The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1859-01-18

wise purpose, forever shut out from the
"sights and sounds of Nature" The ex-
perienee of the past teaches us that they
are equally capable with us Of mental i'm
prosement, and while our State is yearly
lavishing her thousand toward the educa-
tion and improvement of her moro fortu-
nate children, it does not become her TO
withhold appropriations from the only in
stitntion that can educate and improve
these unfortunate beings.
The biennial Report of the Trustees of
the Asylums made to the Legislature In
1886, shows that there were at that time
within the State of Michigan. not less than
six hundred insane persons, and that three
hundred and fifty Of these were fairly sub
jects for medical treatment, with a view
of effecting a cure. These miserable be-
ings are scattered about olr State-some
in jails-some in poor -houses-some wan
dering about our streets producing fear and
consternation wherever they 60, while a
still greater portion are confined to their
once happy homes, making their friends
and relatives most miserable without in the
least adding to their own enjoyment.
There is no sight so melancholy as that
as that Of a "human form deprived of rea-
son." Humanity, Philanthropy, and Chris
tian charity alike call upon you for Legis-
lative aid in behalf these most unfortu-
nate Of our citizens. It's subject that
addresses itself to you individually, with
peculiar force, for you know not how soon
you,' your wife, or child, may be disthron-
ed Of reason. 1t is estimated by those who
have made insanity their study, that at
least three-fourths Of the insane, il taken
in season and properly treated, can be ef-
fectualy cured. 1t is claimed by somc
that the Asylum at Kalamazoo is being
built en- too extravagant plan, I do not
think 80. 1t is expensive, as all buildings
Of the kind must necessarily be, but not
extravagant. You should bear in mind,
that the great object of this institution is
to cure the insane. If confinement were
the sole, object, acheap building, provided
it had the pr ,per strength, would answer
the purpose. The experience Of the world
teaches us that an insane person is rarely,
ifever cured in dungeon or Jail. In an
Asylum ofthis character, strength, cheer
fulness, and beauty of structure should be
combined. Strength to confne, cheerful.
ness, and beauty to aid in drawing the
Pickering intellect back to reason.
For detailed statement of the fnan.
cial affairs of those two Asylums, and the
amount Of appropriations necessary to COM
plete and carry them on. You are respect
fully referred to the reports Of the several
boards Of trustees having charge of them.
The buildings Of these Asylums ought not
to stop or be delayed, but should 60 on
to completion as fast as tho financial re-
sources of the State will admit. l there
fore recommend to you to make such ap-
preparation as will tend TO the completion
Of these institutions at tho earliest practi.
cable moment.
The subject of education is one intimate
Iy connected with the happiness and pros
perity Of our people. From the landing of
lie rIoy IrJ"O." "pol .i,e logged shores
Of New England, down to the present time
this subject Las heen uppcrmost in the
minds Of the American people. Acting
upon tho principle that the intelligent
aid educated can never be epslavcd; our
New England brothers fostered and en-
couragcd Colleges, Seminaries and Com
mon Schools until tho means Of education
have become with them almost as tree "a
air upon the mountain sides. Governed
by the same wise policy, the Trainers OF
the ordinance Of 1887, in one of its arti-
cles which they made irrepealable, declared
that "Religion, morality and knowledge,
being necessary to good government and
the happiness of mankind. Schools and
the means Of education sball forever be
encouraged" To the trainers of this in
strument, Michigan is in great measure
indebted for that system Of public Schools,
Colleges and Seminaries Of learning that
have placed her in the first rank among
the States of this confederacy. We have
our University at Ann Arbor that yearly
sends forth to the world scores Of highly
educated young men, while the Normal
School at Ypsilanti, perfects the mind and
reduces to a system the teaching faculties
of those whose duty Il becomes TO take
charge of our Primary Schools.
1t is to these Primary Schools that we
must ever look for the stability Of our free
institutions. 1t is here that our children
all meet upon common level. The child
rem Of the rich and the poor, Of the high
and the lov, are here taught alike. Our
Primary School system should. however,
be so perfected that no man within our
State could be able to claim that poverty
deprives him from educating his children.
Our Primary schools should be made free.
The State should make ample provision
for carrying into effect that clause in her
Constitution declaratory that a "system Of
Primary Schools shall be established with.
out charge Of tuition"
During the past year there was taught
in our State, one hundred and seventy
three thousand five hundred and fifty ninc
children, between the ages Of four and
eighteen years, at an expense Of fonr hun
dred and forty three thousand one hun
dred and thirteen dollars and seventy-onc
cents, for teachers wages alone. In re-
gard TO the amendments necessary to be
made in our School laws, with view Of
pcrfecting our common school system so as
10 meet the Constitutional requirement
above mentioned, you aro respectfully re-
farrod To the annual repott of the Supcrin