Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-02-08

StOunuS; dsalDsb cuduge vi duJ ouSu
consideration as this he felt peculiarly
authorized to enter a most earnest
protest. Years ago, when party feel
ing ran high between Wings and Demo
Gratis, he as now a Democrat, occupied
. position in the Boards of both the
Western Lunatic Asylum and the
Deaf and Dumb and Blind Institution,
and be had always sturdily resisted the
removal Of any faithful incumbent from
Office en- parry grounds. An effort had
once been made before Democratic
Board TO displace DR.. Strlbbllng. dis
tlnpuished though he was throughout
the land as the head Of the Western
Asylum; bu. it failed and that eminent
man aud faithful public servant had
been retained in Office to bis life's close.
Is there any charge of malad-adminis-
tration 10 the affairs Of the asylum or
the institution: None whatever is
pretended. The Western Lunatic
Asylum is fulfilling most satisfactory
the bene6cent ends Of its establishment,
and the same is no doubt the case with
the others. In the Western Asylum
400 patients are reported as being treat
I'd, while during the past two years w
of Its inmates have been restored as
cured TO the bosoms Of their families
and friends. carrying JOY and gladness
with them, no doubt, into many there
tofore afflicted households. Is there
any charge OF lack OF qualification
among its officials ? None whatever.
They are entirely competent to the
discharge of delicate and responsible
duties. Is any want OF ndehty in the
performance of duty alleged against
them? None whatever. Most earnest
ly did he feel called upon, then, to pro-
test against any act declaring their
offices vacant. Such an act would be
shockingly unjust and glaringly I'M
wise.
Let US consider a moment the policy
OF these causeless removals. The de-
sire of all should be to secure tor these
asylums the best medical talent. But
how can 1t be secured if the incumbents
are to be removed from Office on every
change OF party? Will men eminent
in the profession lay down lucrative
practice TO take an Office which is to be
held on such fortui;ous aud uncertain
tenure? DR.. FauntelroY gained large
experience and won for himself enyia-
Bile distinction at the head OF military
hospital during the war; when it ended
he established himself ~ the city OF
Staunton, where he soon acquired a
large aud fourisling practice. This he
gave up when elected to take charge o.
our Western Asylum. He is laudaDly
ambitious, and has for several years
labored faithfully and effectively in his
new field, in which he is aided by ac'
tive aud skillful assistance. To say
nothing of The injustice OF the trans&c-
ton, must it MOI be wretched and
cruel policy to declare vacant the offices
of such men ia order 10 substitute in
their stead others who very possibly
will not be 20 skillful for men in
Hourishi0g practice would be slow to
Law it down with such an example OF
change and uncertainty before them
aud who very certainly will be totally
inexperienced in the affairs Of the
asylum, and ill know absolutely moth
lng Of the peculiar cases of the hundreds
of patients now there, With all of which
the resent ofdlals are by this time
familiar
Must not the effect of these changes,
when made without good cause, be iu-
furious and dstres ing to the patients
themselves. who are entitled 10 our
liveliest syWpataies? The physicians
now in charge have watched over them
have studied their cases, have minis.
tered to them with tender care, Are
these TO be supplanted and strangers
put in Their places: Must new conf
dence be established, and the story OF
their sufiierings and of their disorders,
often OF the most delicate nature, be
poured forth INTO stranger-ears.
lie would ask members on the other
side if they dealt thus with their own
wives and daughters? Would you re-
quire them to abandon physicians whom
they trusted, and compel them to re-
sort to others, for no better reason than
a difference Of political opinion between
you and your family physician? If one
of you were stricken with small-pox-a
disease which has caused you some un-
easiness of late-wOuld you, before
calling in one Of the eminent physicians
of the city, first inquire what his views
were on the debt question, or on the
OF a capltatlon, and decline
relief at his hands If he CHANGED not to
a gee with about these matters? Most
assuredly you would not act thus 10
yosr own case. Why then should you
make such inquiries with reference to
the ph, sicians who are in charge Of
these great charities?
1t will aid you 10 your judgment On
this point if you will make the case your
own, and resolve to do unto those
afflicted ones as you yourselves would
like 10 be dealt with in their CASE
There is an incident related Of Horace
Mann, OF Massachus Its, which is not
Mr.. Mann was urging