New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-09
S A n l II A II I A,
OR,
Homes for Discharged Disabled Soldiers.

4 over, and the demand upon the men and women al
home FOR thought. time. money. and supplies Jr scl
and wounded soldiers has neerF ceased, people are
turning their attention 10 the question Of how best e
provide permanently for those soldiers who have beer
dsan!ou IN the service Ana It - one OF the llestio'
which require great deal Of careful thonght. There
has been vast amour Of earnest philanthropy arc used
{by this wal aad the ardent feeling cannot once he
put "a sleep IN ~ old ways For while, 81 east !
must be allowed to pead se upon something. Yet il
will. because OF 10 very force require guidance end
COZ strant ana tie Influence Of mt who insist upon
3slower steps aAd patient Investigation, e'sc N its
,earnestncss IL viii do unwise things.
There is n feeling In the community that too much
cannot by any possibility be done for the who have
become disabled 81 To war, that DO al we may ior
their comfort shall never hlf repay them for the
sacrifices they have made or half balance debt OF
personal gratitude AZ tits Is irde. provided What we
DO Tor them il done Ia tie llg j. But on the other
hand " make these soldiers The leDls OF en- III
discriminate charity. ii We seize upon them TIE OBJ
jets upon which We mag @'tk - is nervous pAlah'
,hiopr "seitscii'v and CONT Ito benefit rendered by
TIE numbers get into ygms, wnere they can I'VE
without care or labor on tipr par fen Ve shall do
more Larm tLun COCOA great deal by such enleGyOrs
- pure and rirht ns the motive mny he To keep ten
men Who naturally, almost necessarily d~'t Tat way.
ou Of an asylum Of ease and comfort hy tcachng them
how 90 Use for sslfsp port what muscle ley have len
j. far better work titan - prov lido yea ny year food
and shelter and liberal 0r ton OihoI equally
'disabd. Yet this Is as he point which me e0inu-
~. =. - generous ea'nestness IL IN danger OF overs
Il00siug ,,..,.
What We want IN this country II We are to establish
'auy National or State "SIn.;aIia' or "Dsabled sol
ldicrf Homes II 20 have them rs truly American as
lid, war las been; we want them O. show rpOn the
face ~ them that the people Themselves. with 'her
frfacical good sense have been thiniLg about tIen
land have really put into them their best and camest
Thought well their money and their syfllafnles
We want something wh'c. the nation shall De proud
!oi not chiefly because OF the evidence Of unstnted b-
lernly bur because also ~ the common sense einood
ed IA L. WeWalt to seize upOn tie opportunity now
'oaercd and bring q bear upon The treatment OF TINS
Subject the best principles Of modern SOCIAL science As
I yeclaIy applied 20 Il comparau'ey new Cue uo,,;
VI . want - follow no ambition, cxgunos Of the Old
World emulate those who in Charitable institutions
seek b. huld monuments We went o. lose sight en-
|icly ~ the questions Of whether marble towers ooS
better than pune barracks, wne we Keep our eye on e
argcg thought Of how we can best AM soonest restore
these disabled men, Tar a. is possible, 10 their
homes ana into the working cOnmunity-get them
absorbed into the mass or rather reorganle them lut'
The living body again from which fox the time perhaps
n their condition of hcplCssness they had unayOidaby
become separated. jus, in this regard is where, As
Americans we are 10 SLOW our flith IN the heelng
powers II our republican bones and our republican IN
|dustres that IN belief asylum fostering pro-
Election IS equal to IL thai though sach sLeteTng care
llfc long may perhaps DO FOR men Of other nations Il
ID never or the sal ed uen Of this nation. where
be army made UP Of those who, V hen they went
into the ranks left homes which spurned alike depend
cnco sud indolcni Gaze.
The question therefore now Is this. how TO use wise
lis this popular enthusiasm and yei not be- carried away
by -hOw 10 show our appreciation Oi - worth and
=. yrld any unreasonable suggestions, also. how
10 the demand which the public, aud IN fact the
necesstes ~ the disabled men themselves are making
npon US and yet be true o. the other demand made by
tins 9Th century and our Republican institutions. In
short the question now IT, hOw 10 20 the WORK Obvious
ly In hand. and not yet 0rerdO IT,
some few points Of practical importance may here be
specified IN accordance with the general principles
nbOve indicated.
l. Sanitarlum should be not merely An "asymm" bu,
also q workshop, and q school, and home. As first
principle the idea OF INDECENT should find place
there except in the of those utterly and totally
disabled. central purpose Of the Institution should
be to provide facilities and Inducements for the develop
men Of productive power in these partially disabled
men ihnt they may be able ms soon as possible u
SUPPORT themselves. These facilities would embrace
careful instruction IN various arts or branches Of bust
ness according o the physical ability or mental capa
city of the different men The Inducements would con
.is opening 90 the men the use OF workshops farm
lands gardens and the Ike Wen as play grounds and
reading rooms. inducements would also be found IN
the which should be infused through The whole es
tablishment OF seli.rcspect and personal IN
dependencc, based on the consciousness In each
man Of his irving every day 10 do his part in the world
honestly according 10 the measure ~ power or number
OF limbs lei, 10 han by the war Thus would setrch
ars also be maintained; and quickly would men learn
To make one of muscles perform the work Of two.
aud the left hand take the place Of the right and the
brain aud one arm earn the living which before was
earned by the two arms, the brain having been but
little used. This development Of productive power IN
all the inmates should be an essential aim and promi
ucnt feature of Sanitarun and that special work
should be under the charge Of eminent and competent
men who would make this their sole business thus 10
overcome the obstacles. not few and 10 provide all
possible facilities and inducements for securing this
condition Of sefhep and consequent self reliance fol-
lowed by self respect.
This broader plan. with this larger PROFESSIONALLY.
|lum Inirmary, Agency for Productive Industry
alone meet the demands made at the present day upon
Intelligent philanthropy.
sy stem OF correspondence with Trustworthy
gained aid societies. especially bureaus of Employ
ment. IN principal towns and cities SO that situations
4. ia Ia.
Of these Homes" "a fast as they might BIO able and
inclined to try the world again.
ILL., As 10 medical and surgical treatment, the aim
should be- not merely 10 secure average skill and care
SO as To keep the men comfortable IN their present
state but provision should 10 made AT every santa
rum for an nirmary, where the very highest Skin
could bring 10 bear all tho arts and appliances OF mod
crn surgical and medical science with aige ana patient
working furnishing here Ia the disabled soldier such
medical OF surgical treatment and an opportunity for
Improvement or recovery such MS could not possibly De
guaranteed 10 any individual nj his own home, even II
he were able ~ pay ior II.
Nv. Another important point is this: The conditions
under which inmates are 10 be admitted Ia the Santa
rum. Among soldiers who have been sick or wounded
there will be- beside many homes, men. som knayes
who knlyes before they received their wounds
and are none the less so now while nnetenths ~ al
the other disabled soldiers, with audabe ambition VIII
strive Tor sell support, nine chths Of ali s cihs VII
seek to IKE charity, aud they viii point To tAeir
wounds giving them right Ia claim sGch support
These ar. the men Who with plausible STORY VIII trl
10 impose upon such an institution ~ home Tor dis
abled soldiers. aud once within The walls they VIII
never gain strength either 10 work there Ut to 20 ont
into the world These are the men who il careless'y
admitted Will bring censsie aud disgrace on TIE inst
tuition and liz system. There mus.. therefore. De a
peculiarly wise method adopted to determine the a.
mission of inmates with ample safeguards which shall
indeed not keep the worthy soldier Whiting at The door
for single hour. but at the same time slh not allow
an easily excited sympathy 20 open wide tao gates 10
every niau who wears Soldiers clothes and leans ou
Ia crutch. Humanity and worldly wisdom must stand
lat tic porch and cOIbsel together.
v. la regard 10 The character OF buildings 10 be
erected II should correspond 10 the wor. in hand To
hnIl cnsiy ntrnctnreS for serNice which trust Is