American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-02-24
COMMUNICATIONS.


For the Citizen.
MEssRs. EDIToRs We congratulate
the inhabitants of Butler county that the
Citizen has located itself permanently
among them. As it proposes weekly
call upon all who extend to it an invita-
ton, we have deemed it expedient to ac-
quaint ourselves with its moral and litera-
ry character, ere we welcome it as a guest
at our fireside. We have an exceedingly
high appreciation of intelligence, but par
amount to the most exalted intelligence, is
morality; and as intemperance, like an
overwhelming flood, seems to be enguph-
ing all classes of society, whirling onward
in its eddying circles the rich and the
poor, the intelligent as well as the ignor-
ant, the aged and the young; we have de-
terminey to close our doors against every
thing which is not right on this question.
1t is not sufficient that the habit of drink
ing elicit a eensure now, when +" ten cents
a drink" finds no response in an empty
purse. We must be satisfied that, althO
it could be obtained at the lowest figures,
or even without compensation, example as
well as preeept, should be turned with all
its force against this crying vice. These
being our sentiments, we were gratiGed by
perusing the article Somebody's Son."
in the Citizen of Jan 20. Mothers read
it, one and all, (if you have not already }
and then decide. Would you prefer your
sou upon whom you look with so much
pridel to read an article like this, or glow
ing description of grand ball at some
body's hotel, where wine, the very same
that your bibles declare " biteth like a
serpent and stingeth like an adder" re-
ceived its full need of praise for contrib
suiting to the pleasures of the entertain
ment. And so scared are their consciences
that they have unblushingly published
their crime all abroad. We have abund-
ant evidence that the Citizen will WELD
its influence to counteract this growing
evil. Although the Citizen has made
repeated visits at our freside, not one
evening has been lost in the narration of
sickening tales. This trait we cannot too
highly appreciate, as juveniles have an
Unsuitable desire for this kind Of mental
alment and devour all lindiscriminately that
falls within their reach. Parents and
guardians should carefully exclude all fc-
titious reading which has not moral ten
dency and a healthful influence on the
heart and intellect. The young who in
nocently desire somethiag to excite their
bumps of mirthfulness, will find them
selves amply repaid 6y perusing the col
umn devoted to Wit and Wisdom" The
literary character of the Citizen needs no
eulogy. Its intrinsic merit will carry
conviction to all who are favored with its
calls. Families who wish for the weekly
visits Of moral, literary and political
friend in the form of county paper, send
at once for the Citizen We had almost
forgotten to notice the beautiful type-so
perfectly legiblc that we, who have com
menced to suffer from the dimning effect
Of years upon our vision, might almost
imagine we had renewed our age. We
would just observe before we close, that
no advertisement or other reading matter,
has been obtruded upon our attention t,oice
in the same paper. Again we say, let ev-
cry lover of morality, intelligence, or high
toned politics, subscribe at once for the
Citizen. A MOTHER