Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-06-23
An InebriateV Asylum.

D ate Asylum. For many years we had pee
convinced that such an institrtion would b
as practically beneficial as it is clearly be
neVclent. The New York law, suthorizin
4 the legal establishment of one in that State
was the first indication we had seen, tina
the public mind was beginning to be awak
ened to the importance of this subject Las
summer, the corner stone of that Institution
was laid at Bnghampton, and this noble All
philanthropic scheme began to assume
tangible shape. There were yet, however
two most important practical points to be
esta 'lished; first, whether educated people
and others of intelligence. would uolunturil.
aid the Institution in effeeting their recov
cry, and secondly. whether patients of thi!
description cap really be recovered.
The first of these points is effec:ually
decided. The following paragraph (pre
viously publshed) tells the most remarkable
and affecting story ever narrated:
Who can doubt the vital Importance oil
such an sylum when, even before its frs,
story is completed, more than iwenty-eight
hundred applications have been made for
admittance, many of which are from the
patients themselves! Among the appi
cants are twenty eight clergymen, thirty.
physicians, forty-two lawyers, three judges,
twenty editors, four army and three naval
officers, one hundred and seventy-nine mer.
chants. fifty-fye farmers, five hundred and
fifteen mechanics, and four hundred and
ten women who are from the high walks of
life. OF the vocation of the remaining
twelve hundred applicants, we have no
knowledge. 4s.
Ti0enty-eieht cleraymca! -Four hundred
,comen, Human irailty was never told in
stronger language than this, nor was the
incautious youth, If he will heed it, ever
warned, in a more terrible form, TO take heed
TO his ways Nor is this less powerful
commentary on some of The petty philcso-
pliers of the day, who are announcing the
perGec lion Of nature, and the perfectibility
of man! The common sense of mankind,
rejects opinion which the common expert
ence proves to be false. We prefer to throw
fort to do him some little good, as the fral
and sinful creature he is. The fact is so,
and the above paragraph proclaims it in
trumpet tones. Let US take the fact and
see if, in this peculiar path o: sin and i'm
morality. we can accomplish any goJd.
The intemperance of women of some
educaiion aud refinement ia generally con-
cealed from the public eye, as is that Of
clergymen. when it docs not amount to in
toxication. Nevertheless it does exist in
some cases-although not TO great ex-
tent, as compared with the whole number
in community. 1t is by no means as CON-
mon now as in ithe generation succeeding
the revolution, yet the application of SO
large a number to ihe Binghampton Institu
ton is an alarming fact. But that fact has
ciple. This is what we have always be-
lieveG, that no part of the community were
50 well convinced o. the terrible nature of
intemperance,-and SO detest it, and are SO
willing to fly from it-as its unfortunate, !,
and unhappy victims. Alas! they know too
well, the terrible oppressor! In the early
stages of the temperance discussions, every
body seemed to think that any poor drunk
ard, or intgnPuratc rcseoss could be cured
at once be had only TO will it. and leave off.
Alas. to wiH is easy; to do is often impossi.
BILE. St. Paul had declared this long be-
fore; but, St Paul was not modern philo-
sopher. He had not seen the new lights.
and was therefore content to state the
simple fact, as it was, and point to the only
consolation he had to offer, in the Gospel of
Jesus.
These poor incorporates (nt least, the
great number,) have the wiH to recover, but,
the body is weak. They are slaues to
hard oppressor. They look to the skies
above, and the earth beneath for freedom
Where shall freedom be foundl They hear
Philosophy chanting freedom; but, when
they ask for it, they find it practically means
freedom to be tempted, no freedom to escape
from the snare of the tempter. Looking
round to escape, and finding no friendly
hand to hold them back--no city Of refuge,
where the pursuer comes not,-the Judge,
the dis,inguishsd d Office, The accomplished
youth, seize the dagger skfd the poison, and
hasten from that nature which philosophy
tells them is perfect, to that world where
philosophy tells them there is no punish
ment.
Such are the facts; but. this is by no
means all. Society-our free society--is
constantly surrounding the young and weak
minded with seductive temptations, 1t is
manufacturing temptations, and exposing
them in all directions. This is fact, and
society says it is right. If this be so. is
not society accountable for damages! It is
true that it is made accountable in most
terrible manner. The criminal, the pauper,
the suicide, the drunkard, all levy their tax.
to the last cent; tax upon property, tax
upon mind, TAX upon heart. But. granting
this, ought not charity to adopt the new
plan, which seems hopeful, of saving some
of this grea, company of the tempted and
seduccd! Saving them from this world as
well as the next, Is it not possible!
We take these facts 10 be true: First,
That intemperance, after certain con.
tinuance, becomes disease, SO far that the
appetite is, in nine cases out of ten, uncon.
trollable.
Second. Thut this disease NAV be cured,
like iulammatory fever, by reducing--whe