New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-05

Mr.. Fish. Il is probable that the STORM
of indignant comment, which has risen do '"'
denly az that which followed Mi. sumner
speech, will subside with equal 1aciiity. DuV
if popular clamor should defeat the mihis'i1
on this question, and compel their SUCCESSORS
20 dcnounce and withdraw from the treaty OIL
Washington, it is not the United States tna'
would be the heaviest losers by such cooi'''
WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH THE BORESY
Mr. Newdegate, M. p, is at his OLD game VI
reform in the matter of converts. lie propose"
the other day committee that shall be perpetu-
ally employed in going up and down the uniteo
Kingdom unlocking the doors and Dreakihs
in the bars of these sacred Enclosures, anu
demanding of all the sisters AlOysias ana AN
astasias within if they are there by force Oh
arms or of their own free will. His argument Ii
that converts have been used in old time, ana
are still used, as convenient dark closets where
girls of weak or immature minds can be smut
up- by their families, or drawn by the church
beyond the possibility of appeal to law or puDiic
OpiniOn. Mr. Bakers bill, which we reported
the other day, relative to private lunatic asy-
lums. originates in like mania for universal
liberty. There was a crusade year or Two
ago against these institutions, in cOnse-
ouence of which q number of patients were
dsgorgcd by some of them, and went
home to claim the property on which their
relations were comfortably established. 1t was
urged by the OppOscrs of the asylums that
these patients were sane, but III the way on the
property question. The prOpretors OF the
asylums had no other proof OF insanity 10 Oh
fer than that one talked too much; another
was addicted to falling in love with every
pretty girl and still another to quoting peo-
try of a familiar and worn-out type-for IN
stance tackling the physician half dozen
times day with the fact that " Winter lin
"gered in the lap of Spring"
Now, at first sight, the plea for liberty for
these prisoners in converts and asylums
is very plausible. A blast for free
dom always fires the Yankee mind like
trumpet from the revolution. Judge, juries,
and court-roOms full of people, down to the
boot blacks in the corner, we learn, enjoyed
with the keenest gusto the liberation !of the
wronged captives. But is there nothing to be
said on the other side9 What of the hapless
families on whom these bOrcs were let loose
Society feels perfectly justified in protecting
itself from burglars, murderers, or lncendl-
aries it either hangs them or claps them into
iail but between this criminal class and sane
people there is a debatabe land in which
dwell a sort of cratic gadfy order of human
beings, who seem sent into the world to make
life utterly uncomfortable to their steady-going,
rational brethren. Every one of us can lay
his finger on one of them in his own circle OF
acauaintances, or his family, very likely this
MS
beartb-stone. People who have not wicked
ness enough to give you the qualification OF
hating them, nor strength enough for good
stand-up fight. There is your Deighbor Jobson,
whose skull opened once wide enough to adj
nit one idea. which has clucked and cackled
there ever since. Shall the man who tilches
a poor ten dollars from your pocket be shut
up from the sight of men, and Jobson, who dogs
you for years with his eternal boast of leader
ship in lucky campaign against thieves, or
his patent safety valve, or his bugs and
beetles, continue to go on his way rejoicing
and scot -free3 There is your amiable cousin
or uncle who tells idiOtic stories of your boy
hood at your state dinners, or before the girl
whom you are counting; there is your old col
lege friend who is full to the brim yet OF he
roic impulses and sensitive feeling, but who
never earned penny for himself and never
will, who casts himself upon you for five dol
lars weekly with gush of generous affection
that puts your colder mood to shame there is
your sister, the pulpy widow of forty, who
skips like girl and finds cOngenlal soul in
every man she meets-what is to be done
with these peoplef Where is there redress
from them, or escaped The murderer you
hang, the thief you handcuff; an animal you
can thrash, throttle, or eat-even a musketo
can be smoked out; but against the genus
Bore neither Nature nor Law has opened a
chance of relief.
1t is worth while to consider before we
join Messrs. Newdegate and Baker in
their blind foray into the dark recesses of
converts and insane asylums. May not here
be the very gate of escape providentially
opened for usq We can hint but darkly at
our meaning. But if genteel penitentaries,
handsomely furnished with good beds, books,
and very strong locks, are to be found dotted
down here and there over the country, where
the beloved but superfuous members of our
families could be shut up like the Kilkenny
cats - Perhaps, for Nature is kind, to
meet the same end. Society should see to this
matter Against the wild beasts that prey on
it, it can defend itself; but it really needs,
for the sake of comfort some humane way of
dsposing of the gad-fies the Trains and
WOodhulls-that buzz about it, Is this last
hope of ours delusivef Or is there to be no
refuge for us from bores but the gravel
The Troy Wing closes a tissue of misrepre-