The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-06-03

| 1ho ASrrS IdauO0 Gazette which was so
ready to accuse the Sentinel OF dishonest
motives in publishing the charges against
the management of the Deaf and Dumb In
| stitution returns to the discussion of the
subject, but carefully abstains from answer
ing the simple question put to
it regarding its own motives. The
Gazette could not answer that
question fairly without exposing its amiable
weakness, and it did not desire to tell lie.
In answer to its suggestion that the Senti-
mel should now, in view of Mr.. McIntire's
answer, come out and acknowledge that gem
tleman's innocence, this paper begs
leave to say that it will
do no such thing 1t has
not, like the Gazette and one or two other
journals, sunk the public interest in m ere
private considerations. 1t did not pronounce
the superintendent guilty when accused,
nor will it pronounce him innocent on the
mere presentation of his plea. That matter
lies in other hands, and the public must be
content to await the official decision of the
issue. The argument of the Gazette, that
good character should be a shield against
calumny is sound enough as far as It goes.
but the Sentinel cheerfully remarks that it
will never allow that any public officers
character, however reputable, should pre-
vent investigation into the affairs of state
institution in which girl is found lying at
deaths door from the effects of an abortion.
and in which five graduates declare on oath
that their ruin was attempted
or accomplished. The Sentinel was met
by the same sentimental style of argument
last winter when it urged an investigation
into the affairs OF the asylum;
and the editor OF the Gazette has evidently
forgotten in how calm and reasonable way
and to what little purpose this paper argued |
for thorough investigation at that time
as necessary to the vindication of the man
sgement, the fair fame of the institution |
and the satisfaction of the public mind-or
he certainly could not have written such |
paragraph as this:
The Sentinel did not originate the charges
that. What it did do was 10 take those charges,
reeking with filth, and publish them to The
seeking to bring q criminal to justice, for the
charges were lodged with the proper authorities,
and were certain to be inyestigated to the bitter
presume, have TO have the people stand over
them with clubs to induce them to perform the
plain and imperative duties of their Office. THIS
would be motive for the publication creditable
to the Sentinel, but it is wholly baseless, No
such public necessity existed. No good end, not
obtainable and certain of accom- piish-
ment, was subserved by 1t.
Had the Sentinel known that these charges
would be Investigated openly and to the
bitter end, 1t might have forborne to pub
ish them; but remembering how strenu-
ously the other newspapers of the city had
opposed investigstio nd how every effort
had been made to n'.ve the Sentiael from
is position, even = employing the infu-
,nce of men whose slightestwish is strong
Or in this Office than anything save strict
sense of duty--recalling these facts, the
Sentinel came to the conclusion that there
was only one way to force public exami-
nation into the affairs of tho asylum, and
hat was by startling the state into atten-
ion. 1t may be that the trustees would
have done what the commission
appeared so unwilling to do; but,
ss the Spanish proverb says: "A
burned child breads cold water.n
That the course of the Sentinel fully accom-
plished what 1t was designed to effsct is very
clear. There is no longer any talk of con-
or any proposal to sacrifice the
public interests for the sake of private CON-
fort. The unprejudieed press of the state,
the newspapers that are the especial cham
pions OF Mr.. McIntire, and the superinten-
dent himself and his friends, all unite in
the most searching scrutiny