Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-05-02
TEMPERANCE.
EDITED BY THE LADIES OF THE W. C. T. I

The following extract is from speech of
Mrs. Allen Butler, member of COM
mittee of ladies chosen for presenting a
petition to the legislature of New York,
praying that the excise laws of that State
may remain unchanged.
Mrs. Butler addressed the committee in
regard to the maladministration of officials,
and said:
Laws imply officers to execute and pen
alties to be inflicted. But if the officers
take the responsibility of allowing the
laws to be set aside entirely, or merely
make a pretense to evade them, where is
the safety Of the community? When an
emergency arises-which such d condition
invites-the direst consequences must be
realized, as in the strikes and railroad riots.
We have good laws, but faithless officers.
One branch OF business holds most Of
our officers, from the highest to the lowest,
under its control. The traffic in intoxicat-
ing liquors notoriously disregards all NOR
al and civil law. While all honest trades
observe the Sabbath, this traffic tramples
upon it and all the laws made for its pro-
lection. 1t also over-rides the restrictions
made for other times and days; also for
certain classes of persons. Most important
among these are those relating to minors.
All good and true men see in their children
the hope of the country, if they are proper
ly trained and taught. We may expect
patriots andstatesmen, worthy their noble
ancestry, to rise from their ranks and fill
places of trust in our land; but if educated
in the schools of vice opened at every street
corner by this traffic, into which they are
lured and served, in direct viola tion of the
law, what can the result be but utter ruin?
'We have great reason to fear the future
of our land, unless our laws are made ab-
solute, and those who are appointed to ex
ecute them are made to suffer serere penal
ties for malfeasance in office. The results
of the past few years tell fearfully in the
spirit of lawlessness that has increased so
wonderfully; and the dark shadow that is
east before makes mothers, at least, tremble
for their children, and makes US fear that
not many generations will habit this land
as one of the Republican institutions"
Lessons only that are taken home are of
practical use. Let us apply these remarks
TO our own city. Each official in taking
the oath Of HIS Office pledges himself most
solemnly to discharge the duties Of that Of
fee. 1t is against our laws that any saloon
shall be open on the Sabbath day. Sec.
of village ordinance says, that the owner,
keeper or proprietor Of each and every ale,
beer and porter house or shop within the
incorporated village of Ashtabula shall
close the same, or cause the same to be
closed at or before 101S o'clock p. m. each
day, and also shall close the same, or cause
the same to be closed on Sunday.
Now is it not the duty of the marshal to
see that these places are kept closed, to see
that this law is enforced, at least TO report
deliIquences? Is this done? Are not sa-
Icons openly violating the law? Only last
Sabbath afternoon man passed towards
the \. & P. depot; he was gone short
time and came back so intoxicated he could
scarcely walk, even for awhile clung to Il
shade tree for support, regaining his equilib-
rum and with staggering step walked on
ward. Soon came another in the same con-
dition. Where is our marshal? Where is
his oath to perform faithfully the duties oi
his Office? As well might We save his salary
as to pay two hundred dollars for the mere
name Of having this official. As q people,
as business men, as taxpayers we groan
under our burdens. Do We wait and in
qure why we are so largely burdened? To
make the question more direct, How much
are we in our city Of five thousand inhabit-
ants paying to support our saloons in dol
lars and cents alone, leaving out the fearful
price OF the loss Of virtue, the loss Of health,
the loss Of life and the loss Of every son
or daughter who becomes a drunkard-
precious jewels that all the gold Of Caliior-
MIA could not purchase or restore.
For our police force we have paid about