The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1897-01-16
SUICIDE is A MISTAKE.


On August Ia, 1892, Joseph b.
McCuilagh, late editor Of the Globe
Democrat, wrote the following edi.
torial of Judge Norval's action 10
committing suicide;
1t is related by Montague that in
former times there was kept in the
city of Marsailles poison prepared
out Of hemlock, at the public charge,
to be administered TO those who de-
sired To hasten their end, on the con-
dltion that they should first give sat-
isfactory reasons and motives for
their purposes to the legal authori-
ties. unfortunately he does not tell
how often the permission TO die was
granted, or what causes were consid-
cred sufficient to justify it ,.S,-.fI c.:ifI!''
safe to say that IL :. ssS',s-'' put II Is
vail. 1, ,his r.@siich rule pre-
,,r,o sns~op country al the present
ss2s'few or none would get leave to
end their own lives.
The reason assigned for suicide.
in most instances, are obviously in
adequate, both logically and moral
ly. They pertain usually to those
slings and arrows Of fortune which
are the part Of the general experlen-
ce Of life, and which countless thous
ands OF people are constantly endur-
ing without thought OF self-destruc-
tion. There are emergencies, of
course, in which it may easily seem
TO man OF sensitive or melancholy
organization that he has outliyetl his
usefulness, and that the best thing
he can do is TO quit the world where
he has become superfuous, II not
burdensome; but the darkness of
such situations 10 apt to be exagger-
ated even In the worst cases. II
submitted to jury Of intelligent and
disinterested persons The decision
would invariably be that the victim
OF misfortune that he thinks un-
bearable is not entitled TO the covet-
ed poison, but owes alike 10 himself
and to society the duty of survival.
Those who read the newspapers do
not need TO be told that suicide, like
INSANITY, is steadily increasing. This
is due in large part to the severe
strain Of our methods Of life, We do
everything at high pressure and with
little relaxation. The struggle for
wealth and position is so fierce and
exacting that the strongest faculties
are not always equal to the task, aud
so it is not to be wondered ut that
weaker brains frequently lose their
balance and leave men at The mercy
Of irrational impulses.
Moreover, we cannot be sure that
the reasons given for these self.kill-
ings are the only moving considera-
tions. The heart knoweth its own
bitterness and noes not always reveal
the whole story of trial, defeat and
misery. Therp are secrets and mys-
teries in the matter that we cannot
understand, But the supreme fact
remains that surrender to sinister
forces in any stress Of misfortune is
grave mistake and a violation Of
solemn duty.
Things are, happily, so ordered in
the sceeme Of the universe that there
is another chance for every one who
fails. 1t is not necessary TO give up
because fate refuses TO be propiated
in our favor and at particular time
or for particular purpose. We are
not obliged to yield our right of ex-
istence because it is Knocked by in
terposing disaster and sorrow. The
true ana manly roursc is TO go on in
trying for success, in spite Of all
drawbacks and disappointments.
That is what we are placed here for,
and we cannot afford to otherwise.
The plea Of despoira in short. is
not a valid one where TIE opportuni-
ty Of further effort Is provided, and
the hope Of final trum{h is not TAX
en- away while life remR Rns.
President Mckinley Noe ot,o....