The herald., 1896-06-17

ana those alone, must be attributed the
cause for the destruction of his own
life. Happiness never creates . desire
for death, SO only the wretched and mis-
erable-those who suffer physically and
mentally-ever experience tho desire
or feel the motive to destroy their own
existence. We are all creatures of cir
cumstances from the start in life to
Its finish, and no man controls or shapes
his own destiny. We are all Involuntary
thinkers, and can no more stop think
ing for one instant while awake than
we can stop breathing by an effort of
the will. or in the same manner stop the
circulation of the blood We are COM
PEELED by nature to think; our surround
ings shape our thoughts, and be they
cheerful or respondent, we must keep
up perpetual thinking during waking
hours. Had we the power to suspend
thinking, or to control our thoughts few
men would be driven to oself-destruction
for happy thoughts would insure de-
sire to continue life instead of ending
it.. The very fact that people commit
self-murder is conclusive evidence that
the state Of mind produced by their sur
roundings was the cause that led to the
act. Society produces the conditions
that create criminals and suicides, and
the individual Is never responsible for
an act which analysis reveals to have
been compulsory. Put Yourself in His
Place, was, I believe, the title of one of
Charles ReadeS novels. and before any
person condemns another for the TAX
ing of his or her own life, that person
should realize fully all the facts and in
fuences that drove that human being
to suicide. One of the most determined
opponents to suicidal remedies for hu-
man Ills and suffering that can be
named or mentioned-a brilliant lite
rary genius and believer in immortal
ity, who taught that great and pro-
l>v
murderer in the next world-ended his
own life with a pistol shot. thus re-
vealing the truth of these words:
"Whate'er we perpetrate we do but row;
we're steered by fate" We are the
slaves of conditions everywhere and at
all times. and the most foolish thing
any man can do is to assert that he Is
superior to his environments and will
not be controlled by them. We are the
sport of time and circumstances during
every step of the universal journey to
the tomb; necessity keeps us In motion
and destiny directs our footsteps. We
walk as we must, and never do we rise
above the force of circumstances. Said
John w. Draper Men do not
control events. but events control men,"
Said Gen. Grant: There are few i'm
portant events in our lives brought
about by our own choice" Had he said
there are none" he would have uttered
an absolute truth. Said Thomas Car
lyle: 1T is not in man that walketh to
direct his steps," and any man who de-
nfes this statement should refute 1t by
writing his autobiography in advance.
BY so doing. If his life afterward accords
with 1t. he Will have demonstrated that
circumstances from day to day, which
no man can foresee, are not what control
human action and decide human con-
duct. The strongest attribute in human
nature iS the aversion dnq fh Whnn
healthy and happy; SO when it is weak
ened and destroyed, it must be done by
the loss of health or happiness, which
loss no person ever desired or permitted
voluntarily. Health and happiness are
forced from person when they are lost,
and whoever loses the same is changed
individual with different motives and
thoughts in control Of actions. When
we behold the misery that prevails
throughout the world, and the suffering
that humanity undergoes. 1t Is not a
matter for surprise that some people
end their own existence, but that more
do not Mental misery or physical pain
in sufficient quantity will drive any hu-
man being to end his life, and some are
enough to be 80 driven.
Those who are should receive our SYM
pathy and regrets: and not harsh criti-
cism and severe judgment. Under pre-
cisely the same circumstances. with
similar temperaments and capt. ity to
resist and endure, we would have done
likewise. All talk of enacting laws to
punish those who attempt suicide and
fail would have but one effect to make
the attempt more certain: for when
person has ceased to fear death and de-
sires 1t, statute laws are impotent and
vain and foolish. AS suicides
increase with the spread and growth of
suffering and misery. there Is but ono
to insure q stoppage or de-
crease, and that is improved social and
industrial conditions whereby the wants
and the comforts of life will be secured
to every human being. 1t is folly to
fight effects, and suicides are nothing
but effects which result from the wrongs
and inequalities that modern civiliza-
tion is full of.
c. SEVERANCE,