St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-06-07
HI CENSUS TAKING.
CPioyune.I

TPicayune.J
On last Monday the enumeration
Of population and the gathering Of
statistics for the Uuitsd States Cen.
sus were commenced.
The people should facilitate the
business - much - possible by
giving the Information called for by
the Government. A list Of printed
questions has been prepared by the
Census Bureau. The snumcrators
have no right to seek any informa-
ton not prescribed in these ques.
tons.
Questions as to age, nativity,
members in the family and the like
will doubtless be answered readily,
but there are questions which will
be considered offensive by ZONE,
as the Government wishes to find
out whether persons are insane OF
idiotic, whether they have been d.
vorced, whether they own their
property OF whether it is mortgaged,
and the like.
The law does not compel any per-
son to incriminate himself or to
make exposures that will damage
him. 1t is largely q matter Of opinion
- to whether particular persons
are insane or are weak-minded, and
few persons will own to being eth
er lunatics OF idiots. Therefore we
shall expect most people to take the
benefit Of the doubt and claim that
they are reasonably sane and intelli-
gent. Insane persons are usually
under the care or observation Of
the parish or State authorities, and
the best information is to be got
from them.
As to questions ofpersonal health.
but little reliable Information is to
be got from individuals. Such per-
sons as may be in the last stages of
incurable diseases may not object to
Information concerning them,
but who, after all, shall decide when
. disease is i~ncurable, or chronic,
or what may be the nature of it!
Doctors so universally and notori-
disagree concerning the ma
ture Of diseases that no person is
warranted in doing more than to
give In opinion as to an ailing hui
man being. A case must indeed
be . very plain one for any person
to testify concerning himself or am
other SO to the condition and char.
.cter Of any affection Of the body.
The statistics Of the census will
be fatally defective il they are made
up Of suggestions and opiniona.
Nothing less than facts, ascertain
ed BY the best means 1t hand, will
be Of any value.
We have heard that threats have
been made that il persons should
refuse to give satisfactory replies
10 questions they would be- dealt
by the Federal courts. WHAT
b . satisfactory reply3 A person
may declare himself to be sane, to
be no idiot, to be aifiictad by no
chronic disease. Who shall ques.
ion the completeness Of these state
But the enumerat0r or
'orne- other person might desire for
'eIhsh reasons to have the party
uttered on the official record rs .
.Ool, or . lunatic, or wholly disabled
" some incurable disorder. Does
anybody suppose the Federal
'ourts would entertain such . case!
The government has not yet estab-
Ished . Spanish inquisition.
The people should assist in the
aking Of the census rs much rs
'ossible. They are entitled to
treatment from the gov
Enment officers and they should
i've 1t in return. The census Is
be peoples business after all, and
! 10 most desirable that it should
m honest and truthful showing
{ the political and financial power
{ this great republic. That 10 what
! b intended to be.