Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-06-28
A Word on the Temperance Movement

The good accomplished by the Muir
phy" and other kindred movements is
beyond human calculation. and will only
be known in all its fullness, when the
books are opened at the Great Day. No
statistics, be they ever so carefully COM
piled, can reproduce, in a tangible form,
the suffering and sin that have been
checked; the tears of the widows that
have been dried; the cries of the orphan
that have been hushed. No human
figures can give a correct detail of the
amount of pauper1sm that has been
changed to seIf-supporting industry,
though the vacant prisons and lonely
poor houses speak in trumpet tones; no
word or pen panorama can picture to
the eve the immense change from the
lees Of despair to the oil of gladness and
sheaves of plenty. 1t is bevond the reach
of language 10 give an adequate idea of
the homes and the hearths that have
been blessed the fallen brothers lifted
up; the hearts of mothers. sisters and
wives that have been thrilled with new
born hopes; the desolation and ruin,
and moral blight that have been stayed
the rags that have been replaced by de-
cency and comfort; the judicial ermine
that has been cleansed; the forms saved
from the sickening leprosv of drunken
ness and horrors of delirIum here, and
the souls from everlasting condemnation
in the beyond.
The temperance movement has done
more to pave the way to Christianity
than any other one thing. 1t is the best
friend of the church, and as such should
be fostered; should not only walk hand
in hand with, but before it. The fact
that it is second to none seems to be
overlooked. In the pressure of other
organizations and duties, Temperance
meetings are very apt to be put aside
'until more convenient season." and
this not alone in a political and social
but moral sense. This Is entirely
wrong. Its paramount importance de-
mands the very first place, and it should
never be ignored for any other, as all the
good that may enure to the drunkard
must come through and by and subse-
euent to his reformation.
And there appears to be strange idea
among the masses of those who attend
temperance meetings, that they can be
elf-sustaining-ca run" themselves
do not require a liberal giving. AS a
rule those who do the most are without
fee or reward, save the consciousness of
doing good. A favored few claim and
receive large pay; but the ever energet-
ic; the constant and devoted workers;
the men whose lives prove that they are
more influenced by the heart than the
purse, receive never a cent. Invited
hither and thither, speaking at every
call; travelling miles upon miles; spend
ing days in preparation and journeying,
and nights in addresses; giving the best
of mind and the best of years, they have
to do so at their own cost. This fact
alone drives many from the ranks, their
means being inadequate to endure the
expense.
It is the widest IF infatuaton that
great movement like that of temperance
can go successfully forward, even heaven
blessed as it is, without freedom in Civ
ing. No other thing is expected to do
so. Political. religious and social organ
izations are sustained by money, and
none think hardly of the paying. LecUur-
ers demand and receive large sums, and
no one dreams of listening to them graft
is. But in Temperance (save in exceD-
tional cases) a charge, be it ever so little
would result in an empty house. There
is no sense in this, and the good and
AOAl SehNoC ID anu DCNO410
belief, on account thereof
Why should this be so? Why are not
man and womankind as liberal for this
great reformation as for others 1t would
be folly to deny that money is the oil
that makes all earthly organizations run
smooth; that without it the best inten-
tions are rendered futile. No series of
meetings can be run" without expense.
It may be light, but it must be paid.
There are an hundred little incidei falls
that must be forthcoming, and it is pass
ing strange that duty is so eoelly ignored
in the temperance movement, in view &C
the incalculable good that can be accom-
plished; the immense amount of Ell /
and sorrow and suffering that is abroad.
in the land; the countless children be,
ing worse than orphaned ) the. wives
worse than widowed; the sons, brothers
and husbands travelling the dark road
the minds shattered; the souls training
for perdition.
Be temperance men and women every
one. 1t is a duty you owe to God and
your kind; but remember that there is
something beside signing the pledge;
something beyond going to meetings;
that cost attends the effort, and you
should not shrink from your share of
the giving.