Freakish Suicides

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 20, 1908

Freakish Suicides

The Chicago Tribune, which gives a yearly record of crimes of various classes committed in the United States, in commenting on the continued increase of suicides in this country, says:—

The Tribune has commented recently upon the increasing number of suicides in this country and upon certain aspects of self-murder as related to other crimes. No suggestion, however, has yet been made from any source of any way to decrease this number. The pulpit has inveighed against it, but the pulpit seems to be powerless. In some States the courts have administered severe penalties in cases where suicide has been attempted, but it does not reduce the number. The Salvation Army has been making an earnest effort to restrain suicides, but thus far with little effect. It seems to be a hopeless undertaking.

The Tribune declares that one of the most hopeless features of the situation is the absurd causes which lead persons to commit self-murder. This is specially noticeable in the young. The reasons given for many of these child suicides are trivial and ridiculous in the extreme. The cause must lie in the lack of proper training of the young and in the steadily increasing lack of moral fiber in the race. There is no antidote for the malady like the pure gospel. Neither legislation, education, nor philosophy can stem the rising tide of self-destruction.