Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-12-08
0hio's Shame.

the burning Of the Innrmary buildings Of
Licking county, BY which ten insane per
sons were roasted alive, should arouse the
feelings of justice and humanity in the bo-
som OF every citizen Of the State, and make
him demand OF the next Legislature q law
establishing State AEylumS sufficiently nu-
meroas andlarge for the care Of every insane
person in the State. 1t is q burning shame
and disgrace to the great state OF Ohio, that
so large a portion OF her hopelessly insane
are LETT to the poor, miserable inadequate
accommodations and care Of County
on The subject of our State charities, where
in they give the plan, unvarnished facts In
respect 70 s. many Of the county infrma-
with shame. There is no possible excuse for
The continuance Of these abominsttons and
cruelties. The present treatment Of these
IN that report, is Mt only Tor . nation Of
savages; and 1t is g marvel that the people
OF Ohio should have suffered these unfortu-
Humanity to the insane, and Justice TO their
personal friends and TO the tax payers, de-
mand that the State provide for the careand
allow so many of these miserable creatures
to be left TO suffer SO many physical discOm-
forts, Just because there are not sun1c1ent !
Is ii lust TO their personal friends to compel
them to see their insane Suder thus, because
they have not the means tosuppOrt them in
an asylum? Is II just to the taxpayers OF
one county TO compel them to provide for M
teen insane persons, when smother, and
even larger and Weather connty, may have
but 1--WE such to care for and support To
our minds the STATE has nc more solemn and
sacred duty than TO provide homes Tor these
hopeless cases from among the poor. Not
one of them should be left In q County IN
Urinary.
But the only way this evil csn be RENE
died, is. for every man who feels any inter-
est in 1t, to demand that the legislature pro
vide the remedy. We cannot expect our
Representatives n Senators to take action
in this matter, unless b people ask for II.
II hazo all arraw the SNQfa will j
speak out, end that petitions VIII be sent in
70 the Legislature next winter containing
tens Of thousands OF names, demanding tnat
measures be Immediately taken to build as
sylums for all our insane.-PuiRcsrfAe Id
~TeTtiSer.
We endorse the foregoing as touch
ing q question of great moment to the
people of the State. The subject was
barely alluded to at last winters ses-
sion Of the Legislature, and at so late
q day as to have precluded Opportu-
nifty for proper action in reference
thereto. 1t was, however, almost
the unanimous opinion of members
that the neglected condition Of the
class called ''incurably INSANE" is
blot on the humane pretensions OF
the people Of Ohio, and that at no
remote day this long abused class must
be regarded as justly entitled to q
practical participation in our State
charities. But Legislatures must be
moved in such matters by the pres
sure of a strong, earnest public senti-
ment. It being amatterthat not only
appeals to mems sympathies, but also
to their pockets, the General Assem-
bly, will doubtless desire to know if
the people wish for and are ready IT,
add this enterprise to the number Of
State benefaetions. Now all who feel
a lively interest inthis matter should
see that the Legislature is strongly
petitioned, and thenit will move slow
" enough, and probably years will
have elapsed before the necessary ar
rangementsshall have been completed.
We would suggest q form Of petit
ton something like the following:
To he General 1Ssenblg Of the Slate Of Ohio:
The undersigned petitioners believing that
very imperfect and insufficient provision
exists in the several counties Of this State,
for the care, comfort and possible restoration
to society Of a large proportion Of that unfor-
tunate class Of persons deemed incurably
insane, we would request that your honors-
Die body take into consideration the proprie-
y and necessity OF providing means for the
greater comfort and more humanetreatment
OF this class, many Of whom are now con-
fined, for want of a better place, in wrstched
cells in jails and inhrmsries, thereby aggra-
waiting, instead o. ameIioratipg, their sad
mental conditions.
Persons feeling an interest in this
important subject, can in a few min
utes copy, or cut out the foregoing
form of petition, and circulate it in
their several neighborhoods, and then
send it, at an early day in the session,
to their Representatives or State Sena-
tor, at Columbus. We hope there
will be no lack of good men and wO-
men In every county, ready to give
the movement their support. It is a
scheme of christian charity, and min
listers of the Gospel might with the
strictest propriety, present the matter
to the favorable consideration Of their
congregations.