Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-02-12
For the GalIipolis journal
M Middle Ground.

The Gallipolis Bulletin contains an ed
itOrial in its last weeks issue, under this
captiOn-'!The Increment" i'm which it
sums up the results of the Temperance
movement in these words: ''These epe-
ratiOns in the saloons have resulted In
closing but II drinking place-thst of
Mr.. Henry MortOn-and it was closed
by money, at Il cost of $50"
Now it is evident to my mind, that the
editor of this paper is very ignorant of
what has been done, or that he seeks te
suppress the truth. Does not the afore-
said editor know that Shepard Sheldon's
saloon, in the upper end of the city, has
been clOsed-and that too without mo-
ney-and that Mr.. Sheldon has aban-
doned the traffic in all kinds of liquors -?
Why does he tell but II half of the
truth with regard to the saloons closed?
He does not tell his readers that over
200 drinking men and boys in this city,
have ceased to drink, and signed a total
abstinence pledge. He dOes not tell that
hundreds of temperate citizens have also
signed the same pledge. He does not
say one word about the stringent pledge
all our druggists have signed. He says
not a word about the aroused, enthusiasts
tic and determined temperance senti-
ment of III people. Not a word about
our large and harmonious meetings,
which are held several times a week,
and that We have not in our city a church
or public hall large enough to hold the
hundreds who nightly flock to these
meetings-He ignores the fact that aet
as many drunken men have been seen In
G%allipolis, in the last three weeks, rs
were seen any evening a month ago in
three minutes. He tells not his readers
that our Mayor and Policemen have lit
tie or nothing to do, because of the great
reformation wrought in our city. He
does not tell of the score of homes made
glad, where a few weeks ago all was
darkness and sorrow and anguish. He
fails to tell of the broken-hearted, des-
ponding, dispairing wives and anxious
mothers, who now rejoice that their hus-
bands and son have reformed, and are
now leading sober and Industrious lives.
He tells us not of the little children
made unspeakably happy, now that faith
er comes home sober. Hedoes not seem
to know that the good work is spreading
all oyer Gallia county. Oh no., he tells
not of these glorious results, accom-
Dlished by these devoted women, under
the lead and blessing of Almighty God.
His article would leave the impression
IF believed) that the movement in Gal
lipolis is a signal failure. No impression
more false than this, was ever sought to
be made. \ noble, grand and glorious
work has already been accomplished.
Joy and peace have come to households
where before there was only darkness
and desOlatiOn. Gods sunshine of hope
has %gladdened the sad hearts of wives
and mothers, and the children hail with
joyful shouts the coming of IL brighter
day.
Only an infinite God "A estimate the
good already done. Yet the man who
would so misrepresent the results of this
temperance movement in GallipOlis, says
that he is the friend of temperance
Shame! And he says of the work Il
good 0me have been doing, that il Is
''wrong in Il moral as well us a legdl point
of view" and yet he says he would not
offend or ridicule those ladies' engaged
in this work. Shame, where is thy
blush. Is the editor of the Bulletin fool
ish enough to think for a moment that
the people do not see through this sham,
that lie is trying TO carry whiskey on
VI Sl1OulNiNl dlu lCul pei dilCt VII liC
other. This position cannot be main
tanned. On this question men must take
sides. There is no middle ground. Then
let the Bulletin be either fish or flesh.
Let us have no more of these hypoeriti-
cal, tw0-faced performances. Come out
openly, and manfully advocate the use
and sale of Intoxicating drinks. If what
the women are doing is morally wrong,
as you say it is, you certainly have a
moral right to advocate the cause of in
temperance. If it is wrong for a man
to quit drinking, it must be right for
him to continue to drink. If it is wrong
to close drinking saloons, then it is right
TO have them open. This seems to be
your logic, and, Mr.. Bulletin, to these
conclusions you must come, if there is
any method in your madness.
A. r e..