, 1873-06-15
POLITICAL EUTHANASIA.

tho Birmingham philosophers, are just beginning
to advocate the doctrine of Euthanasa, which rec
ognizes self-murder as right and duty in
cases Of hopeless physical infr1aity, this doc
trine has been applied for centuries in Japan and
China as radical cure for political corruption.
In the recent announcement Of the Ministerial
crisis in Japan occasioned by the increase Of the
national debt and the excessive taxation Of the
people, it is stated in tho most 11atter-of-fact
way that "the Ministers may possibly receive
an order to commit suicide" It has not been
intimated that the Japanese Ministry are guilty
Of any such political crimes as have been e1-
posed in the United States during the past year.
We do not hear Of any Credit Mobihers, salary
grabs, defalcations among officials, selling out
Offices, taking br1bes, or imposing greater des-
exercised over the remainder. Bribery, in fact,
Beems to be so entirely novel that an inti-
nation Of gifttaking having come to the
cars Of Yokohama official, he Immediately
published pronunciamento to the effect that
the practice "is utterly opposed to civilized
IDEAS" The increaae in the Japan debt appears
to have been caused rather by Government
schemes for improving the condition OF the coun-
Try than by any system OF official thievery. But
the Japaneae folks ire evidently opposed to
national debt per Sc, and the Ministers responei-
ble for 1t to Be invited to put themselves be-
yond the reach Of future temptation. Another
instance Of the universal acceptance OF political
Euthnnasia among the Japanese il found in
the case Of Mr. Mori, the Japanese Minister to
the United States. It is stated that 1Ir.
Mori is suspected at homo Of having yielded to
the contamination Of Washington associations.
Mr- Mod's diplomatic career has always been
characterized by tetvent patriotism and desire
to secure for his native country all the adran-
tages which he found in America. He has
handled considerable money in his efforts to OBJ
tain some elements Of American progress, and it
is possible that ho may have followed the Oakcs
Amea precept Of placing this money "where it
would do most good" At all events, it il
charged that Mr. Mori has failed to
account satisfactorily for his e1pendi-
will find awaiting him On his return to Japan i
cordial Invitation to perform the national GER
emony Of ha,i-h5rl.
Without admitting in any case the justifca-
tion Of seh-murder, the Japanese application Of
the doctrine Of Euthanasa must commend itself
as more unselfsh and exalted than that of the
Birmingham philosophers~ The theory OF the
latter is, that, whenever consultation OF phy-
sicians reveals the fact thnt patient is a help-
lesa victim to incropitude or disease, and must
henceforth be burden to his friends
and = misery unto himself, it becomes
his duty to avail himself Of that mere bodkin
that will put away life, and thus permit his
friends to dispose Of him. There Ia nothing very
heroic in all this. It is simply the consumma-
ton Of the strict utiitarian philosophy Of life,
which seeks to obtain the maximum Of happi-
ness and to escape the pengs Of physical disease
or mental suffering. The principle which under
lies the practice Of political hari-kir however,
is the direct opposite Of this selfish philosophy.
It has d moral element which canno:
bo found in the Euthanasia doctrine
of the modern English sect. It is at once
an acknowledgement Of disgrace, an expiation Of
:1ine, wholesome warning to mankind, and an |
adectual removal from temptation. It ia sug-
gested by the same healthful policy which has
1endared capital punishment tho proper treat
nept Of capital crime. It rids tho State Of q !
dangerous enemy, and it foFeshadows the fate Of
all men who take advantage Of the public con
idence reposed in them to make depredations |
apon society. It is not difficult to conceive that |
man, under the conviction that there snothing
rong aboutit should willingly consent to take his
'wn life when he ia satisfied that his physical |
will henceforth render that life unen-
urabIe. But it is different thing to voiunta~
ily lesYa the world in the enjoyment Of good
salth, with plenty Of money, and the prospect
4 worldly grafacation. IN such case the act
Ia something of that primitive, barbaiin no-
,eneas which induces the coolie to hill himself
,hen his m.atar has had him whipped Is be-
reen the English and japanese systems Of