The herald., 1896-06-11
IS SUICIDE WRONG

A remarkable and painful epidemic OF
suicide seems to have lately attacked
the community, and it would seem high
time that the sin and disgrace Of sui
eide should be pointed out, if not from
the pulpit then by the press. The old
Mosaic law, Thou shalt not kill" in
reality applies just as much to the in
dividuals disposition of his own life as
of that Of his neighbor. In olden days
and in older countries, where life is re-
garded perhaps with greater reverence.
an attempt to commit suicide is
and punished by Imprisonment.
But in this country the law
apparently recognizes the right of
an individual to do away with himself,
if he pleases, and no penalty is attached
to the offense, provided he does not in
convenience or damage his neighbor.
AS matter Of fact is not
every suicide or attempt to COM
NIT suicide an offense against, or
a dangerous menace to the sanity and
safety, of the community? The only
logical ground on which we hang mur-
derer is for the sake Of example; al
though the justice of the ancient law of
retribution, life for a life, is incon-
trovertible. If then, for the sake of eX-
ample. the people inflict the death pen
atty upon the man who takes the life of
another, ought not the man who az
tempts to take his own life also to be
punished, since the force of example
in this instance seems peculiarly preg-
nant?
Every suicide suggests to the de-
spondent or afflicted a way out of
difficulty, disease, or trial, which some
one else has just been intrepid enough
to try. No mans life is indisputably his
own; no man can live entirely to him
self; even if he has no one dependent
upon him, and apart entirely from a
religious point of view, his attempt to
take his own life would seem detri-
mental to the community. The only
possible justification for suicide on ethi-
cal grounds would be in the case of a
man who is clearly convinced that his
life Is a burden or danger to his family or
his neighbor. From the fact that the
instinct of representation is the
strongest in the human constitution, 1t
is argued that the mind of the man or
WOI1ldu WHO cOnleillpldteS SUICIDE is Qe-
ranged Too often, however, suicide is
the most deliberate act of a mans life;
he believes that his burdens are intoler-
able; he is desperate and resolved. If it
is the act of a disordered mind even if
the detention be not punitive, the would
be suicide should certainly be looked
after for period of time. If he had
succeeded in his attempt, jury would
have found that he was temporarily in
sane but he made bad shot, his razor
was too blunt, or the stomach pump is
successful. and he is allowed to walk
away from the hospital or the police sta
ton with all the privileges oe a sane
citizen.
The attempt to commit suicide is re-
garded in common law as an indictable
misdemeanor, but it is not generally SO
recognized in theUnited States. In Mass
achusetts it has been decided that it is
not criminal offence; in New York the
attempt still constitutes an offence un-
der the penal code. In California as soon
as mans injuries no longer require
the attentions of public surgeon, he IS
free to make the attempt again.
The right and the wrong of suicide from
either religious or civil point of view
timely topic of discussion, and The
Herald would be pleased to receive and
publish, for "a limited time, brief and
properly written communications from
its readers regarding the subject.