The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-05-23

TO IN act that. while IL stops all re-
proaches, arouses the sympathy Of
friends and appeals to the charity Of
enemies.
Has man been wronged. he imag-
ines that self-destruction in some way
makes the fact prominent, and that his
self-immolation makes the public the
instrument Tor reproaching and pun
| ishing those who have wronged him. A
man who thinks he has not been under
stood or appreciated is apt tofancy
that his sudden taking off in a mysteri-
ous way will open the eyes of the
| world to the talent and ability that was
allowed to perish with him, and, ami
mated by this thought, he takes his re-
venge ON the public by an act which he
hopes will tear their hearts with re-
morse. 42 1AA ~ N#A AsN
The letters left by many suicides
show that in some such spirit they
contemplated self-destraction. Others
write as though they were simply tired
Of life, and disgusted with their own
inflrmitics. Others, again, wIite not
at all, but carry all clew as to motive
with, them into the beyond. While the
public looks upon suicide as cowardly,
it is easy for the person who has de-
termined on suicide TO convince him.
self that his act is in some sense heroic.
Certain it is that much thinking on sui
eide makes men mad, and in seeking
causes for the increased rate of self
destruction, we may find the principal
one in the fact that with the change in
public opinion toward the suicide has
come a disposition to dwell more on
the romantic and peculiar features OF
suicide cases.
In the old time the suicide was count.
ed in the list of outcasts. The act it
self received the severest condemnation
of the Church, and was looked upon
with horror by the people. There was
in public print and common conversa-
ton no disposition to excuse and no
tendency to justify the act by an array
of causes, or by enlarging upon the
troubles and trials of the deceased.
| There was no encouragement to dwell
on the subject in secret or public, but
popular sentiment, custom and tradi-
ton all were SO many influences to di-
rect mems minds away from the sub
iect. The sentiment in the churches,
the attitude of the Church itself, and
the feeling among the people at large,
all have changed, there is now more
charity for the act, and more considera-
ton for the person who commits sui
eide, than formerly, and the means OF
| directing public thought to such occur
rences having greatly increased, are
used without scruple. In this change
of public sentiment we, may find one
! reason for the increase in the suicide
| rate. fsslsass- E
Supplementary to this is the fact that
suicides find apoiogists and defenders
in many brilliant and erratic writers.
An article is published, written years
ago by John M. Buckley (who is said
to have committed suicide few days
since) which is in effect a strong plea
for charitable judgment on the suicide,
If Mr. Buckley did commit suicide, he
applied to the disappointments of his
career the reasoning common to dis
eased minds, and the article written in
| former years shows that his mind had
been dwelling on the subject, and that
he had taken the first step in the direc-
ton of danger.
Many seek causes for the numerous
suicides in the hard times and incident
privations. As a rule, however, the
trials of people struggling against pov.
erty tend to rouse the very qualities in
human nature that contribute to whole
some and practical thought, even
though it be commonplace and prosy.
-Chicago Inter- Ocean.