Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-09-20
Sswn Hvodrad and FiFv MaLOos,

Seven hundred and fifty million dol
lars! That is Americas grog bill for one
short year. We spend that immense
sum for the indulgence of habit more
hurtful to us than plague, famine or war.
The scoffers at our holy religion-the
learned as well as the unlettered-are
tauntingly asking us how it is that the
Christian church makes so little pro-
gress III turning from sin to Zion so few
of the race. Fellow-workeTs, the ex-
PLANTATION is to be found in the black bot
tie, the denIijOlln and cut-glass decanter.
We hold the minister of the gospel and
the educated professor of religion who
use Intoxicating drinks as a beverage,
responsible for this sinful malady. One
respectable (slIall we say good p man
taking his wine moderately helps along
thousands on the road to poverty and
ruin. It were well for the world if
some supernatural power would open
the eyes and quicken the consciences of
those who know not the power of exam
pie and seem to forget that they are their
brOther's keeper. There was once very
excellent mana favorite of heaven
who said that if eating meat made his
brother to stumble, he would forego its
use. Once more we bold up the text for
consideration to these divines who see
no danger in an occasional drink.
About two years ago an eloquent minis
ter Of the Episcopal church became Grip
pied and hoppled with the accursed ap-
petite. First be was moderate, soon he
was immoderate. After years effort at
total abstinence he broke out afresh, fell
from q sailing boat with black bottle in
bis pocket, and went up in middle age,
intoxicated, to Judgment. One such
case ought to answer as a warning for a
thousand years. God help us all to fight
more valiantiy for this glorious cause.
1t is not enough that we are ourselves
safe. On every side of Us our neighbors
are perislling for the want Of a helping
hand. With money and voice we must
better equip ourselves for the work.
There is not a family but is touched di-
rectly or indirectly by this terrible sore.
1t is not enough that we comprehend
the disease. We must with greater en-
thusiasm engage in the blessed Christian
and patriotic work of curing it. By line
upon line, precept upon precept, here q
little and there little, we must push on
the works till the rum citadel topples
down. We need thousands upon thOus-
andf Of workers like Cuyler, Moody,
Dow and Murphy to dry up this plague
stream which is everywhere hindering
the progress Of the church, and degrad.
ing families.
One post-ofice and fifteen iaverns in
a given town. Examine briefly these
establishments. How comes it that so
few good papers and valuable books are
received through the post-o6ice The
explanation is that the farmers around
will drop too many dimes at the tavern.
Will you not, dear reader, make up your
mind at once to help drive intemperance
from this favored land? You desire to
do some good as you journey through
life. There are evils and burdens to be
removed. Enter upon the work. It is
expected of you that you will leave the
world better than you found it. Chisel
out a monument for yourself. Make the
name you bear an honored one by being
an indefatigable worker for the things
which make the world blossom as the
rose. Heaven expects us to do our duty.
Christ came to show us the way. Let us
learn and practice the lesson whole
heartedly. Some grand workers finish
their course with a multitude of re-
deemed ones following them TO glory.
Let us join the glorious band and do all
the good we can in the name Of Jesus.
IN this sign We shall conquer.