Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1874-04-11
EDrroarAL rAaAeRAras.
=. she Crusade A F.ll.r.,

there Is nothing that SO quickly excites
the anger Of prejudice, as the expression
in times of excitemento of a candid opinion
II that opinion is in any way opposed to
the current Of unreasoning feeling The
result Ia a practiai suppression Of free
speech, OF free writing, by the operation
OF that social prescription which follows
the uttersnce OF adverse trrths. agalns!
this tyranny NE believe that every man
should enter protest and maintain his
right TO speak, or utter, his honest con-
yicsions, ,untrainmelled by tyranny as
real as if the actual fiat of an individual
despot.
There are now before us three letters,
each of which contains an inquiry as 10
our opinion Of the movement which has
come to be known as the Temperance
Crusade" All three bear date of nearly
month ago. Up to this time we have re-
Trained from answering them because we
desired to be able to base our opinions
upon the test of actual observation.
In the beginning of the move we said
that it was 3 phenomenon whose results
could not be foretold but must be
learned from experience, and that we
doubted If it would prove q success.
Since that time we have carefully
watched its progress in other places, as
reported in the papers, and in our own
town, as seen for ourselves, and from
all that we have thus read and seen We
are sorry TO say, that our doubts as to
the efficacy of the treatment are not
only strengthened but that we have be-
come further convinced that the move
has so far degenerated, as to be produc-
tive of positive evils in many cases and
of even indirect good in but few.
Aggregate experiences are always
made up Of individual experiences.
The "Crusade," in ali places where it
mas been inauguratsd has exhibited so
nearly the same characteristics that q
record of one might correctly enough
be taken as a record of them all. In
showing, therefore, where the move
ment has failed in our town, we show j,
in fact. how it has failed elsewhere;
and in giving the reasons that have led
ns to our belief as to its inefficiency,
the personal effects as seen at home
serve as fair ensamplers of those abroad
and answer to explain ''the faith that is
within U.S.
Primarily, the object Of the move is
to decrease drinking by closing the sa-
looms and guarding the sale of liquors
by druggists. Secondsrily, It's purpose
Is to elevate the popular mind to point
at which the use of liquor will be pro-
scribed by popular condemnation. For
four weeks the ladies of this place have
labored assiduouslyfor the furtheranee of
these two-certainly most praiseworthy
ENDS. A careful examination shows
that 80 far as the first and leading OBJ
ject is concerned. their labors have
been literally fruitless. There are
claimed to be -four saloons less In this
place than when the Crusade began.
This reduction is of course said to have
been, either directly or indirectly, the
result Of the movement. This claim
would undoubtedly be Justified were it
based upon correct statement. But in
point of fact two of these four saloons
are still selling as heretofore, and one OF
the remaining two is reported to be do
ing so-only with some greater degree
of caution than before. AS to the other
eighteen saloons, not one evinces the
slightest intention of yielding. Upon
the druggists pledge appear the names
Of every one Of the five dealers in this
place. Of these five dealers are but two
against whom there are not reported
open violations of the conditions of the
pledge. Nor are these reports the vague
rumors that obtain upon the street.
They are given short, direct, and explicit
both as to buyer and seller, and the date
of transaction. Some of them have
gone, In the shape of complaints, to the
prosecuting attorney, but have so far
been allowed to pass unnoticed. In one
instance the reply was made that the
statement was not believed for no one
would be willing to accept the word OF
the poor lnebriate who purchased, as
against that of the well-to-do, gentle
manly proprietor who was charged with
the sale. In still another case physi.
clan is said to prescribe the liquor
which he himself sells and to send out
bottles of whisky every day under cover
of the model prescription pasted across
their faces. We have purposely made
these reports general rather than de-
tailed, as our purpose is to furnish the
reasons for our opinions rather than to
act as accuser against any. Need we
make them more explicit?
Again it is said that the result of the
recent election was legitimate out.
growth of the secondary object for
which the ladies are laboring, and thai
she officers chosen are all men pledged
TO the work of advancing the temper.
ance cause, and men whose hearts are
wholly In sympathy with the move. II
this is true It certainly would be rea.
sonable to suppose that every occasion
would be made avail of to prove theil
professions by tangible acts. But If n,
such spirit Ia exhibited, then 1t is equally
reasonable to believe, either, that som.
other causes led to the results of tn,
elections, or, that the men selected hav,
obtained their positions by Stimulating 1
feeling they do not possess. Anothe
instance will serve to illustrate this
During the past week man in towi
has been on prolonged spree, and il
his drunken frenzy has abused his fam
ny, and amused himself by breakin,
and destroying the furniture In hi
house. His wife. in despair, appliet
personally to every member Of the new
ly elected Temperance Council for as
distance and relief. But, although tn
names of those from whom her husbant
procured the liquor were given, an,
proof offered, each and every one turne,
a deaf ear to her entreaties and prayers
or contented themselves with the stereo
typed reply that they really could d.
nothing about it, and she must 90 L
some one else, for aid. II these mel
were elected exponents of an advances
sentiment, how are we to judge--b
their words or their deedeQ