Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-09-16

shu IOustu utue hOblHlly. Do ihf hs TeleI-
encc was made 30 the unfortunate example Of
some OF our city fathers, and its influence up
on the community,S - especially upon our young
men, these gentlemen themselves, II they will
allow expression TO their honest convictions,
will admit was not wholly uncalled for. Be-
side official position, all Of them are heads Of
amilies-lathcrs--som of them-of children
nearly or quite Of sufficient age 10 be exposed
TO the contaminating influence of evil exam.
pie, and the common feeling Of paternal so.
licitude, cannot but raise the question In their
minds-deny and endeavor TO squclch II as
they may-about the propriety Of the course
they had taken. But whether our action is
approved or disapprovej by these gentlemen,
we have no hesitation in leaving the matter TO
the decision of the sober and rejecting por-
tion Of the community. If the lives of law.
givers do not, as has been asserted by one OF
the number alluded 10, always comport with
The dignity and responsibility of their posi-
tons, there is no denying the fact that in this
matter, especially there should be harmony
OF precept and example. II those whom we
elect to enact laws for us-whether municipal,
or of more general character-put them
selves into positions where the influence of
their example is thrown to cast disrespect up
on their labors, 1t will not be difficult to meas
ure the amount of reverence and obedience
that will be paid to their enactments The ef.
feet is sufficiently pernicious when, as with
some of these gentlemen, they are thougtless-
ly and unguardedly overtakcn in loose prac.
tices and indulgences, but it is a sadder and
mole unfortunate state of things, when the
tastes and habits of such men, blind them, or
render them reckless to the evil they are
bringing upon the community. AS in the
matter referred to-if we have ordinances re-
straining the traffic in stimulating beverages
requiring the observance OF certain hours
for the protection and security of the young,
of what use are such ordinances, if those who
have made them and placed them upon record,
allow themselves to he found in their nightly
violation? If our young men are not over
taken by reflection, and become better than
their teachers, what is likely to be the result
upon their lives of the practices and habits
the mental demoralization--thus commended
to them! Let the parent, whose breast has
been narrowed by these developments, answer.
Ii young men- -minors-may set down at the
saloon card tables as equals, and hail-felows,
with these village Gignitaries and fathers
how long will it be--just in their plastic
formatory stage of life--before the tempter
Shall have them in his toils--perhaps beyond
the reach Of rescue and hope? Have we men
IN our council that are Indifferent, reckless,
stolid enough to assume this responsibility p
and If so, what has the communicable cleo
tors OF the Incorporated Village of Ashtabu-
la--to say in the premises? Are these coun-
Gil men injured by what has been said and
written about their course If so let them seek
to assuage their injuries by comparison of
their sufierings with the outraged feelings of
the parents and guardians of the youth ex-
posed TO the corrupting influence of their ex-
amplcs. That we are not treading upon ques
tiOnaDle ground. and that the charges made
do not rest upon vague and flimsy evidence, or
are less grave than we appear to make them
let us state that the assurance is given us by
one of the council who while looking after the
welfare of some of his own h0usehold-that
he counted at one time, either enjoying or
participating in the amusements, breathing
the atmosphere and being moulded by the in
luences and surroundings of the saloon-no
less than fifteen lads and young men. The
testimony of another witness, also connected
with the council, is, that he has seen tables in
these soloons surrounped by our youli-near
ly all of whom were in their minority, and
all quaffng their beverages and making night
hideous with bacchanalian songs. Another
witness-one who has been a party in the
scenes alluded to, but who, in the exercise of
his candor and uncontaminated frankenss, ac-
knowledgcs his error and relates the facts we
have alleged-that while he and his cOmpan-
ions were drinking their beer and shuffling
their cards at one table, majority of the
council, assisted by the marshal, were indulg
ing themselves in the same way at another.
Now these things being so beyond question or
denial what is the duty of the press, toward
the community, who may be supposed not to
be. or at least, but partially and imperfccily
advised of them? Shall sense of delicacy.
or the unworthy fear that somebody's feelings
will be injured and consequently that cpposi-
tion and hostility will be met, deter us p
would not such course be justly looked up
on as recreant? Such is the writer's view of
the matter. Duty to the public as well rs to
those whose course Is under consideration,
and perhaps more emphaticully, duty to those
exposed to the influence of bad example,
seem TO forbid silence The gentlemen in
question, have positions in the community
which they no doubt appreciate. Their an
noyance at trifflng criticism af1ims this
They are swayed and influenced by motives
policy as well as principle, and these Of
ten work saluiary restraints and avoidance OF
those things that are evil and pernicious.
This, in one case, at least, has been very graft
fyingly and pleasantly acknowledged, and if
anything like the same frankness and candor
is exercised by the Others, our charity will not
suffer us to doubt their proper estimate of the
evil by which they have been overtaken. We
have pretty firm filth, that the same course
will not continue to be freely INDUCED in. If
such shall be the case, the bit of spitefulness
under the first flush of criticism, by the with.
drawal of the corporation patronage from the
Telegraph, will be, at least, partially made up,
by the consideration that we have served both