The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-06-06
THE INSANE ASYLUM AND ITS MAN

TIE INSANE ASYLUM AND ITS MAN
AGHNBNT.
RumOrs relating to Gisagreements in the
management OF the Asylum for the Insane
are rife in this COMMIT nifty and throughout
the State. The Sentinel hitherto has paid
little attention to reports calculated to dis
parsge the management of the Institution,
because 1t had the highest assurance that
DR.. Harrison, President. aBd the other mem
bers of the Board Of Trustees, could not be
party 10 any disorganIzing proceedings.
The Sentinel has assumed, indeed the Sem
tinel has from the first been in possession OF
facts statements made by Dr. Harrison
himself-which stamped every report relst-
ing to cOnnivsnce st improper proceedings as
preposterous. We are aware that strange
things happen OCCASIONALLY. Men OF high
standing of wide repute for integrity, and
who have secured a large share Of public
confidence, do sO-9etimes disappoint their
friends and the public-forfeir their pledges,
break their word of honor, and become at
terly bankrupt IN character. The Sentinel
hes not been willing, directly nor even by
insinuation, to place any member of the
Board of Directors in the category of men of
that class. Hence, when reports have been
circulated that injustice to DR.. Rogers was
contemplated, and that the Board of Trustees
would disregard statutes caucus and its own
Official declarations, the Sentinel has been
disposed to discredit them. The Sem
tinel, for the present, prefers to be-
II
can be persuaded to Inaugurate anarchy in
the affairs of the Benevolent Institutions Of
Indiana. The GARD is under pledges, writ
ten and oral, which il can not violate with
out inviting criticisms of searching severely.
Men of DIR. Harrison's, DR.. Tarlton's and
Philip Gapen's standing and responsibility
are apt to weigh well their pledges. With
such men words are bonds. 1t is not re-
quired to swear men Of their type to get
the truth; therefore, the Sentinel assumes
that reports which involve the Board or
any member of it in discreditable transac-
tons, or transactions violative of pledges,
are idle. The Sentinel is quite willing to adj
nit that the Democratic party of Indiana is
now responsible for the management of
the Benevolent Institutions of the State,
The responsibility is such that it would be
difficult to overestimate its importance. We
are not unmiudfal of the fact that politics
are intimately associated with the benevo-
lent sffairs Of the State. and since the Demo-
cratic party must shoulder all the response
bility, we demand in the name of the party
the recognition of seltevident facts. The
inmates OF the Insane Asylum are the most
unfortunate people with whom the State has
to deal. Their condition demands medical
skill of the first order. To cure them, to
give them back to their friends with minds
re-enthroned is the supreme purpose, and all
things connected with the Asylum for the
Insane should have this purpose in view and
in constant remembrance. DR.. Rogers is
eminently qualified for his position.
The Democratic party is on record as fully
recognizing his fitness for the duties of his
Office. To annoy him, to hamper him, to
surround him with unnecessary psrplexities
would be an outrage which the Democratic
party will not indorse. The people of Indi-
ana will not approve of proceedings which
degrade science, knowledge skill, profess
sional integrity and fidelity, tor the purpose
of exalting Ward politicians or any other
class of politicians. 1t is unfortunate that
the rumors to which we have referred relate
to posi- BILE, indeed probable condition of
things at the Asylum for the Insane well
calculated to produce wide spread diSsstis-
faction AS before stated the Sentinel is
satisfied that these rumors are idle aud with
out warrant or foundation. We are equally
well satisfied that if unfortunately they
should crystalize into facts, injury to the
Democratic party and the public good
will be the result. The Democratic
party of Indiana will not tolerate policy
in the management of the Benevolent Insti-
tutions of the State, which, fOrgetful of obi
cations to the unfortunate, remembers only
pledges to an inferior order of professional
politicians. In this emergency the people,
being satisfied that DR.. Rogers is eminently
and pre-eminently qualified for the position
which he adorns and dignifes by his skill,
look to the Board of Management to main.
tain the majesty of the law, the high charac-
ter of the Benevolent Institutions of the
State and guard the reputation of the Demo
cratic party from the assaults of the enemy.
This the Board is personally and officially
pledged to do, and we can not for a moment
think of any member OF the Board as man
who is less than his word.