Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-06-18

county beats 80 niggardly. believe that
II the question was submitted 10 the peo-
pie Of the county to-day they would say
70 the commissioners. Levy tax or
hfty thousand dollars, and more IL need
be, and with II erect suitable structures In
conjunction with the already existing in.
Urinary buildings and furnish and endow
them deeently. Then place in the hands
oi our worthy Superintendent liberal ap-
preparation sufficient 10 enable him 10 sep
arate, grade and classify the people Of his
ehafge thus giving to the worthy poor,
me comfort seclugiOn and protection In
cident 10 q Christian civilization: and 10
50 arrange the juvenile department as 10
protect It's members in the plastic age OF
childhood from the moulding hand OF
evil communication. Thus saying by our
acts to those little girls just budding into
lovely wOmanhOOd that we hold at a
premium their honor and moral virtue and
pledge ourselves TO protect their suscepla-
ole natures from the cOutaminating iniu-
ance Of vice aud crime; and 70 those little
boys, that we hold their budding man
hood valuable 10 the commonwealth and
| will protect it from the rude oath.
vulger ibaldry and degrading example Of
/ the tramp, the drunkard and thesyphilitic.
/ Let him raise the unfortunate Insane from
their damp, dismal and unhealthy prison
cells into the free air and sunlight OF God /;
| provide comfortable apartments and place
over them an intelligent, competent and
| conscientious keeper whose sole duty shall
be to watch over them Ia their helpless.
ness, see to their comfort and attend 10
their natural wants.
These are reforms which the demands Of
an advanced civilization, and the voice OF
common humanity are imperitiyely urg-
ing upon our commonwealth, and when
the work shall have been commenced by
officials stripped Of their selfish indifer-
ence, and with hearts warmed by human
sympathy, then, and not till then will our
institution Of public charity cease to be the
nursery Of the public brOthel and the
tralnlng-schOOl Of the penitentiary. It
VIII be strongly urged that il the infirma-
ry is made place Of comfort then the ig-
norant, vicious and prohIgate Glasses will
take advantage OF our charity and impose
upon our hospitality. But because igno-
rant and uneultivated individuals may
abuse their privileges trouble which Ia
this eaSe apprehend is easily remedied-
IS no valid reason for our negleeting a
clear, humane and Christian duty. Surely
the great law Of charity for the faults OF
an ignorant, erring and misguided human
ity is just as true to-day as il was two
thousand years ago when on Calvarys
blood-stained heights, writhing in the fear
ful agony 1.-THE bleeding cross, the immac-
u!ate martyr said in the tender eloquence
OF a heart sincere: Father, forgive them
for they know not what they do.n
IL viii be urged, too, that whatever the
moral demand for such a change may be,
or the moral, social and polite advantages
resulting thereirom, the financial condition
OF the county will not warrant such an
outlay. In answer to this objection let us
come to facts and figures.
The value Of property in Ashtabula Co.,
as reported by the census Of 1870, was
$l9, 425, 900; this with the vast increase Of
the last decade cannot now be estimated
at less than $25, 900, 900; $4,000 raised
upon this amount would be One-fifth Of
one per cent. Thus man worth 5000
would pay $40 to bring about this much
needed reform, and after the first year the
cost Of maintaining this state Of things
would be less pro rata than the poor tax
paid by neighboring counties. Take for
example Lake county. The value Of her
property is $14, 171, 449; little more than
half as much as ours. The value of her in
firmary buildings is $50, 900, while ours is
less than $4,000. The number of her
paupers reported as thirty, while we main
tain 1870; the amount Of our poor tax to
maintain 100 paupers is $9,S07,37, while
hers, to maintain thirty paupers is SO, POI.
"a; thus her annual cost Of maintaining her
paupers per capita is $685. 20, while we
expend annually on ours only $S1. .72.
This am aware is going somewhat into
detail, but have done so with the view
OF meeting fairly the objections OF the
penunous tax payer whose grumblings
have ever been the standing excuse for
the neglect Of commissioners in the dis
charge Of their public duties; and with
hope that these facts may follow him into
his daily business and labors throughout
the week, and when called by the SOL
emn Sabbath bell to repair to his velvet
cushioned pew beneath the gilded spires
that kiss the clouds Of heaven, may they
find welcome corner in his softening
heart; and when aroused from his delight
ful Sabbath morning slumber at the close
OF the sermon he drops his willing tribute
into the contribution box for the Hotten-
tots OF South Africa, or the freedmen Of
South Carolina, may he not be unmind-
tui CT the time-honored adage, that "char-
ity begins at home" A. G. LELAND, NJ. ID.
TTumbull, o., June 7th, 1880,