The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-31
KANSAS COMMENT
PRICE OF cIyILIZATIoN.

1t is deadly price we pay for our
civilization. according to the statlstlcS
tabulated by an eminent physician or
New York Some of these statistics
seemingly give the lie to the claim thar
we have any civilization at all, while
all of them constitute the strongest kind
of arguments in behalf of home mis-
sions. DR.. Kellogg the physician VINO
in favor Of a federal health department,
claiming that under such auspices ana
with the facilities and the prestige OF
such a department, immense advances
might be made. Whether this IS the
solution of the problem or not, there
can certainly be no question that it
should be solved so early as practical
BILE and that the best thought and eff
fort of the nation should be directed
to that end.
According to DR.. Kellogg's figures
there were in round numbers 1O,OOO
murders in the United States last year
twice as many as in India in proper
ton to the population, and India IS
proverbially a country OF homlcioes.
There were 1900 suicides in the Uni
ted States last year. an increase of SO
per cent in seven years and a ratio OF
Ii for each 100000 Of the population
That the appalling increase in murders
and suicides is due at least In part
to the terrible rapidly with which in
sanity is on the increase would appear
to be shown by the fact that there are
today In the United States 100000 IN
sane patients locked up in institutions
with no one knows how many uncon-
fined. There has been 300 per cent
increase in insanity in the past 90 years:
Half q century ago the ratio was 6o0
insane to the million of population. To-
day New York state produces 900 luna
tics annually for each million OF popu-
lation, and there are 10000 confined
lunatics in New York. At the present
time the proportion of insane to sane
people in New York is $3.50 In the mil
lion, more that six times the proper
ton 80 years ago.
Americans must be living at a
terrific pace when in single year
there can be 10000 murders, 1900 sui
cides and $500 new cases OF insanity
every year. DIR. Kellogg declares 260,-
600 people would be saved annually il
the death rate from chronic disease
could be restored to what 1t was 81
years ago. Whatever the remedy may
be found to be these melancholy ana
even disquieting facts argue for its
Grafton of all available agencies toward
that end.-Pafsons Eclipse.
QUANTRELL'S HEROES"
The world can occasionally find some
excuse for a man who has committed
a crime and who shows some regret for
it. At least, in time, people can for
get it. But QuantrelPs raiders in their
assumed glory over the carnage that
they wrought along the free state
border have no intention of allowing
the world to forget. Every year on
| the anniversary of their bloody riot at
Lawrence they hold a reunion and are
vainglorious 'enough to think that the
world applauds them in their organiZa-
| ton They recount deeds of so-calied
valor that chill the blood of people who
realize all of the privileges Of war. Re-
unions of regular soldiers are never
marred by a continued story of the
ruin and suffering that they wrought.
4 The average old soldier regards his
| war experiences as something newt
able. OF course he Is proud of the fact,
| finds no joy nor pleasure in recounting
the suffering that he may have caused.
Not so he Quantreil- men who cannot
be honored by even the name of soldier.
At their reunions they recount glee-
| fully the manner in which they did
| their killing and enter into all of the
horrible details. One hero told
proudly at the reunion this year Of
| shooting down seven men. He finished
1 his list of achievements by describing
| how he shot an old white haired man
| between the eyes when he was drag
| ging himself, wounded, across the road.
| Cole Younger of bandit fame is one of
| the modest claimants for honor among
Iy valiant warrior, who, when tales of
| human death had begun to pail told of
how, when other targets failed, he shot
out the eyes of squirrels. Such are the
| tales of valor recouEted by Quantrelrs
| querrfllas-IIeaVenW Times.