The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-08
Friday. February 8. 1878.
Saving Inebriates.

OWh pAoOO Vi lCcluOuOOS OhS AhN5b iOOh |
abroad for it. The Inter Ocean of the 9th
inst, has the following as special tele-
gram:
Rock ISLAND, ILL.,, Feb. 5.-The series |
of temperance meetings in this city has |
been closed. Over eleven hundred have
signed the pledge. Great good has been |
done, and many confirmed drinkers have
been rescued, The good work is not to
stop, as a permanent temperance organ
ization is to be formed, go as to begin
another campaign in few weeks.
1t is always much pleasanter to speak
approvingly, if possible, of the acts of
others than to criticise and condemn. No
one cares to call attention to things which
it is known beforehand will excite unpleas
ant feelings, and perhaps controversy, and
generally they are passed over in silence
rather than hold them up to public atteu-
ton. ANY allusiou to the temperance
cause which is not of laudatory character
is considered by certain class of people
as indicating hostility; on the other hand
commentator of the cause and of the
means to promote it are regarded by
another class as equally hostile to their
business and interests. Neither of these
positions are just to that class who APP
prove of temperance, but are not given to
total abstention; and who do not without
mental reserve approve Of the practice of
exciting and protracted efforts by orators
and public speakers to create enthusiasm
for the cause; and yet, do not for mo
ment contemplate with approval either
laws or public sentiment which would per-
NIT drunkenness or perpetuate its fearful
consequences. With respectful Difference
to the views of all persons upon this
interesting topic, and without intending
any disparagement of the honest and
we'll meant efforts which have
been made here as .wellsas elsewhere to
introduce reformatory faction among the
people, there is still grounds for serious
and rational doubts as to the wisdom or
efficacy of the methods adopted. In the case
of the confirmed drinker there is so much
of the characteristics OF actual disease and
of physical as we'll as mental maldiSe
consequent upon the condition of habitua
drunkenness, that people must.be taught,to
look to something more effective than good
resolutions and the enthusiasm Iof tidal
wave" for the ultimate recovery and final
perseverance in sobriety Of those who!have
become eufeebled and constitutionally
vitiated by habitual or. Iinordinate drink.
The published statements of high medical
authorities have served to awakenito some
extent, especially among the studious and
reflective, lively and earnest interest in
the pathology of drunkenness, and the
best means which have so far been adopted
or applied to the relief and cure Of its
victims Frincipiis obsta,.. withstand
the beginnings, is unquestionably
the proper sentim ent in regard to the
young, the rising generation upon whom
depend largely the hopes of the future
still the promptings of humanity and tn,
impulses of benevolence will lead tn
earnest inquirer to look even for the rescu
of those who are fast becoming inebriates
and burden to communicates at least t
their families and friends. Anythin
which may be said or done, which. tend
to the accomplishment of good.in their be
half, needs no apology; and as the Patio
logical view of the subject is the one leal
frequently given the public, we tax
pleasure in presenting to our readers q
extract from the New York World bearin
particularly upon this very topic:
The annual report of the Kings count
inebriate asylum for 1877 has Just bee
rendered, and is an interesting, though
parts aspeculative and rhetorical documen
This state institution is the largest of j
kind in the woodland consequently afforC
20 admirable field for investigation
every department of study connected wit
the relormatory treatment Of inebriate
IL has accomplished large number
apparently permanent cures even of pc
sons who had been addicted to the use
the deadly amylc alcohol or 'fusel-oi
which is the chief toxic and brutazir
agent IN the cheap aud often in the bett
sorts OF liquor which are commonly 80
over bars everywhere in this country al
in Europe as we'll This result speaks W,
for the system under which the institute
is conducted, for the reformation of
drunkard full set to bis cups and lost
everything besides them is confessedly o
of the most difficult OF tasks, whether {
means employed to bring it about q
moral or physiological; physical restrai
being of course a method of cure 10 viii
the patient can take no part, any mo
than the hanged murderer has anything
do with the suppression of his lawle
will. The object of a retormatOry asylu
Is to return as good member to socie
him who was pest to it, and in this W
the Kings county asylum has manifest
done and IS doing good work. Specul
lively, 1t may be question whether OF
II Is we'll to preserve at all a man who h
once shown an OutI ageOusly morbid apr
tite tor an agent which demoralizes hi
and must have distinct weakening eff,
% his descendants, but in these days
philanthropy, in which the least fit" O
carefully coddled and kept in existent
the work is fully in accord with human
tartan views. lnhuman fanatics-t
Jeremy Benthams of science aud stir,
cuiture-are much more distressing D,
sons than even the most fanatical opti
lists who believe that there is good in eve
person and every thing. Society is n
bound, at all risks to preserve its weakt
members 80 long as there is any reasonaI
hope OF their reformation.
The report shows, among other thir
which are worth noting, that in the opip
OF the president of the asylum it is DC