Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-09-30
Suicides.and Their Causes.
Frsm The Chicago Journal.


One of the most noteworthy feat.
ures of our present time is the ire
quency of suicide. Every day we
hear of men and women voluntarily
ending their lives by drowning,
poison, shooting or hanging. There
is APPARENTLY a mania of self-destruc-
tion in this country as formerly thore
was in France.
| Whether person who is in full
| possession and control of his mind
can, or ever does deliberately kill
himself, is a question upon which the
mental and sociological philosophers
are still at variance. TO those who
are in their right minds, it does not
seem possible, and for this reason, il
for no other, the probabilities of the
| argument are on the side of those
who contend that no person, unless
afflicted with insanity, either spas
motto or as a disease, can commit
suicide. Be this as it may, the fire.
quency with which we have of late
been startled by events of this char
acter, is legitimate subject of in
quiry and discussion.
A somewhat careful observation
and study of the circumstances and
assigned reasons of suicide, so far as
they could be ascertained, has led US
| to the conclusion that there are two
principal causes, one Or the other OF
which explains nearly every case of
voluntary self-destruction, homely,
domestic troubles and financial enlbar-
rassment.
l. The Same reason that explains
the frequency OF divorce suits in
these latter-day times also explains
the frequency of suicide for domestic
reasons: ill-judgod marriages and
the follcs and vices Of our social
system Yourg couples rush into
matrimony with tut seriously count
ing it's cost or its obligations, and
often without knowing or caring to
know whether they are, by fortune,
nature, disposition or tastes, suited
TO each other for that lifelong part
nership into which they pledge them
selves. A few weeks or months OF
conjuga compsnionship discovers TO
one or the other, or both, the
unfortunate mistake they have made
mistake that can never be cor
rected 10 this worlI-and it follows
either that two minated mates must
fight out peAceless battle of life, or
resort to one of four alternatives
the divorce court, if u sufficient
pretext can be trampcd up; mutual
separation; deserti0n; or that self
destruction which, as some believe,
is the end of all trouble. The
suicide of women, whether married
or unmarried, is more often due to
wrongs and hardshipa thatare heaped
upon them by selfish, reckless or
british men, than to any other cause.
The man can take care of himself,
but the woman who is dependent
upon him, cannot, and the neglect or
injustice of the man who owes her
protection and support drives her to
to Observation-Disclosures and her
last resort is death.
2. The "hard times" which more
or less severely affect all classes, are
no doubt in great measure explana-
tory of the unusual number of recent
suicides Many men and women
who have been accustomed to the
Injuries, at least the comforts OF life,
and who are now suddenly thrown
upon meagre resources-too proud
to work and too sensitive to beg
now find life an unbearable burden,
and after making all the shifts that
their enginuity can devise to "get
along" thoy fail, and landing in the
Slor Oh of Despond, go mad and seek
death. There have been hundreds
of such cases during the past two
years of "hard times" and if the
present depressed condition of affairs
continues, there will be many more.
We are in the midst of a peculiar
and extraordinary era. The fnan-
cial, commercial and social excite
ments and excuses of a decade have
suddenly been followed by reaction,
which, by its revulsions, necessities
for close living, and actual hardships,
proves a very severe test to human
endurance. Many succumb and go
down hopelossly; many others en-
deavor resolutely to brave the trials
of iIl.fortune, and yield only after a
manful battle with circumstances;
while here and there one, despairing
at once, punges into desperation, if
not Immediate destruction. The
financial, industrial and social condi-
tions of these past few months have
not been more phenomenal and un-
usual than those of the worlds cll-
mate and meteooil)gy. 1t wouli
seem that we have fallen upon pc
cuIiar and singular era of affairs IN
the worlds developing history. 1t
is time for patience, philosophy,
good sense, and a cheerful faith.
The faithful heroes of such time as
this are those who will earn and re-
ceve, any of Gods creatures will a
if gloriuos immortality, after this"lifes
fitul fever"
rWI am proud to say that UhiIe the
Republican party may hare erred, ithas
not proved false to any great principle,
nor cowardty in the presence Of any
qrent question. It's aims are noble and
patriotic, and it does not seek a contin-
uance in posoer by panderingto uice and
prejudice, but refers to its past record
Of great actions in behalf Of the Union,
Of liberty, education, equality and the
material gro,0th and improvement OF
the nation, as an earnest Of Uhat 1t
seeks to accomplish in the future
Senator Morton.
When you sit down to nice
clean sheet of paper to write some
poetry do not do it. There are
$40, 900 900 out of the 1900, 100000
-arII M