New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-07
RIGHT TO DEATH DENIED.
JUDGE BALDWIN'S ARGUMENT con
pENfNED BY MANY

The American Association Of Social Science is
in session a. Saratoga and Judge Simeon h Bald
win. its president. in his opening address on last
MONDAY evening used "a nis text The Natural
Right Of Man 10 Death" Judge BALDWIN strongly
advocated mans natural right 20 die. should he
feel disposed and In his arguments in support
OF his position. he advanced the following.
After speaking Of the efforts Of science 70 pro-
long nfe. when the sufferer IS IN the grasp II
disease TO which the ending admittedly must he
fatal. Judge Baldwin. said
The vital forces have been spent The main
spring IS broken ana the watch has run down
I; can be made 10 tick fcehly for minute or two
hv shaking ~ hard enough. hut cut bono only
another handspring can mend IT, Only another
soul. another world can give value 20 this human
nfe that is ready to flicker ont because n IS worn
The family ask the doctor IS there is no hope
hVpodermic injection some TRANSMISSION or infusion
lungs that cannot breathe the vital air. some cum
ming way OF stimulating some Other organ no ''
and gssps back TO few more days OF NE.
nfe or a parody of lifec Has nature that IS. he
divine order OF things-heen helped or ihWaii'a.
For the time thwarted. but not for lone
Some further references t. Ike vein follow. and
then Judge BALDWIN closed his speech with this
peroration
But nov from the present. sta3dPolnt ~ 'honsh
j. not this misapplca'l ~ me n'tin1 %,
Is u not an unnatural contest with hl"Hy. as
we'll as unconqueraol", fate, or. lni US Ti'l'I
say kindly law 10y which God rules m" uniNeis"
ana makes II nj place ,or The haniiaNDn o. nose
whom be has made after his own spiritual imag'
While from the tclorraphic reports ~ the speech
that have reached This city. Judge baldwin does
not SO FAR ~ actually 70 advocate tho passage
OF law permitting physicians. whom IN their j3ar-
ment il seems right so ~ DO 80 shorten Tho livos
Of patients III from some disease that g. incurahie
It "a only natural deduction that Jfdge Baldwin
would not disapprovo such law. and his remarks
strongly hint NJ Il This theory cannot he said
IN itself to be new. but that man Ike Judge
Baldwin should advance and champion it. SIS a
novelty and gives to IT an Importance that T. would
not otherwise have.
II is only step further 10 establish lethal
chamber under Cove rnment supervision wherein
any weary Of the cares and burdens OF this
mortal existence. could throw them quietly down
IN strictly legal manner The reports Of Judge
Baldwin's speech have evoked wide comment and
condemnation from many. The two slhjoined IN
terviews well voice The opinions of two Of the
leading professions on the subject
FX-Judge John p. Dillon. Nioo-cnairman ~ the
Medico-Lesal Society and leading attorney for the
Goula interests said regarding II
II have not seen the text o. Judge BaldUin's
address at Saratoga. Judge Baldwin is not only
a. eminent lawyer but also thinker. lie has been
president of the American Bar Association and Of
the American Science Association. and is now
professor u law In the Yale Law School, and
Judge OF the Supreme Court of the State 80 Con-
respectful consideration.
If, however ne maintains tho proposition mat
under any circumstances tho law ought - allow
human life 10 he taken away either by iuatteh-
ton or by the administration OF medicines TO that
end cannot agree with him That doctrine IS
abhorrent 10 my notions. and II would be capable
Of great abuse. The .aw rightly IS that II is 1ust
as criminal u take the life OF person hopclcssly
III. with death impending a. 10 IS 20 TAX" the
life OF person in fun health and so The law ought.
in my Judgment. 10 remain
Or. Gerardus H. WynkOop said II have no.
Judge Raldwn's speech in ul and 10 i4. OF
course. possible that De did not make thc state
Inents attributed 10 him. that they possess
different meaning when the whole text is read
together. in opinion the suggestion Of Judge
Baldwin IS both improper and impractl, able aul
l. contrary TO the sentiment of c-ti lzed people.
and IS giving TO the members of the medical pro-
fession ii liberty which they d. not seek. and would
medical man of large experience who has not per
sOnally seen cases whore. iu his opinion. death
seemed Inevitable. and yet the patient has recoy-
cred The most noteworthy case Of the kind that
comes 10 my mind IS that ~ Charles O'Conor the
great jurist. all OF whose physicians gave him nap.
and who lowered for weeks on the very threshold
Of the grave. and vet O'ConOr recovered AID lived
for number of years.
The medical profession Is as honorable any
other. and possessed Of great number Of hon
est men. luf also have black sheep. and 20
carry out completely JuGS, RaliWlns suggestion
would he 10 afford legal cloak for tNat most aw-
ful Of crimes the taking Of human l..c.'