Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-11-19
RICHMOND.

Eds. Tsl;-Th experiences and failures
upon the subject Of temperance reform has
been prolific Of, at least, one prominent
and lasting truth that will result benefi-
cially to every lover Of truth and sobriety,
II viewed from the right standpoint. The
progress Of the cause, although slow and
tardy, has been Of permanent and lasting
nature. We have outgrown spasms, and
have learned the profitable lesson that one
man thoroughly converted is worth dozen
who have "name to live while they are
yet dead" to their own souls best interest,
and those Of their fellow mortals around
them. / wish here to enter my solemn
protest, upon record, against any system Of
reform, in the name Of temperance, which
glorihes a man because he has been
drunkard; which logically says to the
young, pure and virtuous, you cannot be
as useful to the cause Of total abstinence
il you grow up to manhood and woman
hood without any knowledge Of the de-
mon, strong drink, as you can II YOU are
disciplined through the drunkard's gutter.
| admit that the other plan. whereby you
make heroes Of men and women to-day
who last week was q disgrace to them
selves and their friends, on account Of
their inebriety, will create a greater tenn
porary excitement and perhaps make more
temporary converts. But we who profess
to be earnestly trying 10 bring about the
complete redemption Of the human race
from the curse Of intemperance, are not
satisfied with a system that, while 1t takes
one man out Of the gutter suffers six new
recruits to fall into it,, and which ignores
and denounces efforts to fill up the ditch,
amid the applause of low minded politi-
clans and newspapers which pander to the
base appetites Of habit-ridden people for
the sake Of patronage, it becomes us to
stop and think. / will venture to assert
that any system OF temperance reform that
publicly pledges, as the disciples Of total
abstinence, large majority Of the entire
population OF cities and towns, and leaves
such converts so nearly uneonverted that
they will, while in the height Of their
Jealous proselytes, open wider than ever
the gates Of destruction, by casting their
ballots for the warm friends Of the traffic
against which they profess to be leagued,
is not very profitable but detrimental to
the cause we would serve. We do not
wish to be understood as having no sym
phluy AOI Tue DOOE lubbElhlbt lOI Iulb ID Lub
true work Of every lover Of temperance
and the human race, and the work Of re-
form is God-giYen work, but the work Of
prevention is far better and shortens the
process Of arriving at the same desired
end. Undoubtedly a man that has been a
slave to appetite can be useful TO his fellow.
men. He ought to be, and that, too, with
out carrying the idea that he conferred a
favor upon his fellowmen by suffering him
self to be reformed But one who has al
ways kept himself pure, who In tho midst
Of temptations which has overcome many
Of like condition has stood firm and true,
and who has none Of the pages Of life's
history blotted and blurred all over with
drunkenness, TO such one lot us pay a
premium. For the sake of the youth and
rising generation, lovers Of temperance,
let US get above sentimentalism into the
realm Of sound philosophy; then our pro-
gress II slow will be based upon the Rock
Of Ages, and in due time we shall reap our
reward IN bountiful harvest. W.