, 1873-05-08
Suicide.

DR.. A. L. Lindsay, of Portland, re-
Gently preached sermon in that city on
suicide. from which we make the fol-
lowing practical and eloquent extract:
Does not greed of gain betray many
disappointed followers to self-destruc-
ton? The old ideas of slow and sure
gains are becoming obsolete. and with
them the incentives to honest toll. The
haste TO be rich is destroying honesty
and fair dealing in all the avenues of
trade. Many. seeing the fortunes Of a
few gained by gigantic swindling. learn
to despise the rewards of honorable in
dustry. and hope to win aff1uence and
station by similar stroke of good for
tune. The genius of commerce is in
danger of being displaced, and a fraud.
a cheat. the demon of speculation en-
throned on change. rattling the dice
box and shuffling the cards. the turn
ing the wheel, and 10! forth comes fields
Of wheat and acres of railroad shares,
and town sites and lots we'll watered.
And what is this but gambling? 1t Is
an easy transition from business THIS
transacted to the gaming den, where men
attempt to gain wealth without render.
ing an equivalent. They fall into the
snare. because they have learned some
tricks of trade in honorable circles. Fas-
cinate by one or two successes. they
expect to gain fortune by filching other
mems pockets. The whole scheme is
utterly groundless. 1t is contrary to all
the principles of political economy,
which renders something for something.
The gains Of gambling finally fall into
the hands of men who render no eqniva-
lent for it and no service to society. The
victim wakes to find himself bound in
the chains of habit which may lead
him to the commission of every crime.
Classical scholars will pardon the plain
English of a familiar passage in Virgil.
The descent to hell is easy, but to re-
turn, that is toll, that is labor" And
too often, suicide ends the awful career.
The soul leaps unhidden into eternity!
Who is to blame for all this? We de-
nounce no man, or set Of men. All of
MS are responsible. And while we think
of this let us turn to the more pleasing
task of suggesting remedies. The true
way il to find the root of all evil. and
then bravely and wisely attack it and
exterminate it. And this should be done
SO as to benefit all concerned.
l. Public sentiment must be enlight-
ened and directed. There is power
enough in the moral convictions of the
people to suppress many of the tempta-
tions which finally lead to suicide. All
men love virtue and honor, and there
are few men who will not assist in the
good work. Now combine this infu-
ence and direct it and you have public
opinion organised for its work of reform.
2. The character of our literature
should be elevated. Mrch of the popu-
lar fiction gives false views of life, and
commends, like him, who sick of life
through disappointment or checked in
his villainy, destroys it. Such books
are fit only to be destroyed. The public
press exerts more influence than the
best works of fiction.
The press of Portland. we are proud
to say, has ever been slow to pander to
a corrupt taste. Let us not from this
source imbibe the love of those things
which crafty because they are sensa-
tional, and cast contempt upon tie per-
manent relationship Of lite.
Very much may be done by the agency
Of law against the evils which lead t."
self destruction; but public sentiment
must be educated to support it. and So
cial influence must be brought to act
benevolently and constantly. Don't east
out a man who is going down. The
question to each of you is. have you
been the good Samaritan to him who is
enchained IN his sin, and has been pros
trated by the roadside? The moral and
social influence We may exert may be
far more influential than law. 1t is bet
ter even than public sentiment. 1t coca
to the marts of business with you. it
follows you on the street, it attends you
in your homes. Does not every patriot
and citizen desire that the sin and
ruin be suppressed, and do We not de-
sire that in morality and sobriety, our
city of Portland. which we fondly hope
shall be the metropolis of this part of
the coast. shall be excel!ed by no city in
the land? Men will abandon evil traffic
and evil ways as soon as they feel the
pressure of the public sentiment against
Them. This appeal should come to you
especially in behalf of our young men.
No one can think of their future with
out q prayer for their welfare. and
longing hope that they will be checked in
the road to ruin and saved from these
Rlittering temptations. The law of love
is the most powerful of all-the one that
should most pervade our minds and
find its bright expression in our lives.
Don't turn cold shoulder to any un-
fortunate man. Tell him be is riding
on the platform of train of cars bear
ing him to destruction. Point out to
him the warning on the door. Tell him
father, mother, sister and friends are
watching him. Urge him to grasp the
coupling pin and detach his car from
the train and switch off on the safe