Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-02-26

Is III ulrcct opposition 10 the spirit OF
the age, and which is rebukcd and
condemned by the most enlightened
authorities everywhere.
The insane are not brutes. they
have not lost all claims TO our care
and consideration. They constitute
the most unfortunate class of our fcl-
low-citi2ens; they are sick and in.
prison; they hre sufferers from n
gricvous calamity. Insanity is an
awful iniliction, but the miserics of il
may he mitigatcd, its terrors NAV be
isscned, aud in many cases perma-
nent cure may be effected under care
ful, intelligent and scientific treat
ment Work of this kind should ell
list all the better feelings ofour ma
turc. No labor is so fully compen-
sated by the slightest success. These
people appeal TO us even as little chiI.
drcn; we can not turn them over TO
mere task-masters, to ignorant and
unieeling attendants, with power to
duck them, to sufocate them with
wet towels, TO maltrcat them in any
way, TO neglect them. They demand
they must have, intelligent care anu
sympathetic attention; nothing less
than this will do, nothing less will
satisfy the dictates of humanity. TO
say nothing of what a Christian civil
lization requires.
Many of us remember the blind
preacher, Mr. Mcdonald. lie spent
his days, his means and at last-health
itselfln the service of humanity, fol-
lowing as best he could the COM
mands of his Master to 90 into all
the world and preach the gospel to
every creature. In study he lost his
eye sight, but still he pursued his
work, cheerfully, earnestly, unwear-
iedly. 1t was most pathetic, n
touching pilgrimage. For years he
knew no difference between dark
ness and light, His thoughts turned
in on his own condition ;cut Off from
that Intercourse, that natural sym
pathy which does so much to tighten
the burdens of life, or to i Apart
strength TO bear them, gradually his
mind began to fail him. Finally he
was sent to the asylum at Anchorage
and there unattended, uncared for
wandering about unknown and ul-
familiar places, he fell over the stairs
bruised and with his leg broken, nes-
lcctcd, he fingered in tormcnts few
weeks and died.
Reading the testimony, the only
conclusion we can reach is that the
life of Mr.. Mcdonald was an unnec-
essary sacrifice to wrctchcd misman-
agemcnt.
1t is with feelings of relief and
qualification we turn from Anchor
age to llopkinsvillc. The asylum at
Hopkinsville, under charge of Dir.
Rodman, has always had the conf
dence ofthc public. DR.. Rolman's
reputation, professional and personal
has commanded for the institution
under his charge unqualified approv-
al. And YET, with such testimony
concerning Anchorage as from time
to time was made public, it seemed
to us only fair and right fully and
openly to publish report of the cx-
act condition of affairs at Hopkins
vile. If the institution was what
we believed, il had nothing to fear
from any kind of an investigation if |
1t was different the public,had Alright
to know it.
The story told by the correspon-
dent detailed to investigate the Hop
kinsville Asylum, unknown to the
officers and in a'manner to preclude
any possibility of deceit, fully sus-
tains the past reputation of that in
stitution, and will command for it
renewed confidence when confidence
is valuable. Reading the testimony
given at Anchorage, there is some
consolation in the knowledge that
Hopkipsville is in Kentucky, and
that for twenty years DR.. Rodman
has so faithfully served the State and
humanity ourier-Journal.