Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-01-17
Tor the CHRoKIcLE.l
FIREI FIRRf

It is said that the fires of the north
west exceeded anything of the kind
! the world ever knew-that the annals
of history furnish no parallel. Very
/ likely, so far as impetuosity and con-
sternation are concerned; but there
/ is another kind of fire smouldering in
the hidden combustibles of mans
nature and habits, the half concealed
shadows Of which, are seen with their
hydra heads, stalking through the
social organization tuning up its siren
song, and Turing the unwary on to
dissipation, death, and worse-while
the former with terrific fury, swept
over city and plain, destroying a few
hundred lives, and the bright antici-
pations of thousands more, with the
loss of few hundred millions of pro-
perty, arousing the tendersympathies
OF the whole country in behalf of the
suffering, the latter, in some of its
delusive forms, is received as a well
come guest in thousands Of households,
silently corroding the finer sensihili-
ties of the young, educating thechild's
appetite with such palatable stimu-
lants as 1t will bear, creating a relish
for stronger drinks, as surely as his
fint reader is calculated
"To rear the tender thought,
And teach the young idea how TO shoot"
The former, given to man as a bless
ing, the latter permitted as q curse to
those who will use it as such. The
former, confined comparatively to a
small part OF the country, the latter,
If not more thoroughly resisted seems
likely to drive Us on to hopeless ruin.
The moral suasion of former years
seems to have lost its power.
Convince man against his will,
he holds the same opinion still"
And how many there arc who are
unintentionolly giving ''aid and COM
fortn to mans mortal enemy!
The power of legal suasion Is often
lost through the safety valves. When
legal " doctors disagree a; to what
constitutes a habit of intoxieation,
they must need legislative help.
When minors can get the pOision from
unprincipled grocers by merely say
ing, it is not to be drank by such
minor" his wants may be all sup
piled, or it may be for a drunken
father. Dealer and drinkers have
learned the lodging places and rely
on them. When ratholes abound the
terrier scents with little hope. True,
the officials are entitled to a great
deal of credit for their faithfulness in
following up the offenders; but when
a man carries q saloon in his side
pocket, and none can tell THAT will
who furnished it to him, the abused
wife and family las in some palmer
cases. may weep, and weep in vain.
The Vienna case might often occur,
aud where will it end? If our coun-
try was invaded by an enemy not half
so implacable, the cry would be, " To
arms, to arms,n and not stop at
'75, ,000." Maine laid the axe at the
root Of the tree. A synopsis of her
law, with comments, and report of
its practical workings by different
Governors, may be found in the New
York Tribune, Nov. l, 1871, page !,
headed 1.-THE Teaching of Expert
ence." The drinking habits in the
rural districts in this and many other
parts of the country, have greatly
diminished through the influence of
Temperance organization, but in view
of the reported Increase and increasing
number of distilleries in other parts,
and the great profits of the manufac-
turers by adding poisonous drugs, and
the free use in cities, and wherever it
is allowed, and the increasing number
of deaths by drinking, every feeling
of philanthropy should be aroused to
the rescue.
Perhaps the liquor laws of 1866 and |
1870 are as stringent as the friends of
the Temperance cause in the legisla-
ture could then get, but it may be
that the body now in session, having |
seen additional evidence ofthe ruinous |
effects of the so called whisky, would I
regard the prayer of their constituents
if properly petitioned. The party in
power claims to be opposed to the !
whisky ring, and how long must we
wait for practical demonstration |
which will tell c. STOWE.
Braceville, Jan. .. 1872.