The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1903-04-23

Rational Treatment Of Inebriares.
A subsc,ib euclo.es the Herald the
followinl description Of the lows idea
Of treating inebriates. with request for
the publication which We comply with /:
lows passed law iaa year prrmii
ting the confinement of d.nnkafds In
lunatir asy 'ums. i masl~ lililr star. but
within ripm monihs 3on aIcohnlir pa
tients wrre nndri restraint aud treat
mrni. Az I"wa iisP.'c'' says ihal d..
ehriafes couiinnr 10 flow into tiir state
asylum 4 the rate " about fifty 70
month. aud thai M lows rouri has just
ruled that their constitutional rights are.
not vIn'ael by their de e'ru'ion. Som.
OF the i,.briaies don't Ike ." br shut NJ.
bnt The treatment they g-i seems 10 be
humane aud salutary Their liquos IL
stopped aud ihri have 10 work on farms
aud are encouraged TO improve their
habits When they seem 10 he cured
they are 'lischsiged. and report say
that 50 Ia. si'ou' IS re cent Of ,he case.
have so resulted"
Some years ago The Herald urged
kr law for Mississippi-,he es'ablish-
meut OF ~ in~briale annex Ia our state
asylnmS The Iowa idea" has been in
adoption IN England for years. where
thousands Of drunkards are given public
help IN their desire OF cure. by isolation,
control and employment. The article
above quoted from thus argues In favor
Of the Iowa law:
"This seems like excellent manage
meut of dFunkards. Men who cannot,
or will not, control their thirst ought
not to be left at large to get themselves
and others into mischief. Neither
should they be sent 10 jail. II they are
irresponsible because of their propensi-
ties, they should be shut up aud look
ed after until they are cured, and while
under restraint they should be made to
work for their living"
This Il all true enough, but there Is
more and stronger argument for the
Iowa inebriste cure than this modern
medical authority diagnoses confirmed
drunkenness as a disease, and a most
difficult and pitiful one. Often con
tracted In all innocence OF wrong or
danger, Il is quite beyond the volition.
the will power, of the average victim to
save himself from the clutch Of "the
keenesi paugs the wreiched 6nd" This
impoiency is recognized and provided
for in the case Of the rich and "well TO
do" by The private cure establishments.
But alas for the manual labor toilers-
those who win bread by the sweat Of
their brows. There Is no help for them |
save in their own feeble efforts to reform,
the husks Of creeds, the prayers Of poor
women folk who suffer and bear the do
nestle burdens OF the drunkards' homes. |
The question is shall society only "lard |
the fat hoR'-shall not the state take
account OF its lean kind Surely.
Here we would address word TO the
prohibitionists-a we'll meaning order
and a powerful influence on practical
lines. Would 1t not be consistent with
their platform as II is certainly congen
ial to their purpose, to take up this lows
idea They need not aba,e bit from
the end which Is their cardinal tenet
the abolition OF saloons. They hold
that the proceeds Of the licensed saloon
is contsminating. But would II be II
set apart as a special fund for the sup
port of an inebriate annex for each state
insane asylum II seems to the Herald,
sd is submitted to the prohibitiouisls,
hat until the saloon ceases to be fact,
1othing could be more appropriate than
70 tax them for the support aud cure Of
he weak, or vicious, who fall before the
and the taste Of strong drink.
-Vicksburg Herald.
We agree With the Herald in its advo
;acy Of the lows law. We believe that
his is the only cure for many OF the de
'ased men and women Of our state. We
Ilso think the prohibilionisis would
treugthen their cause greatly by advo
'aling the adoption of such law. But
ct us not allow ourselves 10 be lured in
o this tempting trap. The state should
Tot engage in the manufacture Of ine-
'riates for the purpose of trying to cure
hem. We can stop The manufacture. to
j large extent, and then cure The prod
lets OF our fOrmet folly aflsrwsrd. Nor
lily, the state has no right 10 license 3
rhine. even II the money TINS obtained
. used for curing inebriaies or for .he
upporl Of our churcees.
The School Question.
A Is.~ms.t. f.~... r.-L--.. .-