People's friend. (Rome, Ga.) 1873-18??, February 01, 1873, Image 3
The reasons, then, which should influence legislation on this subject, are
clearly joined with every interest of the State, and of the individual citizen.
'They deserve and demand the most careful and impartial consideration of our
public men. The dictates of an enlightened philanthropy and wise statesman
ship, as well as the sentiments of our holy religion, plead most earnestly for
the establishment of Inebriate Asylums.
In conclusion, I would call especial attention to the “Proceedings of the
Second Meeting of the American Association for the Cure of Inebriates.” From
the able and interesting paper of Dr. Parrish, President of. Pennsylvania San
itarium, I give the following extracts as containing the matured views of one
eminently qualified to speak on this subject.
“The penal management of inebriates is of no practical service to them, or no
certain protection to society.” “Detention in asylums or sanitariums, with
appropriate work for body and mind, under prescription of medical officers,
and a limited probationary trial before being finally discharged, would be the
salvation of thousands, and a source of economy to the State ”
“Our institutions have accomplished much, and are gradually tending to
higher and more reliable results. The best and greatest things come by little
and little.”
“If crime and disease are so largely the result of intemperance, it is evident
that it is cheaper to detain the confirmed inebriate that he may not be in a
position to become a criminal, and to treat the better class in hospitals where
they may have an opportunity to recover and become productive, with less
risk of being burdensome to society and continuing a diseased posterity.”
“The existence of such institutions would afford opportunity for studying the
subject of inebriety, as it can be studied in no other way; and they would be
instrumental in diminishing the demand for alcoholic and other narcotics,
while public sentiment would, of necessity, become more enlightened, and
results could thus be secured, which would do much to instruct the legislation
cf the country.”
To the General Assembly of the State of Georgia:
Your Memorialists are moved by various urgent reasons, to ask that your
Honorable Body will take such measures as shall lead to the establishment of
an institution for the relief and cure of the unfortunate victims of intemper
ance. This class of citizens, already large, is becoming larger every year,
while the evils that afflict society and the State from this source, are so mani
fold and distressing as to call for the earnest efforts oi all good men to mitigate
them by all lawful and prudent means. Timely and wise Legislation may
speedily bring some relief, and may avert still greater suffering and losses in
the future.
Your Memorialists will not attempt a full recital of all th© evils which attend
and follow the habitual use of alcoholic drinks. The ablest and best among
the physicians, Legislators, Jurists and Clergy of the land, have done this with
a force and richness of argument, illustration and pathos, that would have
banished these evils from the land if they could have been reached by moral
influences alone. It is the general conviction that intemperance engenders
and aggravates many painful and fatal diseases, hastens the decay of all the
vital powers, perverts and paralyzes the intellectual faculties, blunts all the
liner feelings and moral sensibilities, and ultimately imbrutes and destroys its
wretched victims. Its effects are disastrous upon the physical energies and
intellectual growth of a nation: upon the patriotism and morals of the entire
people. It entails fearful losses upon the productive industry of communities.
This insatiable destroyer is at work night and day with ceaseless activity; the
fruitful source of reckless waste, misguided efforts, mistakes and failures; of
quarrels and litigations, crimes and prosecutions; the chief supporter of poor
l.ouscs, jails ami penitentiaries; the prime cause of indolence and inefficiency,
of subtraction from the effective capital and labor of the country, of the rapid
increase of non-produccrs and profitless consumers; the annual squanderer of
wealth sufficient to maintain the Government, and support all the schools
and churches of the nation. In accomplishing this destruction of health, mor
als, life and prosperity, it bereaves dependent mothers, wives and sisters; re
duces helpless children to beggary; sends strife, misery and want to the once
happy homes of love, joy and plenty; creates scenes of wretchedness and hope
less woe, over which human hearts bleed in unavailing anguish, and human
tears forever flow in token of sorrow, overwhelming and unutterable.
If intemperance were simply a moral vice, or social evil, results so sad and
appalling would check the most thoughtless and reform the most abandoned.
But this is something more than a vice from whirl), as moralists and jurists
have supposed, a man can deliver himself, if only he shall desire, ami will but
i take the effort, to break its power. Doubtless there is a stage in the inebriate’s
progress at which a resolute effort might redeem and save; but it is the very
nature of this calamity that the victim is deceived as to the time when deliver
ance may be possible.
Your Memorialists would respectfully ask whether our law-makers and
moral reformers have fully understood the “pat hological influences of alcohol,"
the “i rue philosophy of intemperance," the real “nature of inebriety.” “Is it
a crime or a disease?” “Is it a state of moral turpitude" only, or is it a “mor
bid condition of the physical organization," entitled to the name and demand
ing the treatment of a disease? The right answer to this question might pro
duce a great and much-needed change in public sentiment, and in State legis
lation with reference to thv treatment of inebriates.
Your Memorialists do not claim that they have discovered, or practically
tested, any new truth bearing upon this subject. They respectfully refer your
Honorable Body to a pamphlet accompanying their Memorial, published by
the “American Association for the Curt* of Inebriates." The writers of this
pamphlet haw shown by exhaustive experiments, ami by the collation of au
thentic facts from various sources, that inebriety is a disease, tracealfle to
well recognized cause- -a disease which involves a “defective condition, of the
bodv; “rt disordered state of the mind; “an impaired will; “a depraved ap
petite,” clamorous and uncontrolable, and lastly drunkenness w ith its resulting
evils.
The paper on “the relation of the inebriate to society," is worthy the atten
tion of your Honorable Body. "What provision shall be made for these un
happy men, many of whom “groan under the worst of all tyrannies, the tvran
nv of a bad organization," having coni' 1 into the world with hereditary pro
clivities to this vice, against which they have not the power to contend success
lull} without assistance; many of whom, though chargeable with guilt in the
first steps of their progress, are now in a state both hopeless and helpless, unless
aid shall come to them from some*source strong with sympathy and sustaining
help. Many of them strive to abstain from excess, but. such is the diseased
condition of the brain, the nerves and the stomach, they yield as powerless
captives to the insatiable demand of “physical unrest and mental depression,”
only to be stung with the deepest remorse and shame when the debauch is
over. Are there no errors in the treatment of such unfortunate men? Guiltv
of wrong they may be, and yet their ease is pitiable in the extreme.
The church rids herself of their presence; society often frowns upon them,
and condemns them to “outer darkness" t » the lowest and most debasing
dissociations associations sufficient to destroy the last remains of self-resjx'ct,
and quench the last glimmering of hope. Ihe Law, at length, consigns them
t > the Penitentiary, or scaffold, for crimes committed when conscience, reason
ami self control were all gone. The Church has chosen a swift method to be
rid of a troublesome offender, but has the church discharged her whole dutv to
this offender? Society has asserted her right to put away a loathsome object
from her sight, but has society no sin to answer for in this matter? The
majesty of the law has been vindicated in the punishment of crime, but have .
the lawmakers done what, if timely done, might have prevented the crime
that demanded the extreme of punishment ? These are grave and sad tines-!
tions.
Your Memorialists would respectfully but earnestly press them upon the
consideration of }our Honorable Body, because Legislators can do what the I
Cnurvh and s,»eiety cannot do. When suffering presents itself in another form,
men do not insist that then' shall have been no previous guilt in the sufferer. 1
as a condition of bestowing prompt relief. Asylums are open for the victims
of various dis, ases, and their ministration.-, firm, controlling, yet beneficent, are
v ?o mled to the helpless sufferers, although there may have been previous vice,
pi v ;o.is guilt, or even a reckless disregard of prudence, of truth, of honor, and
of virtue. Shall there be for* inebriates no temporary refuge, where they may
be the objects of a like beneficent charity; controlling, when control must be
exercised; encouraging where encouragement is needed; blending the com
forts and attractions of home with those sanitary measures and suitable reme
dies which experience has proved to be so full of help and hope to the fallen.
Your Memorialists respectfully submit that it is the province of the State to
provide such a refuge for her unfortunate sons. “It is a fact,” says the Presi
dent of the Pennsylvania Sanitarium, ‘which is essential to our civilization that
these are classes of persons who must be separated temporarily from the active
duties of life for the common good. Inebriates constitute such a class. Hu
man sympathy is a blessed messenger to the needy, even as an occasional visitor,
but when it is the presiding and ruling genius of an Institution, it becomes a
perpetual benediction that does more to soothe the asperities of a disordered
mind and elevate the struggling manhood of a degraded spirit, than any other
impulse or sentiment of the race.”
Let there be such an institution, guided Ivy such a spirit, for the rescue of
inebriates—a class of men especially affected by the whole-hearted sympathy
of those who commiserate their condition.
Your Memorialists, furthermore, respectfully call the attention of your Hon
orable Body to the “Relation of Inebriate Asylums, to Questions of Social and
Political Economy.” The wealth of a State consists in the producing power of
its individual citizens. The State will advance most rapidly when it has the
smallest number of profitless consumers, and the greatest number of wealth
producers. Asylums for inebriates, by the restoration of useful men to every
occupation and profession, and by the influence which these men will exert to
save others from their own sad experience, constantly add to the wealth and
prosperity of the State. Dr. Day, Superintendent of Greenwood Institute,
Mass., gives the following interesting testimony on this point: “There have
been hundreds of cases under my own observation and care, of individuals of
every age and condition in life, of every conceivable temperament and disposi
tion, and every degree of degradation, down to the very lowest, where the cure
has been complete and permanent, and the patients have been restored to, and
have persevered in a life of usefulness and happiness.” And again, “a short
time since, I made an estimate of the taxes which I could ascertain were now
paid by patients who had been incapable of work and a source of expense to
their friends and the public, and found the amount sufficient to build and sup
port several Inebriate Asylums. Startling as this statement may seem, it is
within the actual fact.”
The most weighty considerations of economy as well as philanthropy, then,
unite in commending this subject to the earnest attention of legislative assem
blies and to the public at large.
In view of the facts above recited; of the evils which may be mitigated,
checked, and averted; of the successful operation of various Inebriate Asylums
in other States; of the great good already accomplished by them, though in
their infancy; of the wide-spread and urgent demand for such institutions;
your Memorialists respectfully ask your Honorable Body to take such
measures as will speedily give the State of Georgia an institution that shall
supply a pleasant home for the unhappy inebriate, that shall be “a center of
light and information from which may radiate the truth which our people,
already scourged to sadness by this evil, are eagerly "waiting for”—an institu
tion which by its wise and beneficent ministrations, shall restore useful labor
ers to the fields, skilled mechanics to the workshops, enterprising merchants
to their wealth—distributing employ; Teachers, Lawyers and Physicians to
their honorable and useful professions, and Ministers of religion, for alas! they
too have fallen before the demon of intemperance, to their former sphere of
usefulness: an institution whose compassionate efforts shall give back husbands,
fathers, brothers and sons to their smitten households, heal wounded hearts,
dry up floods of tears, and make in many a home a scene of restored harmony
and happiness on which the angels may look down with joy.
And Your Memorialists will ever pray Ac.
C. H. Stillwell, M. G.,
W. F. Cook, Pastor M. E. C. S.,
Wm. C. Williams, Rector St. Peter’s Church.,
S. E. Axson, Pastor Presbyterian Church.
L. R. Gwaltney, Pastor Baptist Church.
Extracts from “Transactions of the Georgia Medical Association,” meeting
in 1871, page 30:
“The Special Committee on the subject of an Inebriate Asylum, presented
the following resolution which was adopted:
Unsolved, That the Georgia Medical Association deem the establishment
of an Inebriate Asylum in the State a necessity, and most cheerfully and
respectfully recommend its favorable consideration to the State Legislature.”
Meeting in 1872, page 38: . , t
“The Committee on Inebriate Asylums, most respectfully beg leave to state,
that they have endeavored to familiarize themselves with the practical
workings of such institutions, and, so far as they have been able to judge
from the opinions of those who have had the management of such Asvlums,
find that they have been the means of doing much good, and are of public
utility. A large per ccntage of the inmates are cured of the malady, and
returned to useful occupations, and as blessings to their families.
From the authentic statements of the Asylums that have been established,
we have no hesitancy in saying; they are doing more for the restoration of
inebriates than any means yet devised.
We hope, and look forward to the day, when our State may have a similar
institution, and aid in restoring the unfortunate inebriates to society and their
families.”
Jlesolred, That this Grand Lodge I. O. G. T. endorse' this memorial, and
co-operate with the Georgia Medical Association, these Ministers, and other
citizens, in obtaining a favorable consideration of the Georgia Legislature.
A true extract.
W. E. H. SEARCY
Grand Worthy Secretary,
Independent Order of Good Templars.
Gold is found in Vermont, Mary
land, Virginia, North Carolina, Geor
gia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kansan, Ne
braska, Nevada, Oregon and California.
Maryland shows but 8108 for her to
tal. Vermont 85,015, and Kansas
SI,OOO. California has contributed in
twenty-four years 8043.121,400. North
Carolina’s total is $0,805,253, and
Georgia $7,250,000. Virginio and
South Carolina have over one mill
ion.
One of the results of the lute storms
in Europe was that great numbers of
sardines were driven near the Cornish
coast. Fishermen from St. Ives and
Port Isaac caught them with seines to
the number of 50,000 and 00,000 to
the boat. As these fish sold at ex
ceedingly good prices, the wind that
blew them to the nets of the fishermen
of Cornwall was not an ill one, how
ever bad it may have proved itself in
other quarters.
Thirty-five thousand tons of wheat are
stored at Stockton, Cal., for shipment to
Liverpool.
In a stretch of 815 miles on the Tex
as Pacific railroad there will be but six
bridges.
It is thought the Macon and Bruns
wick Bailroad, will revert to the State
within the next ninety days. This
road has never been a paying road, and
while under separate management,
from thi Central Railroad, perhaps
never will be. It is too much like a
poor horse trying to pull as much as
a fat one. If the road doos revert to
the State, it should be sold to the Cen
tral Railroad.
—A rural gentleman standing
over a register in one of our stores
attracted general attention t
himself by observing to his wife,
“Mariar, 1 guess I’m going to
have a fever, 1 feel such hot
streaks runuin’ up my legs.”
Danbury Neu's.
GT The Washington corres
pondent of the New York World
states that Gov. Sam Bard’s
“friendsconsidder him elligible to
any Federal appointment: pro
viding only it is not in Tennessee.’
They seem rather anxious to get
him out of the State.
Form tlm Masonic ’Tablet.
An Evil—The Remedy
Editors: There is an evil existing in
some Lodges that demands the attention of
every true Mason, to the end that it may
be remedied without delay; I say in
some Lodge;, for I eirais ly hepe that it
does not exist in all. 1 allude to a custom
that seems to be on the increase, of form
ng combination or rings for the purpose of
electing certain brethren to office, or get
ting some pet measure carried through. I
presume that all true Masons agree that
this is wrong and grossly unmasonic; but
many, even of this class, are drawn into
such rings upon the false principles that
you must “fight the devil with fire.’’
We safely assume that the man (I will
not say Mason) who electioneers fer office
is unworthy of any position; and those who
lead in those combinations to rule the
Lodge, are not fit to hold membership in
one. Masonry teaches that there should
exist no emulation, except such as prompts
us to see “who can best work, and
best AGREE,” and also, that the “office
should seek the man, not the man the of
fice. ’ ’
I regard it as unnecessaiy to elaborate
this point further. I have not heard of
one who pretends to claim that it is not a
violation of the letter and spirit of Masonry.
This practice produces ill-feeling and there
by destroys the harmony which should ex
ist; the formation of one combination be
gets an opposing one; the successful party
exults over the victory, while the defeated
are, perhaps, chagrined, and absent them
selves from the meeting thereafter. But
it does not stop here- The merits (and
particularly the demerits) of the prominent
candidates, and the workings and the re
sult of the election, coupled with frequent;
“flings’’ at some one or more of the breth
ren, are freely discussed in the presence of
the initiated, and personalities sometimes
indulged in that would disgrace a political
club- Is it strange that good men who
love Masonry should be driven out of such
Lodges ?
The question arises, who are those who
get up and foster such combinations? So
far as I have observed, they are persons
who have hardly taken off the J/nsomc
swaddling dothes, who, having but ju.-t en
tered the Temple, imagine that they have
explored its deepest recesses, and under
stand its sublimest mysteries; who take de
grees and attend meetings with about the
sinie feelingsand objects that they would
in going to a monkey show or a club meet
ing. They know nothing about Masonry,
except perhaps the ritual or the ceremo
nies and do not seem to care to learn; they
have scarcely heard the charge read, and
you find them ready to instruct the Master
in the East. Masonic law and usage is at
their tongue’s end before you are aware of
it, they will begin to tell around who should
be Master, or perhaps have tteir eye upon
the Warden’s chair. Such persons live,
anti are called Masons.
But, what is the remedy? Let young
Masons be sure that the}’ stand square
md upright before they attempt to walk,
and learn before they teach; and let all,
yo-mg and old, icpudiate all proposition to
'brm combinations of this character, and
oppose any one for office who attempts,
directly or indirectly to form one; and let no
opportunity pass without administering are
buke o all such presump i ms and uuwor hy
members. Brethren, this evil sups the
foundation of or.r Lodge organization. Will
you remedy it and will you doit now Yours
Fit ATER.
CIVIL RIGHTS IN FLORIDA,
The following is the first section of
the Civil Rights Bill passed by the
Florida Legislature, now in session:
“The people of the State of Florida,
represented in Senate and Assembly,
•lo enact as follows:
Section 1. That no citizen of this
State shall, by reason of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude, 1 e
xcepted <>r excluded from the full
end equal enjoyment of any accommo
dation, advantage, facility or privilege
furnished by inn-keepers; by common
carriers, whether on land or water; by
licensed owners, managers or lesscs of
theatres, or other places of public,
amusement; by trustees, teachersoi*
other officers of common schools ami
public institutions of learning, the
same being supported by monies de
rived from general taxation, or author
ized by law; also, of cemetery associa
tions supported or authorized in the
same way; provided that private
schools of learning established exclu
sively for white or colored persons,
and maintained respectively by volun
tary contributions, shall remain ac
cording to the terms of the original es
tablishment. ”
The crime for violating the above
clsiise, is to be known as a misdemean
or, ami punishable by fine or impris
ment, or buth.