New-York tribune., 1879-12-22
THE CARE or THE INSlNE.

A REPLY TO CRITICISMS on TIE COOPER UNION
MEErING-cARD FROM DIR. GEORGE n. BEARD.
To the EDITOR or The Tribune.
SIR: As a member of the Committee on Ar
-aueeuenfs for the recent meeting Cooper Institute
in regard 20 uuacy reform requested, IN oehai Of
that committee 70 reply some Of the criticisms and
Misunderstanding contained III the letters OF Dr Az
new and others
All that is needful at this iuncture may be stated
briefly.
Fir-There Is not a. yet perfect nnanimy nor is 1t
necessary that there should he in regard to The details
OF the proposed reform among the members Of the
committee the signers OF the call or the speakers on
that occasion To nearly all the subject in s present
asnecr l. new, although many OF rs have gwen the
general problem years OF earnest study When the de-
tailed u ocramme OF criticisms originally attached TO
the call was read in my presence, VAS uniaYoraby i'm
pressed with it, and was pleased when those members
of the committee who had that matter In charge decided
70 relnoveit One Of the prominent speakers objected
fur much the same reason tnat did, namely that the
sneaker could not expected 10 judge OF the mnutae,
ana would not be uRoly 20 agree 20 al the charges
made The committee subsequently decided 20 make
some verbal alterations in the circular. and 10 print II
IN the form OF general suggestions for distribution IN
ihe nal. None OF the committee were predsed 10 II {;
uo.e Of fhe speakers we're pledged u It, and the
permsncnr committee, in whose hands the subsequent
carving info force resolutions rests. Is not
leded 10 These general suggestions embraced some
NJ the reasons why thought necessary TO look into
this subject and they distributed not secretly nor
,,,npingv nor hastily but deliberately openly, con-
scienii0usly.
Seeond-rhe resolutions as unanimously passed az the
close Of the meeting represent the real object OF the
meeting and they fairly represent the present views Of
the sneakers OF the committees and believe, Of the
majority OF the sgners of the call II the intention OF
tue permanent committee, OF which am member 10
endsavor as best they can to obey those resolutions
Third Tins whole movement was orGinatsa anu & mas
been prosecuted nv pnantnro%pe % imuy @ WHO % ~ - and
her whole time and energies 10 TINS work IN tns anu
oher states. II n not as has been asserted anu as
many honestly believe. scheme OF any one physician
clique II Is not even professional movement @ ~ u
amos. entirely lay enterprise, although few phys
clans have been induced 70 cooperate with the agit
ton o, last year or OF previous years II las simply hon
Ing 10 do. -, - ,,,..on
arv m ia not even or gina merely proposes TO i'm
port from Great Britain he plan OF Lunacy Commits
sion, which, after overcoming the saine opposition
mat now S, confirms spcns.f,I There and has
asylums, a. II u expected will also be the case
here one the prominent judges IN the clty de
@ned 10 sgr the call because Judgment. based on
many wears exDsrieuee the bencn, the whole system
Of dealing with the insane should be reconstructed
our plan seemed 10 him mid and eonciliatory.
Firh-This movement is not directed AGAINST any one
asyium against any individual or AGAINST the asy
the last resolution. and form Safional Lnnacy COM
mission which witLOut interfering WIN state laws,
shall gradually eniehten the public and the profession
M all parts Of the Union For many ana evia-nt rea
sons seemed best tat the agitation sh0uh Oesin III
Sxfh-rhs enterprise Is not theoreuca! OF an lueai
one II i practical and will DC permanent II may ia
tb,r vear: il may fail the nexi and the next nut lis
final success sire as the iuiure- We Ar "orAnk
noL ons for the pTotecli0n Oi the INSANE. ous i s
nrotacsiop OF thc officers OF asylums themselves, who
now 1--we In az uneeaang shower of charges ana accusa
,'o~ vhtE or,lv surh A commission Is proposed can
srrest We are working bring about the time when
fbe neonle shan not only believe and hope, but Know
that Their asyus are neither hotels nor prisons ut
hospirals and homes We arc vorfing more ief .he
Coming han the present generations; for the nunreds
~ Tbonsauds OF lunatics thai the twentieth century
must care for and maintain. 1ko- N bhAhD'