The herald., 1896-03-06
Write the Truth as you sec it,
Fight the Wrong as you find it: Pub.
lish all tho News, and Trust tho
Event to the Judgment of the People
FRIDAY, MARCH 6. 1896.
HIGHLAND ASYLUM CHARGES

HIGHLAND ASYLUM CHARGES
The sycophantic Redlands Citro-
graph speaks hippantly and incredu-
lously Of the allegations of bad treat
ment suffered by the patients of the
Highland insane asylum, pub
lished in The HERALD of recent date.
It says: "We venture to assert that
our insane asylum is conducted on
humace and up-to-date methods"
TIE HERALD ventures to assert" that
the Citrograph is in state of opaque
ignorance regarding the manage
ment of the asylum, and that
it has absolutely no authority
for sustaining the same. The edi-
tor of the Citrograph has contrived by
some peculiar means to remain outside
the walls of the asylum, and really
knows no more about its inner work.
ings than he does about the domestic
economy of Balmoral castle. He
should subdue his brashness and
think ten times before he talks, or
writes, either.
The HERALD did not publish Mr..
Golfers statements about his exper-
fences while patient at the asylum
and the methods that he observed to
be in vogue there, until it had become
reasonably we'll satisfied that the COM
plainant WAS man of good repute, and
that if the right kind of investigation
could be had corroborative testimony
would be adduced. As matter of
fact some of the worst of Mr.. Golfers
allegations have not been published,
as they involve details of nature SO
indelicate as to preclude their publi-
cation in a respectable paper. being f1t
only for the consideration of an inves-
tieating commission. One of the
modes employed by the attendants to
subdue unruly patients, according to
Mr.. Golfer, is not only dangerous to
the patient, but is so disgustingly in
human that anything better than an
Apache Indian would not be thought
capable Of using it.
IT these allegations are false, the
best thing the asylum officials can do
Is to demand and insist on searching
investigation. Up to date not word
of explanation in denial has been
heard from the asylum. The columns
of the HERALD are open to the officials
of the institution, and any proper de-
fense they desire to make will be
cheerfully printed. The Highland
asylum is a public institution, sup
ported by the people of the state, aud
it is the wish of the HERALD that the
truth, and only the truth, shall be
known about the management.
If brutality and mismanagement
were unknown in penal, reformstory
and charitable institutions, there might
be more excuse for the skepticism ex-
hibited by the Citograph and one or two
other San Bernsrdino contemporaries.
But Investigations, official and un-
official, of the last few years in differ
ent parts of the country have shown
that abuses have been far from uncom-
mon in institutions of the character
noted. 1t is barely possible that the
Highland establishment is not all that
it should be as regards the treatment
of the people confined within its walls.
The HERALD hopes that it is we'll and
humanely conducted place, and for the
sake of humanity would like to know
beyond any doubt that the charges
made by Mr.. Golfer are untrue.
The mere fact that patients other
than Mr.. Golfer have not made COM
plants of the treatment experienced
at the asylum cuts very little figure in
the matter. Aside from the disinclina-
ton of people who have been confined
in a lunatic asylum to advertise the
fact, there has been another influence,
according to The HERALp's informa-
ton, of character sufficiently strong
to deter complaints, and that is the
threat Of renewed confinement, if
unpleasant things are said about the
methods prevalent in the asylum. The
fact also that patients do not complain
when official inspections of the iustitu-
ton are made may not be significant
in the way that some people may
think. It has been stated that silence
during the visits Of officials is enforced
by threats of punishment being inflic.-
ed on those that prove too communi-
cative.
The way to develop the truth or fall
sity Of the charges brought through
the columns of The HERALD is to have
q commss mpowered to call wit
nesses and to guarantee to those sum m.
moned to testify the protection OF the