The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-04-04
killing Hopelessly Diseased People.


duced bill lcgalizing the painless
killing of persons afflicted with hope
less DISEASE, or of infants suffering
from suoh malformations as to oonsti-
tute blight on their lives, even
should they attain maturity. The
project reused wrathy criticism from
all portions Of the country, and spe-
cifcally so in Iowa. Finally the
storm became SO fierce that the author
o., tho bill felt compelled to withdraw
it in obedience to public sentiment,
though there is no doubt that it
would have been overwhelmingly
voted down had it reached vote in
the Legislature. He predicated his
withdrawal With the statement that
he was triae !eemature in proposing
such an innovation, but he was satis-
fed that with the evolution Of thought
and science the majority Of people
would come round to his stand. He
predicted that within q comparatively
few years we would see the universal
application Of this method, which is
known as "euthanasia."
"A Chicago newspaper gives the fol-
lowing interview with the author of
the bill, in which he briefly sum.
marizes his argument for the enact
ment and enforcement Of the measure
now withdrawn:
my measure is humane one,"
said DR.. Gregory, in discussing his
proposed law the other day. "It may
be that it is too revolutionary in effect
to pass this legislature, but the time
will surely come, and that, COO, with
in the next twenty years, when some
suoh law will be on the statute books.
It is step We must surely take some
timo.
"What I propose for the relief Of
human beings is No more than you are
now praotioing in he exercise Of hu-
manity in dumb srimals. When
your favorite horse breaks log or
loses his teeth you 1udd hi5 miss5fy
With well.directed shot. You don't
wish to see him suffer the remainder
Of his days aud enjoy none of the
pleasure of life.
IA friend Of nine VINO suggested
this bill to me told of a relative who
had been paraly zed for three years.
dying lingering death which was as
certain as it was slow. He first be-
came absolutely paraiy zed, unable 10
move hand or foot. Then he lost the
power Of speech, and then came the
loss Of sight. The man may live q
year or two longer, but death is in-
evitable. How much more huuane it.
is for physician to administer sorne
auesthetic to such q patient and
painlessly end it all in few min
utes. -:
$50, too, with those being eaten up
by leprosy or cancer. Then, toe,
there are many, many imbecile, hid
eously deforEed or hopeless|y dis.
eased children that are born into this
world every day, only to be burden
to themselves, to their family and to
the State for the remainder Of their
lives. Our State institu.. .ous are fill-
cd with such cases. They should be |
killed in infancy" -.
This proposition met it's just fate,
and We sincerely congratulate the peo-
pie of Iowa shat they made such stir |
that the originator deemed it advis.
able to regulate it to limbo. We'may !
put to death hopeless]y diseased AMI
mails; but We are pot inclined to place !.
human beings on the same plane with
them. We believe most Of us--that |
man has soul, and when the Creator |
is pleased to recall that soul, He will |
DO SO in his own good pleasure. We
subscribe to the same opinion as ra.
gards infants. No man or set Of men, /
however, gifted, have. the right TO de-. |
oido thata child, even ngh hope |
lessly doformed, shall b. .sprived Of |
life and what Is may mean to him OF
her in later years.. ,...,.*= Z
, AT the present rate, moreover. at !
which medical aud surgioal science is I
advancing, who is competent to say !!
that aby disease or malformation Is
inoursbios Physioians and surgeons
nowadays perform feats that would
have been accorded miracles ID. the |
darker ages, and We are willing to oon.
eede .that those of ten years hence
may make the achievements or their
present brethren appear childish lind
bungling,, 900: :5Ssi. y q: # $zf.
50 ~ /. q niathonasle day. when dodft