The Daily Morning Journal And Courier

STATE DRUNKARD-CURING.

The bill before the legislature of this State providing for the medical treatment of drunkards at public expense raises some very interesting questions. There is some sentiment in the scheme and a great deal of business. The advocates of different "cures" are active, and it is evident that if the managers of any one "cure" can get the monopoly of treating Connecticut drunkards they will make some money.

The drunkard has grown to be a very interesting person. There was a time when he was looked upon simply as a drunkard. Now he is in a certain sense a pet of society. His folly and weakness are ascribed to heredity or something else. There is much sympathy with him. Heroic and heroic efforts are made to "save" him. There is never any doubt that he is worth saving. He is privileged in many ways. He can do things with impunity that a sober and steady and reliable man cannot do. And by many he is regarded as the possessor of qualities which make him really superior to the man who does not show his quality by getting drunk and being wild and free until he becomes stupid.

Not much is said about the drunkard's obligation to save himself. Men and women feel obliged to do what they can to save him, and God is often and fervently asked to help. But if the drunkard doesn't do his part he is much pitied because of the idea that he is prevented from doing it by heredity or something else. Now it is said that he must be saved by the State, against his will, if necessary, and all who are hereditarily sober, or who are sober because they have the will to be, must join in this latest effort to help an interesting and needy being.

In our opinion this matter should be very cautiously dealt with. The managers of a drunkard "cure" should not be allowed to put up a job on the State. We don't know that the State should go into the drunkard-curing business anyway, and if it does we think it ought to go into it on its own account, just as it does into the business of taking care of the insane, the idiotic and the poor. There should be no humbug, unnecessary expense or false sentiment about the matter. And before anything is done there should be careful and competent study of the whole subject in order that it may be known whether it will pay the State to become a drunkard-curer. The State should not be used in this matter as a catspaw. And the drunkard should not be petted any more than he is unless it can be clearly shown that there is public profit in it.

Why hasn't somebody introduced a bill providing for annual vacations at the expense of the State for sober and industrious persons who would be much helped by such vacations and who would be even better citizens than they are if they could have them? The health and strength of such persons may perhaps as well have some special care from the State as for the State to go into the business of drunkard-curing.