Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-04-18
THE RRIGHr FurnRE

THE BRIGHT FUTURE.
Friend Re6d-I have been looking over
the field since the spring elections, and
deduce from the general reports a far more
encouraging aspect than you in your hur-
rled editorials have expressed
lntemperancr is national evil, and the
traffic in intoxicating drinks has so long
been identified with our political and so
cial Interests, and its influence so strongly
interviewer with every day life, that il is
like death struggle to unwind its coils
| and sever the head of the monster. so long
monarch of all he surveyed" and which
can annually count its thousands and hun
dreds of thousands victims, ruthlessly fall
en- prey TO strong drink. To rid the
country of the traffic, and TO save the
thousands who compose the great army of
drunkards, has been the study of many
noble and unselfsh men and patriots, and
countless have been the devices and laws
suggested and enacted, to reach and sup
press the terrible evil and while we can
recount numerous successes and bright pc
riods in the history and labors of those
who have been unceasing in their warfare
upon the unholy traffic, it is safe to admit,
that until avery recent date, it has been a
failure.
1t is true, there are towns, even coun-
ties. where the sale OF intoxicating drinks
is almost wholly unknown, hut right up
on their borders the evil exiSts,in the
most aggravating forms, and thus it hows
and carries the terrible consequences 10
the otherwise peaceful and happy commu-
nilies
Thanks TO the noble spirits at Washing
ton Court House, for the inspiration which
their labOrs have invoked, and for the
general awakening which has followed.
inducing a love for the work, and making
it part, and an essential element in the
duties and labors of every Christian man
and woman in the land 1t is no longer
left for Legislative enactments," for high
officers OF State, or of courts, alone TO bat
tie with this enemy of our race, but it is
new being incorporated fully in the creed
of every Christian, of whatever name or
sect. The time is not far distant when
the suffrages of the masses will he with
held from those who may, either from in-
terest or habit, lower the standard of the
great army for suppressing the vice of in
temperance. Never before were the peo
pie so aroused to the evil and its conse-
quences, and never before were the en-
couragements so cheering for its final
overthrow. Like the vote in Ashtabula,
and many other towns, the whisky traffic
found its best and most ardent worship
pers in the Democratic party; yet it is no
credit to that party-it has only degraded
it, and thus far made it Objectionable and
TO be delested and "spewed out" as un-
worthy. Ii will destroy any party or any
class OF men who link their fortunes or
success with 1t; and though they may, in
Ashtabula, have defeated the men who
looked forward TO the enactment of the
"McCOnnelsville Ordinance" us an aid to
rid the town of intemperance, no one of
them who were aBettcrs in securing its de-
feat, will hardly boast of his achievement.
1t would not be to his credit, or that OF
the town; it will not invite new corners
among them, nor will they be likely 10
point TO their success when extolling the
advantages which Ashtabula possesses as
a business point. Not one redeeming fea-
ture has such vote as you record, but
humiliation and scorn are the real and in
evi!able results, for there goes abroad an
unhealthy influence, which will cost much
TO cOunteracL-an official exclamation
that IN Ashtabula the saloons are free 10
lead down its youth, to increase the mis-
cries OF the already besotied, and to add
burdens to the already oVerlaxed, for pau
perism and for meeting out punishment
1or crimes.
But, while this may be truthful PIC
lure, when viewed from the success of the
election, there is another side to the Ques-
zion, and more hopeful signs that the very
results l have been contemplating will
arouse all the better energies, and enlist
new and more powerful interests, until
conviction snail take the place OF the COW
ardly actors, and the noble hearts who are
pleading and asking Divine aid in their la
boTs, shall be successful, and tippling in
Ashtabula, cease forever.
All over Ohio the combination of saloon
interests and free whisky, is melting and
developing greater interest in the temper
ance army, and nowhere have they laid
down their armor, but with new zeal and
increased faith, the women, as the leaders
in this movement, are looking to God for
aid, and rallying to their standard in one
common effort, every Christian heart
Nowhere have they enlisted for season,
but it is to be made life-work, and a con-
secration which knows no letting-up until
the land is free from the curse of the in
toxicatIng cup. There are cheering signs
on every nanu, ana every cot and CABIN is
becoming alive to the work. Every day
the enemy's quarters are being closer hedg-
ed in, and the Press brings US the glad IT,
dings that one after another of the strong
holds of the sinful traffic are falling. The
battle may yet be long, and the struggle
cost much in time and means, but our tri
umph is certain. What a glorious future,
and what incentives to raise aloft and
higher, the banner of freedom, from this
great enemy Of humanity!
D. G. ALLEN.
FREE CIRCULATIoN.-That the opinion
we have given TO readers may not appear
unsustained, we quote from the Cleveland