Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-05-05
Communications,
For the Carroll Free Press,
To the People Of Carroll County.

Fellow CITIzENs:-Having been appointed
for that purpose by the friends of Temperance
in Leesburg and its vicinity, we propose TO lay
before you few brief considerations connected
with the present Temperance movements in
this county. And we attempt this task the more
willingly, because we believe that majority Of
those whom we address are Geelingly alive to
everything connected with this great phanthro-
pic movement The single fact that the estl-
mated cost of foreign and domestic liquors con.
sumed by the people of the United States, in
single year, is $3.50, 100000 dollars, should be
enough 10 exsile every friend of temperance
and good morals, 10 increase activity and un.
wearying diligence. But additional and more
powerful motives are found in the fearful waste
of life, and the prodigIous sacrifice OF character
connected with this destruction of properly
Perhaps not less Than thirty thousand lives are
annually destroyed by this bane of society;
while thousands Of families are beggared, and
tens of thousands of souls eternalIy ruined.
| We but give expression 10 a general sent'
ment when we charge these results upon the
traffic in intoxicating drinks. From this pollu-
ted fountain flow forth those peslilerous streams
which bear such fearful woes into the bosoms
of so many families. The very atmosphere OF
the bar-room is stagnated with the atlluvia Of
moral disease. And yet this traffic is licensed
by our laws, and TO q certain extent, protected
in its work Of death. .
During The past year, we have been happily
exempt from the licensed traffic in ardent spirits
At the request Of large portion of The citizens
Of this county, the court Of common pleas with.
held license al its spring session in 1917. Fol
this act thecourtmeriled, and doubtless received
] the thanks Of the temperance community. Sc
far as our county is concerned, this was ar
experiment. Its resuls have been varied. In
some communities the event has equalled oul
most sanguine expectations. In others we have
failed TO see The good which we had hopeC
would every where accrue TO community from
this measure. But an obvious circumstance ac
counts for this difference Of results. In SOM
neighborhoods the law has been enforced; il
others it has been disregarded. 1t is the certain
ly of punishment which in every case deter
: from crime. A strict observance Of law is al
; ways Safeguard 10 The morals Of community
while lax administration of justice begeI
crime. The experience of the past year wal
: rants us in asserting, that if the law is perlecI
observed and vigorously enforced, nothing bu
good can result from the Withholding of license
n unless this be done we can hope 10 derive b.
h liule benefit from any legal action upon the sub
d ject.
II But unless we mean TO relax our efforts, an
t, give up the vantage ground we now occupy, W
i. have no course left US, but again TO send up ou
s. petitions to the court asking them TO withhold
d license. Our legislature hasmet and adjourned
b and given US no relief. Shall we not therefor
= come up before The court in our united strength
e and protest as with the voice of one man again'
/. the licensing of this detestable maficl But
we purpose to pursue this course, we have not
l. moment 10 lose. After this address shall hav
Il reached you, there will be left but litIle NOR
: than single week in which TO accomplish tn
t, work. Our enemies-those who wish TO ope
IS their batteries Of moral death upon communit
= are even now actively engaged in their e
If forts,--exultng over the evil that the fatal II
d missness of temperance men has suffered IheI
t. to do during the Past year, they are confident