The New York herald., 1872-11-05

|
wisdom of rejecting after his reelection some
of the associations that have unfortunately
surrounded him during his first term Of Office.
The Wards Islsnd Lunatic Asylun.
| We had imagined that the horrors Of the
lunatic asylnms were things Of the past, which
| an advanced civilization; had buried forever
| It is too readily assumed, however, that the
| glitter Of modern life necessarily brings with
it sofssning Of the hard and brutal cherac-
| teristics Of the natural man. The community
adopts higher ideas of duty, but the passions
i the noblest results Of the civilization about
which the moderns grow eloquent has un-
doubtedly been the xcare and protection ex-
tended to the insane. There issomething so
touching in the spectacle of htman beings
deprived of reason that every one of right feel
ing must extend to them the deepest sympathy.
The suffering TO which the infirH. of mind
were exposed brought about the establish
mens Of houses Of detention, where tie insane
could be sheltered from the dangers that beset
them It was hoped that through the iustru-
mentality Of these institutions the unfortunates
would.be saved from the suffering which with
out such interposition in their behalf might be
inflicted on them by the neglect or brutality
Of those burdened with their support This,
at least,s has been the popular idea in oonnec-
ton with the State guardianship Of theinsane.
AS this class by the visitation Of Providence
are unable to take care OF themselves, we are
bound in a special manner to protect them.
But the story told on Saturday at the inquest
on the body of Louis @. Samuels, deceased
lunatic, recalls us to the fact that however
humane. may have been the-intention Of the
community in creating these refugees for the
insane, the brutality Of the men selected as
attendants entirely neutralizes the good inten-
tions of the founders and turns these refugees
into places of torture, from which death is
looked on as welcome release by the
sufferers. It is the old story of s.mans
inhumanity to man." The sane attendant,
who ought to be- kind and forbearing
to the afflicted over whom he is
supposed to watch, resents the slightest breach
Of discipline with blows, and even dares to
infict punishments of which results. may be
fatal, without consulting the medical authori-
ties whom he is supposed to obey. It would
be idle to waste words on the brutes in the
shape Of men who are capable of inficting
torture and suffering on their helpless fellow
creatures, but wa have some right to demand
from the Commissioners of Charities and Cor
rrction how it comes that violent and un-
Trustworthy msna appointed to take charge
Of the insane. Nothing could well be more
disgusting than the account of the treatment
Of the lunatics ON Ward g., Island as told
by one of tas officers employed. by the Com
missioners. It surpasses, the worst charges
made against the old private asylums before
the law stepped in to alleviate the position Of
| the insane
The want of reform in our public insttu-
tions becomes every day more evident.
Scarcely, has the bSMtality Of the Randall
Island authorities faded out Of view than
Wards; Island looms. up with its. list Of hor.
rors. The stories Of ilLtreatment wkieh con.
stantly come to light through these scandals
are q disgrace to civilization, and we recog
Mica one of thesmost pressing reforms the
necessity of putting our correctional estab
hAhments on ssch basis as viii render th'
existing abuses impossible in the future. l
is useless on the part Of the responsible au
thorites to say thst the misconduct Of at
tendants is no fault Of the system. If prope
precautions were taken in the selection of at
tendants it would be quite possible to preven
the ill-txeatulent of patients by tn
officers Of the institutions. 1t is onl.
needful to ,choose the attendants with viev
to their fitness. and such scandals as W
complain Of would never occur. Bnt SO lon
as the present vicious system is continued un
!, checked we may expect practically irresponsi
BILE attendants to vent. their ilLhumor in act
of violence on those whom it Is their duty
watch over and protect II is only by som
! act Of cruelty which has been followed b
, fatal results thatrpublic attention is from tim
/ to time attracted to the subject of the CORES
} tional management of our institutions; ant
D unfortunately, in the whirl of business an
Q politics the public soon forget in some ne
0 sensation the abuses which for moment O.
a cited their generous indignation. We hop
q however, that in the new era of reform all th
{ will be changed, and that the abuses OF Il
n past will be made impossible in the future
Q vigorous and wholesome public opinion. !