The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-02-21
+" The Wards of the !Syair.y

The report of the Commissioners Of
Penal and Reformatory Institutions is
not yet published and, until it is pub
lishcd, we cannot discuss with proper
fullness of knowledge the questions as
to what is the immediate practical duty
of the State toward its wards-the in
sane, idiotic, blind, deaf, dumb, and
helpless. The messages of Cows. Bald.
win and Bagley, however, afford some
information which the legislature should
carefully consider. According to Gov.
Baldwin, there were in the State, last
year, known TO the public authorities, at
least Twelve Hundred insane persons.
Yet, of these, the State Insane Asylum,
at Kalamazoo, when completed, a year
or so hence, can only provide for Five
Hundred and Fitty-not half 0f the
whole number. BY the time the asylum
is completed, there will he several hun.
dred new cases. There were, according
to Governor Bagley, between Three
Hundred and Four Hundred insane per-
Sons in the Poor Houses and Jails Of
the State last year, without proper care
or expert medical attendance and the
condition of many of them was posi.
lively horrible. There are many cases
in private families; and many temporary
cases, not known TO the authorities. Il
needs only to be said to be conceded
that it is the duty Of the State to pro
vide for all such Of It's unfortunate citi-
zens and to provide SO abundantiy that
even temporary cases may be sent to the
State Institutions for such proper care
by trained experts as will save them
from permanent insanity, and restore
their reason and health. Every citizen
who is faithful to the State while save
is equitably entitled to, and has Z right
to demand, the protection and care Of
the State when he or she becomes insane
and helpless. Allegiance on one side
has right to demand protection on The
other, This argument alone, even If W.
throw out the higher argument Of hu
manity, is sufficient basis for Legislative
action.
There are, moreover, in tie Stat,
quite large lot Of persons in condi
ton even more helpless, pitiable, and il
need of State aid than the insane
These are the idiotic. in 1871 ther,
were One Hundred and Twenty sever
idiots in our Jails and Poor Houses
The bare statement of this fact is sufh
ciently horrible but it is no. the wors
of the situation. For these helpless be
ings neither public nor private charit,
las provided in this State any prope
refuge, or care, or helpful treatment
They are abandoned Of their kind to
condition lower than that of the wil(
beasts Of the forest, and left utterl,
without hope. If idocy was incurable
still this neglect would be discreditabl
to the State But idiocy is, perhaps
more than insanity a durable disorder
as has been proved by the success of th
idiot asylums and schools in other States
There are but few idiots who cannot, 3,
proper treatment begun early enough i
life, and continued long enough, be do
veloped mo reasonable members Of so
ciety-raisod, IL fact, by the kiudl,
hand of scientific method from th
grovoiug condition Of beings lower tbai
the ceast5 to a. least the lower plane o
reasonable manhood or womarhood
while some youthful idiots, absolutel,
incapable Of eating whea hungry, hav
been trained into adults Of more thai
average intelligence aod fair education
Furtherif there were, in 1871, 0ne Hun
dred and Twenty.seyen IDIOTS in on
Jails and Poor Houses, there wore
doubtless, a Thousand others ia priyat
families, cared for, as TO their bodil,
wants, by relatives but wholly withou
proper treatment or training 10 cur
them Of idiocy. Fer o., these. there i