The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-07
Self Murder.

Self Murder.
Some of the recent sensational suicides.
here and elsewhere, have given occasion
for good deal of ill-informed scrmonizing
IN pulpits and papers; but we have seen
nothing imprint regarding them that con-
tanned more blunders than appear in n
sermon OF one of our local clcrgymen. 1t
was doubtless well that this clergyman
should show up the wickcdness of self
murder dissuade his hearers from COM
uniting II, and urge them 20 labor to do
away with its prevalence. 1t is sinful
ana criminal, an Outrage against divine
law, against its miserable victim, and
against society. We hold that sermons
against II are in order, and that exhorta-
lions against II may he advantageous We
may say also that some OF the arguments
against II by the clergyman before us are
sound, and that the scrptural quotations
brought in here aud there are properly ap-
piled.
But the preacher dotted his sermon all
over with errors, gross and astonishing
errors, relative to the extent and causes of
self murder. For this he deserves TO be
reprimnnded; and his looseness of thought
on the subject might be held up AS "A warm
ing To- loose-minded reasoners on other
subjects. Accuracy in regard to matters
of argument, and rigorous precision of
statement upon points of fact are fuuda-
mentally important TO all moralzers
though we are constantly finding evidence
that all OF them do not steadily realize this
truth.
suicide" said the preacher, soon after
he had opened, Z" has increased tenfold in
all Christian capitals within the last
twenty years" Now. this is All extrn-
ordinary and preposterous blunder. Ii
has not Increased even twufold. or any
where near IT, in any one of the Christian
capitals; and in several Of them il has
actually decreased within the period re-
fcrred TO. This is not ql.estl on which
there can be any difference of opinion;
for it Is settled by official documents, by
the reports of British, French, German,
and Austrian statistical societies. and Inv
the Investigations of the great Belgium
statistician, NJ. QUETELEr. The Christian
capital y in which suicides bear the largest
ratio to the population is Berlin, not
Paris; but even in Berlin within the last
twenty years the ratio has decreased,
while in Paris within the last five years
there has been an increase, though not
twofold, much less tenfold. In London.
the ratio, ms compared with that of other
great cities, is very low, and it has varied
but little one way or the other i'm recent
years, from what IL was in the frst third
OF the century, according to the figures
given in DR.. FoRDEs NINsLow's "Ana-
tony OF Suicide"
In New York, this preacher went on
to say there are not less than five hun
dred suicides yearly Now, this is an
egregious bunder. We have before us.
in official reports, the annual statistics
of the city on this subject for many years
past. The average yearly number, during
the last twenty years has ranged from 100
TO 40, or about one-fourth as many as are
set down by the preacher. All the neces-
sary facts on this point can be found in the
Coroners' reports, and in a disquistion by
DR. HAMILTON.
The preacher next told his hearers that
more women than men commit suicide;"
and lac added, "it is no wonder" This ia
a grotesque blunder. BY studying the re- |
ports above referred TO, he will find tbat
less than one-fourth of the self-murderers
in tins city, year by year, are women; and
by referring to the last census of tho
United States, he will find the statistics Of
the whole country on the subject.
The preacher next assured his hearers
that self murderers are usually "persons
OF the philosophic cast of mind, or per-
sons disappointed in love, or victimized
by lust" Now, this is n ridiculous blum
der. The point is one on which statistics
arc not so easily got rs they are on the
other points; but we once took occasion
To make some inquiry into the causes of
suicide, so far as they could be learned
from the CorOners reports and other
records, and we were surprised TO find
how little philosophy and love had to do
with II. We found that more than three
lourths OF all cases of it were stimulated
by the loss OF money, by extreme poverty,
by hopeless suffering, by domestic infe-
lefty, or by some disorder of the brain or
nervous system which tended to superin-
luce insanity. This is hard and unro-
mantle statement; but it is based on in
vestigation.
NOW then, In so far as the preacher we
nave criticised argued from the blunders
mere pointed out, he argued wrongly.
Hereafter, in dealing with this or any
other subject, he must he mora carag,,, 80 |