The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-08-07
THE CAUSE OF TEMPEANCE.
To the Editors of the Political Press throughout
the United States,

BalIston Center, July 4, 1910.
The right of franchise Is among our most i'm
portant rights. But it can only be safely exer-
cised by sober and moral people; whatever
tends to corrupt those who exercise this right,
lends to the immediate abridgement ofour pros
perty, and remotely to the overthrow Of our
republic.
That the use Of intoxicating liquors occasions
three fourths of our local taxes, makes seven
eights of our criminals and paupers. and sends
prematurely to the grave, one third of our male
adult population, and a creator proportion Of
our female population than is generally suspect
ed; that 1t keeps up an army of drunkards from
three to five hundred thousand, the members of
which are SO many leeches on the body polite,
diminishing the wealth of the nation from hun
dred and fifty million of dollars annually, are,
to the statesman as wellas the moralist startling
facts. and yet inA Adespite Of these facts, every
returning election beings along with it fresh
temptation to the use Of these liquors.
Besides the practice Of treating electors on
election days. the cummittee rooms of all polits
ical parties. in, many places, for weeks before
election, becomes places Of resort where the
inebriating cup passes freely from hand to hand,
dispensing alcohol in some form 10 the numer-
ols and unsuspecting guesis. And ii ia 10 be
regretted that hard cider, whether referred to
originality by way Of reproach or commenda-
tion, should have been associated with log cab =
in as tho symbol of political party. Be the
origin and motive of issymbol what they may,
it's existence is calculated to give to foreigners
very uniavorahle opinion ofour sobriety. What
impresslons( unless measures are taken to coun-
teract it is such a symbol likely to make upon
the mind of Father Mathew, and his millions Of
con cit. especially wien displayed in the coun
try where the temperance reformation originated
Ifnothing but hard cider should indeed be
dispensedin log cabins (Which are only anoth-
er name for political committee rooms, J the ifns
mediate evils, itmust be admitted, would proba
bly, pc less than lhe evils produced in other com
mttee rooms, by the use of beer and whiskey
and other alcoholic drinks. Sill, however,
there are other and remote evils OF a very grave
character, which should not be lost sight Of
There is danger that the adoption of this sym
bol will by many be construed into an enc ,ur.
agement Of cidersdrinking; and wherever cider
drinking is encouraged cider drinkers and ci-
der drunkards are the most unreasonable, cross
grained and uncontrOable of the whole class of
alcohol drinkers. Ask any female in our cider
districts (tlanks to the temperance reform, we
have few such Districts now in what form they
shOnd most dread to have their husbands, sons
and brothers use alcohol drinks aud they would
tell you with one accord in the form of cider.
The farmers throughout tho country have not,
as has been said, ''in their fanatical zeal cut
down their orchards;" .ontlle contrary they
have been increasing them, not however, as l
trust, to furnish cider to be drank, but to fur,
nish fruit to be eaten, which recent experience
has shown to be most nutriclous and valuable
for feeding stock.
The natural tendency of making the commit.
tee rooms ofthe political parties resorts for drink
ing alcoholic drinks, in whatever form. is TO
produce rivalry between said PARTIES, in the
distribution of such drinks, and the prospect of
the country would be most dislearteninp should'
the community at large partake of this rivalry.
and the cider and the beer and the whskey flood.
which has been in some measure stayed, return
again npnn us in its strength.
The general use of even cider would create
desire for stronger siimuants, and the dis,iLers
would soon be cafed on to rekiAdle their extin
gulshed fires, as well as the brewerers in many
atown and hamlet
If thIs practice of making political committee
f'"SoS " hosoit iOi phitdhing OF dIC0nOlS
10 drinks, either fermented or distilled, cannot
be prevented, fear that much of which the
temperance reform has gained will be Lost, and
That the evils of by gone days will return upon
u.s. ltherefore, as friend of my country, as
wei as the human race, respectfully invite men,
and especially political editors of all parties to
lend Their influence TO arrest the progress of this
alarming evil. The Two millions Of converts IN
total abstinence in this country, and the millioos
in olher countries, who are expecting from us a
consistent example in this great question Of NOR
al reform, look TO the corps of editors as to sen,
flnels on the watchtowera OF freedom and an.
treat them to raise their monitory voice. and
send forth. throughout the Union their note Of
warning against'a practice ffaught with so much
AIcobolls alcohol in whatever form !, may be
presented, audit is deemed by The abIest physi>
clans unnecessary, and oven hirtfI! to men IN
health Let the political press ofboth parlies
declare this truth, and very soon there will he
no need Of papers devoted exclusively TO the
temperance cause, which must with such an
aid soon become triumphant. IT. what vav
can the press accomplish SO much in behalf of
our country and the human race
Temperance is and ought 10 be kept dis,iuc,
fOm poi. II however consistency re-