Judges sentence, but this does not proceed from
contempt for authority The commission Of
the seppuku Is owing 10 natural sense Of
shame being deeply rooted in the heart. Iii
national custom founded on what is due TO the
national sense Of justice, and 10 japan as a ras
ton. 1t may be proper TO prohibit the seppuku
in cases where no legal sentence has been pro.
nouDced, but IL the law constituting il pun
lshmeut for two swofded men be not maintained
the distinction between them and The common
people will be Obliteratcd
Karube ltsinja.--"A speedy death by seppu.
ku, resulting from remOrSe for crime, is a means
Of avoiding the pain Of disgrace; how can II be
sad to be contempt Of the criminal law2 how,
on The other hand, can il be styled an expiation
Of aullt2 by death the criminal barely restores
himself 10 his position as a human being. II be
lives, he is a scoundre; but II he dies, he for
the first time, manilests a sense OF shame To
prohibit the seppuku would be to choose the
public path Of honor, aud throw open the pri-
vate path of scoundrelism."
Sakada HakUsa.-"Ihe seppuku has its origin
~ the sacred vital energy OF this divine country
ana I Is the shrine Of the japanese national spirit
tiamato spirO. UnqueshoDably, it should not
Oe prom0ited Its practice should be extended,
hu1 ny TINS means sense Of shame iostered |
aug lle seppuku should be made famous
tnioughoul tue world, as an example Of devo-
lion 10 principle 1t ought to beintfoduced into |
our criminal code as the form of capital pun. |
lshInent for those above the rank of samuri - |
Chdmberg Journal,