The Washington times., 1911-09-27

sons who have. studied. the science OF
| euthanasia since the recent tragedy IN
the Shaker colony, near Kissimmee
Fla, when a woman said to have beer
| in the last stages of tuberculosis was
chloroformed by her companions TO rid
| her Of her sufferings, have become
| wrought up over this science, and 1t il
/ known that at least two Washington
! clergymen are preparing to deliver elab-
crate sermons on the subject.
That the question of euthanasia, which
meant to the Greeks a happy. peaceful
state of mind at the end of life, has
many defenders as well as opponents, Is
realized by authorities on the subject.
Sister Sadie Marchant, a. member OF
the Florida Shaker colony, was nearing
death, so IL was declared. Brother Eg-
bert Gillette. head of the colony, as
sisted by another sister, urged on by
the frequent requests Of Sister Mar
chant, administered chloroform to her
in one of her hours of suffering and
put an end to her existence. This was
the statement of Brother Gillette. He
is being held on a charge of murder
and will be taken before the Osceola
county grand jury October 2, for hear
ing.
One of the best known physicians of
Washington, who has made a study OF
euthanasia for several years, has pre-
pared an article for The Times IN the
subject. 1t is as follows:
Doctrine of Euthanasia.
In little hamlet in northern Florida
a singular event has stirred the life OF
the thrifty people of that quiet region.
and has sent a rever6erating echo
throughout the land.
A sickly young Shaker woman, sup
posedly dying of consumption, was de-
Iiberat tely put to death by chloroform,
sent, not only of the suffering victim,
but also of her nearest and dearest
friends.
Was the act justifiable?
By the words of the victim, uttered
prior to her untimely death; by the
words of the parties directly concerned
in the commission of the deed itself,
the answer is, Yes" Before God and
before man, justification was precon-
Ceived and predetermined III the doc
trine of euthanaSia.
Shall man, by means at his disposal,
end the life and sufferings OF a hope
lessly incurable being? Shall man, by
moral or legal authority, deliberate
upon the extent OF SuIlSIlHB WHICH SiIdlI
burden a pain-racked and incurable
body, and, at the moment decided upon,
terminate the agony of the patient, by
snuffing out the spark of life?
Thou Shalt Not Kill.
To the religiously inclined. there Is
only one satisfactory answer to the
question-"Thou shalt not kill The
believer in the doctrine Of tuthanasia,
of his accepted principle, answers in
the affirmative; advocates the practice
of ending a life which has at best but
a transitory tenure, the continuance oil
which is a burden to the patient and
his kind-an existence of uncomfortable
and unending misery and despair. The
believer cites in Instance an act IN
which human life Is ended by authority
Of law-capital puniShment-and meets
the opponent of euthanasia with
strcng weapon, moral justification in
the attainment Of higher moral end
the reformation of the crimiially In
clned member of general society.
Shall a moral justification be found
for ending human life on the ground Of
humanity? The wore 'euthanasia
meant 20 the ancient Greeks happy
and quiescent state of being at the mo-
ment of death, and was of frequent ap-
pIication as descriptive of the last mo-
inents of the great national hero who
died in conscious knowledge of duty
we'll performed.
In the days of ancient Rome no him
drance existed, either legal or neral,
to the commission of The act, and not
only were drugs used TO allay human
suffering but, upon the decision of an
authorized party, the fatal issue could
be brought about byIa a proper means.
The Stoics, that school Of hardy an
cient philosophers, placed human hap
piness above human life and coanived
at the practice of ending the life and
suffering of the incurable and helpless
members of the human family by arti-
fetal methods.
Japanese Theories.
In Jaran the Stole tendency for many
centuries has found firm place in the
minds of tire people. Personal or politi-
cal honor was one thing-humar life
quite another. In a moment of dis
grace, when all that the Nipponese held
dear in life was about to vanish. his
honor was first-his life a matter Of
consideration. In order 20
wipe out the stain upon a proud name
he committed hari-kari-plunged q
sword into his bowels.
Two Japanese found themselves in
volved regarding point of honor. The
accepted, and, in defense of a wounded
though still vigorous spirit, each CON-
mitted haH-kar. Each plunged a
sword into his own bowels, died by his
own hand in the presence of his antaS-
onist, who, in a morally compliant
mood, kept the suicida! pact and ter
minated, at the same time, his own ex-
istence.
Among the Samurai. the military
class, hari-kari was the means byl
which the stained name was cleansed
Of its supposed taint. and ever after
ward cherished bv the members Of the
class as if the departed mate had per-
formed L highly meritorious deed on the
held Of battle and had died in defense
of his cUTntry's honor.
During the middle ages. the duel, fire.
,IIentiy INDUCED in by the most emf
nent mon of the day. gave 10 the world
the prevalent idea of the small value
placed urDn human life. AS late rs
the sixteenth century. a specimen of
this spectacular bIItfoonery was enacted
f,etv eRr the King Of France, Francis
7. and tile Emperor of Spain. Charles "
No casualties resulted; each returned
10 his respective domain: each lived
a goodly term, and died peacefully
and iu bed. They fought for honor
and long lease on life and obtained
both
But the ,luel. as a method Of settling
controversial points. has psssed away