The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-10-24
yellow Fever and Quarantine.

! Seventy persons have died in Louis
vile, from infected districts, and not 3
case has originated there. So in Hunts
| vile, Alabama. I 1hese blessed cities
are places of refuge for the sick snd
dying and no resident of either place
has suffered. A cleauly inter-, town
incurs no danger which quarantine will
ward off. Dr.. Stuart Robinson, of
Louisville, in a recent discourse, said:
While none should expose them
selves foolishly and unnecessarily,
/ merely to crafty curiosity even at q
small risk, get, when the call of duty to
| ones neIghber comes, none should
shun the performance OF 1t, but taking
the risk go forward with brave trust
! in Providence, when Providence seems
to make the call; and even il death
comes, one bu. dies in the discharge of
duty.
1t was in accordance with this
view of the facts that we have
SAID that all attempts 10 quar-
antine inland towns, with a
view to turn back those who are flee
ing from the infected regions, is wrong
IN ethics. For however wise may be
the quarantine Of seaports to exclude
the importation of pestilence from for
eign landsIn ships, 1t is, In the first
place, useless to attempt to keep the
infected from getting into Inland
towns in some way or other. The
frightened refugee will become desper-
ate, and even on the suppositiun that
his entrance may convey the disease,
the secresy rendered necessary to him
will be far more apt to communicate
the disease than had he been openly
received and proper precaution taken.
Moreover this very enactment of quar-
antine arouses and fixes the attention
of all classes OF people upon the sup
nervous and tImId, and then the panic
spreads, thereby preparing the way for
the coming of the pestilence and max
ing it dOubly dangerous when 1t does
come.
We could not wall IN Houston If the
physical possibility existed. HumaL-
ity would revolt against the PROPOSE
ton to inclose 10000 people within
walls of quarantine wherein all must
surely die of disease or starve. We
should take the small risk of inviting
to refuge in healthy regions all who can
leave infected districts, as one of the
most efectusl means of staying the dis
ease. 1t is we'll known that the more
it has to prey upon the more malignant
it grows. Nothing short of the most
imminent danger can justify any COM
munity in shutting its avenues of ap-
proach and driving back to the infect
ed region those who are fleeing from
it-as some furious and bloodthirsty
mob drives back into the flames the
wretches to whose homes the torch of
the incendiary has been applied.
The Rev. and learned DIR. asks:
What if the pestilence come and
some die In consequence-can you af-
ford to take the small chance of dying
for the sake Of the certain saving from
death from multitudes who are fleeing
from the pestilence2 Is it not as hon.
orable and reasonable to take that risk
as to take the risk of death on the
battlefield for your country's cause9
Is the risk of pestilence more terrible
thing than conscription of soldiers in
war2 There have been numbers Of
brave men during the scourge already
who have taken not the little risk of
waiting for the contingent coming of
the pestilence, but the far higher risk
of gong themselves into it to anchor
ate the sufferings of the sick and
dying! Who will say they have not
done nobly2 What soldiers ever fell
more gloriously on the battlefield offer
ing themselves as sacrifices for
their fellow citizens than our.
Manning and Swesringen and Ms.
Davis and her companion2l The heroes
who die in the cause of philanthropy,
no less than the soldiers who die for
liberty, accomplish good greater than
most Of the living. They leave a
record behind them whose great idea
permeates the minds of their fellow
men. 1t is absorbed by the children
and youths of the country, and ele-
Yates, refines and ennobles their
thoughts. They live still in the minds
and characters of multitudes; they
cannot cease to live.
"For theirs are immortal names
That were not born TO die
It hardly becomes Christian men and
women so to give way to insensate
panic at the remotest possibilities of
danger as to be oblivious of all their
obligations to the duty of Christian
benefcence. At such times they haYe
The opportunity to exhibit to terrified
workings around them the values and
beauty of Christians faith in the
providence of his Lord and king over
him. While calmly taking all reason
aole measures to protect himself and
his household, let him at the same time
show his confidence in the providence
OF that Saviour who has ''sll power
given Him in heaven and in earth,"
and who has said 'take no thought for
the morrow-sufficIen unto the day is
the evil thereof"