Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1874-06-25


this evil, is an American idea. Espe-
cially is it an American idea to restrain
traffic whose supporters band togeth
er and seek to control the legislation
of the country in order that their traf-
fic, which is, indisputably the cause of
so much crime and misery may be free.
The bugle blast of the brewers in con-
Vention at Boston last week, is ia ev-
cry respect comparable to the appeal
of the silver smiths of Ephesia to their
craft, to suppress Paul, whose power
full eloquence on the side of Christian
ity, and against idolatry, endangered
their business. I have not the time,
and were it otherwise, this would not
be the place to discourse upon the
question of Temperance. Neither do
wish to be understood as addressing
myself to Democrats or Republicans
to anti-Temperance men or Prohibi-
tionists, or such, but to American cit
izens, without regard to party, sex or
place of nativity. 1 protest against
the anti-American idea of q class of
Foreign born citizens banding togeth-
er and virtually offering to sell their
votes to any party til at will make free
in this country, governed by the bal
lot, custom that in foreign countries
is restrained by the bayonet, for no
higher motive than that the trade may
prosper.
1t is also an American idea that ev-
cry citizen should be free to express
opinions or to organize opposition to
any business that may be regarded as
immoral or Injurious to society. The
women Of Ohio, availing themselves
of this privilege, organized to sup
press intoxication by suppressing the
cause. Whatever may be said of their
| methods, their motives cannot be sue,
cessfully impugned; yet they were, IN
many places, most vulgarly assailed,
and in the great city Of Cincinnati,
little band of forty three, who were
guilty of the offense of attempting by
song and prayer to promote the cause
of temperance, were pounced upon by
order of board of Police Commits
| siOners, who dare not disobey the in
scriptions of the saloonists who de-
manded also that the laws against the
sale of Intoxicating liquors should not
be inforced. If there is any class of
PCOR1O GL1o WHO HO11N t4AG
more from the Incorporate use of in
toxicating liquors than another, that
class is the women. If the suffering
of women from the intemperance of
the men could be written, the world
would not hold the book that contained
the record. They are to be excused,
therefore, if they have in any way
been indiscreet, but they are not to be
condemned or abused for lifting up
their voices against the great evil
| Neither is it the custom in this coun;
try to assail women as they have been
assailed in many places in this State.
1t may be a foreign custom to treat
woman as somewhat lower than
the men, but it is not an American
idea, and in this respect it would be
well for the men, we'll for the country,
/ and well for society if foreign Gus
toms were Amsricanized, especially
when imported. 1t will be sad day
for this Republic-this country where
the people govern themselves-if un-
happily, the influence of woman should
be destroyed or diminished. AS it is,
the women govern the men and the
men govern the country. This works
well. Unfortunate would it be if the
men should undertake to govern the
women and the country also. The
press, it is to be hoped, will not give
its influence in this direction.
It is an American idea that the Gov
ernment of the United States is found
ed upon the principles of the Chris
tian religion. The State has not
adopted any particular form of reli-
gion any connection, direct or indi-
RECT, of Church and State has been
avoided; but this does not conflict
with the proposition that the State
rests upon the broad principles of the
Christian religion. Against this idea
a vigorous opposition has been or
ganized, and by means of the balance
of power which this party hold, or
claim to hold, the bible has been ex-
cluded from the public schools in
many places notably, in large cities,
and this is being followed by efforts
which are already, in part, successful
to transfer the schools wholly to the
management of infidels. The bible
was excluded from the sceools not be-
cause it was Objectionable in itself, for
no system of education can be COM
plete that does not include a knowl-
edge of the bible, but because it is a
representative of the Christian reli-
gion. While the Government, as 1
have said, was founded upon the prin-
ciples of the Christian religion, care
was taken that there should be no
coersion, every man being left free to
worship God according to the dictates
of his own conscience. Thus religious
liberty was established. At the same
time religion and morality were re-
cognized as essential to good govern
ment. When we examine the pages of
history and discover that civilization
and freedom owe everything to Chris.
F tianity and nothing to infidelity, it be-
comes us to maintain the American
idea in all its integrity. Benjamin
Franklin was not a believer, but he
warned the public not to oppose chris
tianity. elf the world is wicked in
spite of religion, what would it be
without religion" was his answer to
an infdel argument. It is fact that
christianity is calculated to make men
better; and it is fact that all our be-
nevolent institutions are traceable to
Christian influence. While Christiani.
ty has done much, infidelity has done
nothing in this direction. Infdelity
has no claim whatever to a place
among American ideas, and it is the
duty of the press everywhere, if fol
no higher reason than that assigned
by Franklin, to oppose it and see that
the American idea is maintained.
- The following letter was sent by
a man to his son at college: