Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-11-22

luck have.
9t- We find the 70 lowins exec lent article
on the insane poor Of this State, in The
Providence Journal.
The INSANE PooR.-The condition of
great majority of the insane paupers in this
Staie-is a reproach TO the character Of the
people, which it would be impossible to ex-
cuse or pallate. We never think of it
without feelings of shame and regiet We
are both mortified and disappointed, that
after so ample arrangements have been made,
by private munifcence, for the benefit Of the
insane, the citizens of the several towns
have thus Tar been so slow in making use
of these arrangements, and have proved
themselves so heartlessly indifferent to the
comfort and the improvement of this most
unfortunate class of their fellow beings
Though The Butler Hospital has now been
in operation nearly two years, and has, in
various ways, presented its claims, and Of
fered ils aid in providing for tho treatment
of all the victims of insanity in this State,
yet, with the exception Of the city of Prov
idence alone, not a single town has, up to
the pre- sent time, determined to send its IN
sane poor to this only fitting asylum which
can be found for them. A few of the towns
have indeed placed at the Hospital tn mos
hopeless and violent of their maniac poor
but in no instance, we believe, save in this
city, has the true policy been adopted Of
sending Them all there, as a matter of course
as an act Of hulnani,y and duty which the
age demands Of every civilized community
When the Butler Hospital was first pro-
ected, we remember that thrill! Of horror
and sympathy went through the whole
State, from an accoont which was at that
time published of the condition OF an insane
man IN one of the towns, who had been con-
fined for years in a solitary cell, erected for
the purpose by the fears Of his friends 1t
was an affecting case Of the ill-judged treat
ment which is 50 ofen bestowed upon these
wretched people. We fear, however, that
il does TO, stand alone, and that # the Stat
ere examined there would be found even
now, many neglected maniac, whose con-
dition, were it known, would appear with
hardly less force to the sympathes of all
who can feel Tor the di,tIesses Of their fell
low men. From considerations of economy,
! or from considerations far more unworthy,
the towns Of the State have generally pre-.
!erred TO continue their old system-inj uri-
Gus and cruel as il is--and mingled their in
ssne with the other public paupers, in a
poor r-housc, ill-cons,ruc'ed and ill-provlded,
and have iarmed them out to him who would
take them at the cheapest rate. 1t is sys-
TEN unworthy OF a civilized age, and can
not bu, be deemed disgrace to the towns
tha, adopt it, |, works 4 double schef,
and brings with il nothing but hopeless mis-
cry and depreciation. In the first place, It
is bad enough TO subject the poor themselves
to the annoyance and humiliation OF such
associates, and compel them to herd in close
quarters with the raving maniac,o the drv-
cling idiot. But the case 10 far worse than
| this, for it really shuts out the insane from
all prospect or possibility of relief, by deny
ING to them the aids and the remedial treat
ment which science and philanthropy have
invented for the healing Of this most fright
full of the maades to which man is subject.
We sincerely hope that the towns will
take this matter into immediate consldera-
ton. We have been disappointed at the
\ indifference which has so long been evinced
concerning it, an | we feel that the con'lnu
ance of this indifference, and of tie abuses
which it iolerates, will be disgrace to hi
whole State. The common claims OF hu
maniy-the impulses Of every philan;hroP
ic mind-demand that every insane paupe
in Rhode Island should be placed at ,h'
Butler Hospital. The arrangements Of thI
nobl, institution are of the very hlghes
aud most approved character. They ar
equaled by those Of very few similar inS.ltu
tons, and surpassed by no other in the cour
try. Its directors have made the price
board to all the pauper inmates as low
could be desired, and wha, is more than a
there is strong ground for hope that lars
proportion of the unhappy victims OF insan
ty who may be placed under the charge
its experienced and distinguished SuPeTlr
II .Io., ,.;Il bo ro.,ored IN rnason and seT