The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-09
THE SUICIDE QUESTION.
Some of the Causes of Increased Pre-
 valence of Self-murder.

From the New York Heard.
 The increased prevalence of suicide is again a matter of discussion by the press of the country. Various theories have been advanced in explanation of this de- plorable condition of affairs. For the most part they bear on the increased struggle for existence during these strenuous times After an Intellectual ef- fort, the 1isheartened man loses his nerve. and the pistol ball, rope or cup of poison Is the last and only argument left him. Or. convinced that he has outiived his usefulness and is no further good to | himself or others, he looks to death as a double relief. Then again, incurable sick ness. unbearable physical suffering, loss of friends, fortune, or reputation are leading and determining factors. Thus tt would seen that the causes of suicide are multiple enough to give us concern for some general and applicable remedy
 Not a few medical authorities asset that there Is a greater or less degree Of insanity in such cases, and that no per son of well balanced mind can think se- riously of seif-destruction. The strength of such opinion Is mainly supported by the well known fact that suicidal tenden- cies are most marked in the insane, and have their fullest development in that class of unfortunates. There Is suddenly much sound logic in such view, as 1t is comparatively easy to assume that there may be all sorts of gradations of mental instability between the raving maniac and the merely discontented or disappointed individual. As such the ory Is a charitable and plausible excuse for non-accountab ability of the victim, It pleads for wide acceptance, especially by his surviving relatives.
 Whatever may be said in favor of such a doctrine in its entirety and with all it's supposedly varied applications, we can at least admit that the act is most di- rectly due to an uncomfortable impulse absolutely ungoverned by reason or re- lection. From such point of view the prospective suicide is never himself It ,s then that he needs the sympathzing help that will eventually save him. That 1t so seldom comes at the right time. we have abundant and melancholy proofs. The representative person is always the one who Is most easily overcome by ad- verse circumstances His troubles are naturally more imaginary than real. This fact is generally demonstrated when 1t is too late and when the dreadful deed has been accomplished.
 The influence of mere impulse. sugges- ton. or opportunity is strkingly mani fested in would-be suicides who recover from their wounds. With very few ex- captions they always express regret for the attempt on their lives and become re- signedly willing to make a new start. Only then they realize that what to them seemed n relief was the worst of all punishments not only for themselves. but for those they would have left behind. How otherwise coul dbe explained tha suicide of the Respondent father of a de- pendent family. or that of the lovesick lad who weighs his all in the treacher- ous balance of passing fancy?
 At the bottom of most of the deplorable business is the lack of moral responsi- bility in the premises. Life which should be considered the greatest of all bless ings, Is viewed by the discouraged strug- gler as a mere convenience for the grati- fcatlon of purely selfish ends. If there e any disharmony with his environment he cowardy shirl,s all responsibility of att tempting to remedy adverse conditions by simply judging for himself whether he shall simply slip out or bravely go on. Forgetting that there is mo hap so hard. but may in time amend" he Is willing to take the greates of all risks in strv- ing to avoid what in the end may be the last of all probabilities.
 How to prevent suicide has always been a puzzling question After all must at least allow that the fundamental diff hculty in answering 1t Hes in the faulty makeup of man himself. In many ways he Is a misft with his environment. The discipline of disappointment Is taken by him as a punishment rather than les son. What the weak man needs is iit- tie more steadlness for present and com ing shocks. All must take their share of misfortune one way or the other. The comon lot should be the bearable lot. The end of all things come soon enough. At the worst there is only need for little more patience and little more submis- sion. If the suicide had stopped to think he might have been saved.
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