The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-19


GIVE THE FEEBLE FOLK A CHANCE.
The General Assembly now in session are
kindly requested to note the fact as revealed
by the tenth census report of dependent and
defective classes tina. the insane in Indiana
are reported at 3,548, the idiotic and feeble
minded at APPS.
The spirit that prompts liberal expendi-
ture In the case OF insane will by ell the rea-
soDs prompting admit that the idietic ana
feeble minded are as much entitled to pro-
vision by the Slate as are our insane.
If one is benefited by the care and treat
ment received in asylums, and thereby en-
sbled to add to the productive industries of
the State. so are the imbeciles helped and
rendered useful, and. in a large degree, self
sustaining. The wisdom and economy OF
their training is no longer a question in
States where institutions have been estab-
lished. 1t is universally admitted that in a
natural state any organized creature, from
nomsd upward, may be modified for advance
ment or retrogression, for good or evil. by the
environments of esrly life. None so subject
10 this law as human beings, and no hu
mainly more obedient to it than the idiotic
or feebleminded child.
Ohio and Kentucky say from "a to 80 per
centum of their inmates become capable of
self-support. DR.. Kerlin. after twenty-five
years experience in the Pennsylvania Insti-
tuition for Idiotic and Predetermined, says
SIN our family Of $50 inmates we count the
productive value Of work performed by in
dustrisl classes as equal to $500 per month,
that is, saving Of wage labor OF $500 per
month"; The performers al being imbe-
Gle, and some quite idiotic, who. unem-
ployed, would not only be unproductive
consumers, but worse, and as confidently, /
can state that 80 per cent. of those recsived
are signally and apprecisbly benefited in
their own personal happiness in their habits
of nicely and clesnliness-in their notions
OF right and wropg-in their perception of
the relation of things-in their sensibilities
to external influences, and in their develop
nent of normal selfhood."
American institutions having been in ex-
istence thirty years, it may be asserted that
the experimental period is passed, and that
when States shall proceed to legislste for
these detectives, 1t will be done upon per-
manent basis Every argument that can be
advanced in the case of incurable insane, and
the treatment Of the durable, can with equal
force be advocated for the Predetermined.
While the State now provides for 100
there are 500 more as equally entitled to the
benefits the 100 now enjoy. Let the mesger
appropriations asked for by the managers
be given. and another wing added to the
present building and the present capacity
increased, and thus, by easy stages, q grand
result may be ultimately reached without
any great burden imposed on the State.
II this State can provide ST. 175, $50 for
three new hospitals for her insane, why not
give the $50 coo for feeble minded SO modestly
asked for by the Superintendent and Board
of Trustees in their report. To talk of seps-
ration is folly. Ten years ago Indiana had
in the Soldiers Orphans Home 3O1 children,
the greatest number in any year. The last
report shows an average of 162. II in ten
years the population has diminished one
half. bow much longer will such home be
needed?
Minnesota has her Deaf and Dumb, Blind
and Idiotic all under one Board of Trustees,
one steward and on the same grounds, and
nobody is injured. We quote q few sem
fences from their last annual report to
Governor Hubbard (1sS4): THE Directors
of the Minnesota Institute for Deaf and
Dumb, Blind and Feeble -minde beg leave
to report that nothing has occurred since the
date of our last report to abate the interest
manifested in our several schools or lessen
the confidence which the public has seemed
to repose in the wisdom and benefcencs of
their organization and conduct.
1--WE notice with regret that the publ in
situations of some of our sister States have
suffered severely from political and partisan
jealousies and structures, from which evils
We have happily escaped, and we have been
left free to work out the objects of our or
gsnlzaiion
Let not Indiana be among this sisterhood.