The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-26
SUICIDE AND SANITY.

SUICIDE AND SANITY.
Our dispatches yesterday reported the
suicide Of young woman who had loved.
had been cruelty used and had in her
despair leaped from the "Bridge of Signs"
which has been the Jumping of place for
many a world-wearied life. Another case
reported was that Of a young journalist
whom financial reverses had reduced to
state of melancholia that ended in suicide.
The question whether every suicide is in
sane has been frequently argued. The
true answer probably would depend upon
what we mean by sanity. II We mean
simply that degree of mental and moral
responsibility for our actions which would
justify q jury of physicians in pronounc-
ing us legally inexcusable for our acts, then
doubtless very many suicides have been
committed by persons who were sane. but
If We mean by sanity absolutely perfect,
harmonious health Of mind and body,
then few suicides have been sane.
Suicide may be the &C: of an absolutely
insane, irresponsible person, or it may be
the act Of a person who was sane enough
to be absolutely responsible to human and
divine law for his actions. The deliberate
purpose to commit suicide in event Of de-
feat was formed and cherished by Freder-
lex the Great. who carried poison in his
clothes for seven years in preparation for
the worst, and yet during all these years
the great soldier was unquestionably
J~1nJI,s Wh0J> e;t;oa ~rJ
ties have destroyed themselves with their
wives. children and property rather than
accept the slavery Of the conqueror that
surrender implied. Sane soldiers have
taken their lives to escape torture at the
hands OF savage enemy: sane women
have committed suicide rather than suffer
shame; sane men have stabbed themselves
to death in tho court room to
cheat tho guillotine or the gallows.
Self-destruction In such cases does
not imply insanity any more
than it implied insanity for
the philosopher Seneca to accept the
choice which Nero gave him of
opening his veins or being brutally muir
dered by band of ruffian soldiery. 1t is
simply q reasonable choice between two
bitter fates. Frederick Of Prussia and
George Washington were both doubtless
legally sane men, yet Frederick resolved
not to survive defeat. capture and de-
thronement, while George Washington,
who fought with q rope about his neck
against his king. probably never thought
of suicide in case he had been defeated,
captured and condemned to die Is a
traitor. The difference of decision
under such circumstances would largely
turn upon question OF temperament,
early education and environment. Fred
erick was selfish soldier, like Napoleon,
fighting for ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, for military
glory, while Washington was fighting for
human rights, for an immortal principle
and just cause. To Frederick, just as to
Napoleon, who attempted suicide when his
throne was lost and his power was gone.
all was lost, because be was not a man of
principle. fighting for Just and noble
cause; he was like a miser who had lost
his gold; he had nothing more to live for.
while 10 man like Washington defeat.
death would not be reasons for self.
destruction; a man OF principle. fighting
for great cause, he would have scorned
suicide. would have
Climbed the lofty ladder
AZ 1t were tho way 10 heaven
SO with men of the John Hampden
type; We cannot think of Vane. Hampden
or Cromwell stopping 10 suicide; they
stood for something far higher and nobler
than self, and all was not lost if defeat.
capture or death ensued: but to men of
genius With q low aim and cruel. selfish
purpose and personal ambition suic,d.
would be the natural thought when de.
ieated, because with the material ties of
life gone life MAS no longer worth living:
they were fn;sers hopelessly parted from
their gold, and suicide is the natural reftlre
Of such fell spirits. Napoleon confessed g.
Eiba that the reason he did not persist in
attempts a. solt-!estructioa was the re-.
tsction tina, it would crafty his enemie.
moro than any act Of his life and bs
won!d be a fool to please those Who had
wrecked bis fortunes.
AheTe may seem 10 he small choice in
suicides. but II never seemed 10 Us nsr,ic.
ulsrsy just - treat with coulnarstixs
tenderness the memory OF s person who
committed suicide because of loss of mon.
erty or worldly honors aud then to .neer
az suicide as especially contemrtihls b..
cause be died of grief for woman. 4
great many men break down anu COMM,
suicide. as did the young journalist last
week IN Idaho, because they have lost
their money. bat 20 q man Of retinemen:
and reelection, while decent fellow. who
died because lie had lost his girl, would
not seem hero. nevertheless there would
be greater feeling OF tenderness for his
memory than for the fellow who took his
life because he had lost his duca,s. TIE
rough world IS probably RICH: when il
thinks a. .sAss ~ seadsziy OF . maa Who