The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-21
THE STATES AsYLUMs.


The consideration OF measures affecting
the States institutions for the afflicted
should be governed by humane rather than
political thought. Ia it party should have
no place. At the doors Of thele asylums
Democrat and Republican are one in i'm
pulse and sympathy. There the taxpayer
relsxes his demand for rigid economy. Over
their portals the hand OF Divine charity il
extended IN appeal; within them partisan
mschination for vantage should hide itsface
We would have the Indiana Legislature
come fully up to the needs OF the insane, the
feeble minded, the blind aud the deaf aud
dumb. We weuld have Democrats and Re-
pUblcsns vie with one another in seeking to
nave ample provision made By the State for
al beIeft of reason, sight hearing aud
speech. a State may be rich in resources, sd
mirable in development, famous for her he
roes and statesmen, but il she provides not
for her children upon whom the hand OF az
Fiction is laid, she is neither great nor good.
Indiana is young, fair and strong. Among
the siaterhoOd of States few are so comely or
50 prosperous. And yet within her borders
ase two thousand persons in different stages
of insanity whose irrational speech Is con-
tinuously appealing to their mother COM
mon wealth for safe shelter and for intelligent
treatment Of their infrmity. These IN
fortuDatss are neither Republicans nor Dam.
ooTats-they are Indiana's children. or over
thirty-fVe hundred insane in the State less
than fifteen hundred sre within Homes for
this class. These houses are not yet extern
sige enough to receive them all. They
should be made SO and that without delay.
Eve-y day that dawns upon the insane oc-
cupying cells in isils provided for criminals,
hospital wards intended for the diseased and
private sbodes without adequate protection
and complete treatment of them. is day
whose light is dimmed by unperformed duty
by our State.
Indiana he's erected and endowed several
noble institutions of learning for her young
intellects which reflect honor upon her.
She is building a capitol which, while pre-.
serving her archives and serving as the
arena OF her legislation, viii also be pointed
to as an illustration Of her wealth, her pro-
gress and greatness. Bat stronger evidences
of the glory of State are noble edifcss
ample for the care OF the provideRtially
stflicted. These constitute the proudest
AID most enduring monuments OF her ciyili-
zstion and Contamination.
We sIs not pleading for sxtraYsgsncs in
the expenditure of money; but that ia
not extravaganza which to the full
est extent houses and provides
and ministers TO the infrmities
of the afflicted. The opponents OF ample
appropriations for this purpose are mistaken
il they suppose ihe people of Indiana viii
condemn such appropriations. The very re-
verse is true. No legislator need fear to so
before the people with q record OF having
championed this charity, ..shis bOunden duty
OF an enlightened State. 1t is rather rec
ord Of having opposed such a charity we
should shrink from svowing % a h1mane
constituency. But above ell considerations
Of self should stand out in the hearts OF our
legislators the glory that viii be reflected
upon the State by IN unstinted performance
Of this bens6cent duty.