The true northerner., 1888-10-31
HONESTFARMERLUCE
he Makes a Plain Showing
on State Expenses
Institutions Established by
Republican Admins
trationS.
The Dependent and Unfor-
tunate Classes Well
Cared For.
A Record That Will Bear
Close Examination


that the attention of the people has been
called TO the administration OF state af-
FAIRS In Michigan. The whole record OF
the Republican party is one of which we
are proud, and the more you will investi-
gate, and the more you will compare, the
more pride you will have In the record
made by this party in the administration
OF these affairs. At the Capital it is the
wonder of visitors from New York, New
England and the West that we built that
Capitol for q million and half of money
and paid for IL; something almost unpara-
lelled that We constructed q building
without fiaw, built it without the charge
or stealing, and have gone on proud of
the record We have made. We have Just
ne much reason to be proud to-day as we
ever had during the thirty-four years of
our existence. But they say state taxes
are high and growing higher. Now / ask
you to give me careful attention because
am going to deal somewhat in statistics;
and this may be dull; there is no humor
nit.
CARE OF THE INSANE.
Thirty-four years ago when the Republi-
hcan party took control Of state affairs
We had two Institutions, state institutions.
We had the university down at Ann
Arbor and the states prison at jackson.
Those constituted the state institutions.
Now We live In an age, whatever else may
distinguish it, that will be In all history
distinguished as humanitarian age.
Thirty-four years ago our insane were
locked up, chained in log pens, anguish
Ing In cells and in the poorhouses. These
insane people were suffering agonies Of
the most unfortunate of all Gods afflicted.
This humanitarian spirit dictated that we
must build the asylums for the detention,
care and treatment Of these unfortunates.
Twenty-nine years ago, and that is all, we
opened the institution at Kalamazoo. We
erected one there, and finished it, that we
thought would do for thirty years. 1t
would care for 800 patients, but in a few
years that one was full and we erected
one at Pontiac, with provision for 700 of
these unfortunates. In a few years that
was full. We erected one then on the
salubrious waters OF Traverse Bay, at
Traverse City, that will accommodate 500
patients, and in little time that was full.
We erected one at Ionia TO care for the
criminal or homicidal insane, that would
take care OF 100, and that is full.
AT the last session Of the legislature l
had conceived ideas In relation to the con-
struction of additional asylums that would
be less expensive; the large asylums cost
rs $1,000 for capacity for each patient.
We had some Of us conceived the idea OF
erecting cottages that would accommodate
forty or fifty each; In connection with the
penal institutions have farms upon which
the patient should work. In the message
which l had the honor to present TO the
legislature and recommend, i was aston
ished to find the several boards, superin-
tendents and people generally were will
Ing TO try the experiment, and last year
we provided for the erection of five OF
these cottages, that would accommodate
200 patients. Those cottages are now
completed and we are taking care of 200
patients In the cottages, and have still
room for few more patients. 1t costs
about $500 each for patients in those cot
tages. Now all this has cost money-but
they were constructed at the dictates Of
this humanitarian spirit born of the chris
tian civilization Of the day in which we
live. [Applause.I
REFORMING THE BOYS.
Thirty-four years ago-and that reminds
me how old am getting-I was elected
member Of your legislature. / visited the
state prison at Jackson. The whole prison
system has been changed since then.
Then we saw chains and fetters on the feet
Of the prisoners, and by the side OF those
clanking chains saw boys IA, Is and 16
years old, and my heart went out in SYM
pathy with those boys, and we passed a
bill providing for the establishment Of a
reform school for boys. It is located a /
Lansing. Almost four thousand boys
have gone out from that institution, S5
per cent OF them have become good
citizens. They are bankers, railroad men,
mechanics, manufacturers, farmers and
laborers, scattered over this state of ours.
Applause. The state sends them out at
Is, but still watches and guards over
them, looks to their welfare. This instl-
tuition was built, too, in harmony with
the Christian civilization Of this grand age
In which we live. There are 450 boys
there now. It Isl pride to the state OF
Michigan, and we refer TO It with honest
pride In the enterprise of this unparalleled
state OF ours.
EDUCATING THE DEAF AND DUMB.
We saw again the deaf and dumb with
out places for education coming I'D help
less and In ignorance, and this same hui
manitarian spirit that stands out in the
front rank In this commonwealth, dictated
we should build an asylum and school
Cor them, and we erected large one at
FLINT. Here there are three or four hun
dred OF them taught to read, read the
Word OF God, and study arithmetic, and
they 60 out broader. stronger and happier
than they were before. All these things
cost money.
CARING roR THE DEPENDENT.
We saw again, and this humanitarian
heart Of ours throbbed In sympathy with
the little waits that lay in the dry goods
boxes, that tramp the streets and were In
the poor houses without the sheltering
care of mothers affection or fathers
strong arm to support them, children
without parents and children with worse
than no parents. This Humanitarian
spirit, right OF wrong, dictated We should
provide homes for the little ones. Dowr
At Coldwater we constructed one that has
cared for 24O0 Of these little waits anc
sent them into homes. The state tooh
them into its great, generous arms, looked
! after them and educated them, an
furnished them homes where they have
been sent, and many Of them are coming
up good men and good boys and good
Girls, good men and good women. lAp
plause.l But IL costs money.
SAVING YOUNG GIRLS.
We saw sights Of young girls going dowr
20 degradation. woe and death. Ihi
same humanitarian system came 70 the
front and said, we will make the effort Il
lift ND these girls TO virtue and woman
hood. and we constructed q school dowr
Al Adrian, where we care for from tw,
hundred to three hundred of these girls
and we hope to see evidence that good ID
feing done. But all this costs money.
A HOME ron THE VETERANS.
Again we looked around aud saw th'
old soldier trembling with dim eyes. W.
saw his bended knees; we saw him bowet
wtth rheumatism aud paralysis, and thil
great throbbing heart of ours went ou
md said. no soldier who donned the blue
severed HIS connection with home ans
friends. bid adieu TO wife and children
should ever die In the poor house or tramp