New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-03-04
TIE LOUISIANA INSTITUTE FOE TEE
BLIND

TIE LOUISIANA INSTITUTE FOE II.
! BLIND.
I Mr.. Niimot II. Go oiale. vice presiden
Of the above rather expensive institution
and in the absence Of Governor kellogg
its executive officer. is not. it appears. en-
tirely satisfied with the short notice Of hi
establishment which appeared in the RI:
PUBLICAN few days ago. He has accord
ingly loaded up his gun to give US shot
which appears to US sufficiently harmless
70 be permitted 20 appear in on, columns
! The worthy gentleman is little out o
his reckoning if he really supposes tina
the writer Of the article TO which he ex
cepts did not read his report The fact
that the institution is referred to as &
blind asylum does not necessarily impute
ignorance on the par: Of the writer; it
rather shows that the case which the vice
president. the trustees. the principal, and
even the law which authorize ed the ;nstitu.
ton. have been unable 10 disprove the
fact tina: the Louisiana institution for the
Education Of the Blind and Industrial
Home for the Blind is nothing more nor
less than one Of those numerous State in.
stituticns which maintain very few
really needy people and an nnduly large
proportion Of professional philanthropists
at the public expense. It is only this and
nothing more. We demUr 70 the great
cost to produce such neager results. The
institution is established ostensibly for
the education Of the blind. Il has been a
continuing charge upon the State in one
form or another Cor several years. The most
that can be said Of its efforts is that from
sixteen to twenty blind people hav: been
afforded an asylum. have been clothed.
housed, fed and furnished with music. by
the gifted Mrs. McGrew and her prede.
cesscrs. During al its years OF existence
it has no: produced 2 graduate who is
known to fame as a sel;-supportins being.
The thousands Of dollars thus invested in
a humanitarian speculation have no: ye.
produced Henry Dandolo. q Milburn. g
Eraille. a Metcalf. 0, even a Blind Tom.
As an educator. then, tie concern appears
to us to be as near failure rs i. we'll
could be. True. the law expressly says.
and Vice President Goodaie stoutly con.
tends that It shall be not considered IN
bu: the though h: strikes every.
body. except. perhaps. the immediate en-
ployes. TIA: j: is Sc. and nothing else.
If i: is an asylum. pure ana simple. then
1t is il some measure . success: bU: if j.
is 20 be considered rs an educational IT,
charged with teaching blind
people s:ch useful things as will enable
them to support themselves and become
famous. it is about as useful as the famous
zig tree spoken Of in the gospel.
We have read the prosy report a second
Tine. It IS not pleasant. reading, and does |
lot satisfy US any better than it did the |
other day. when Mr.. Goodale says We did !
lot read it at ALL. and proves it by the
act that we did no: attach any import.
snce to his oft-seiterated assertions that
he institution is not an asylum. but q |
school. :. scr. .: polytechnic college. |
where scholars and artisans are annually |
urned out On g very careful exar.ina-
ion Of the report. we find it 70 be reci-
al Of the difficulties incident to poverty.
N exaggerated statement Of the benefits
which are expected to Be realized at some
uturc day. and . careful concealment of |
he obvious fac: that nothing worthy of
he great outlay has We: been achieved.
Is speculation. therefore. It is losing
me. 70. which Louisiana is out Of pocket.
The institution is much more easily de-
ensible on the ground OF its bein: q
haritv than q utility. for charity COW
re:h Z multitude O: defects as well as
ms. The appeals to the beneyo.en. are
ather compelling than inviting. We 60
lot like to be told tina: our duties, as
true sons .: louisiana demand more
t Us than would be expected if We were
rue sons Of any other State: nor because
louisiana has been ever fo-enos: in she'll
ng on: money 20 those who asi: j: TIA.
here IS to be no letting 20 nor departure
rom the rather burdensome practice. Don
manuel crdcnnez. 9. whom we read il
'Gi! Bias" :ha: he grew :!ch by taking
are ct the concerns Of the poor" was all
dept in this so!: Of importantly and
chievea notable srcc.ss.
We eheerfuiiy second the suggestion o:
be vice presidea: that, FOR the present,
erhaps j: would bc advisable to suspend |
nd close up or School and Industrial
lone 20. the Blind. and send our pupils
'sewheve :or an education. There are
ow more men. who have :hei. sight. out
I employment in this city than is a. all
leasant TO contemplate. L: strikes us.
leretore. that we should frs. attend to
lie pressing necessities Of the more nu.
lerous classes, and employ those who are
l possession Of all their faculties. than
luahder money in the vain attempt to
iucate the blind, and fit them for situa- {
ons which are not to be had by men
ready qualified to hold them