The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-02-19

)ut wnlcn are not Qno6eu mere, we
strongly suspect that the writer may be
IN sympathy with the liquor interest.
However thkt may be, HIS ssasements
contain not little truth which though
it may not be complimentary to our
character for consistency We shall do
we'll to carefully consider Notwith-
standIeg our professions as q temper
auce people and the not infreQuent revi-
walls Of zeal which ehave experienced
it cannot be concealed that intemper-
ance is iearfully on the Increase, saloons
have multiplied in the last ten years
and the business has come to be regard.
ed with tolerance if 1t has not even
secured a degree of respectability. Oc-
cupying elegant rooms with costly fur
nishing, they have Invested themselves
of the disgraceful odor of the low dog
gerry kept in some tumble down shan
ty or damp underground room and have |
secured for themselves q standing that |
comma nds our admiration for their as
surance and enterprise, if not our res
pecr for their business. We must do them |
the justice to say that since the days |
when drunken brawls and carousals
that made night hideous and in one of
which Pat Nangle received injuries that
resulted in death and still later the one
in which Mr.. Hines received a blow
that preclpitated if it was not the direct
cause of death, there has been a great
Improvement In the management of
such establishments. In the good old
days such battles were scarcely less
sanguinary than those Of many a well
fought field Of the rebellion, though
not quite so destructive to life. But
now . certain sort of peace and quiet
reigning the people have laid by their
watch. The ravsges of the liquor
traffic first viewed with alarm -.
by long familiarity have lost much of
their terror, and finally fear gives place
to Indifference. From regarding the
traffic as a crime against God and hu-
manity and those engaged in 1t IS inim-
ical to the best interests of society and
deserving the severest penalties of the
law. we have come to regard it as legiti-
mate business that men may innocebtly
prosecute for the support Of their fam
lilies. A prosecution that involves legal
expenses and fines excites our pity and
commiseration AMI we even tender
them our sympathy in their misfortune
and unsparing denunciations upon the
instigators Of their punishment. We
tell them in terms more explicit than
polite, that they had better mind their
own business. -.,-f..
From open and avowed hostility to
the liquor traffic, we have been bull
dozed into giving information against
violators of the law only in the most
secret manner If even we have not W with-
drawn from the contest altogether. An
open fight involves business interests,
loss Of reputation, slander and an un-
told amount OF scandal hard for the In
dividual and which the majority
are disposed to take no risk Of incurring.
And SO the liquor interest has conquered
conquered a peace, and have the field.
The South has no more completely
SOt tuc COutioi VI thae scCtiou. hC'c
as there, it is all peace because temper
ance men have given 1T up. There is
scarcely a number equal to that which
was required to save S,dom, who have
the courage and the manhood to take
off their coats and make vigorous fight
to root out one of the greatest social
evils that now curses our land. And
yet, We are a temperance people, we
are.
We have sometimes thought aud said
we were in favor of "Local Option
but on more mature reflection we have
our doubts. Supposing such law to
be constitutional, and passed by this
legislature, We very seriously question
whether 1t would receive majority OF
the votes of this corporation, or II il
should, we have still more seriou;
doubts whether it could or would be
enforced. 1t certainly weuld require
} the killing of more than one drunken
victim, more than one drunken riot to
inspire the people Of this highly moral
and intellectual town with zeal suffi
cient to enforce the most beneflcent
temperance law that was ever enacted
We have law enough for present pur'
poses. Let US show that our ideas are
up to the one we have before we ash
for another. II the nominally tenn
perance people Of this community were
only united on this question, If they
; had zeal and moral courage equal tt
the demands Of the occasion. it would
, become so unhealthy for saloons thai
not one would be found In town IL
six months time. As soon would they
tolerate pest house which was scatter
ing disease and death through the COM
munity. Dear reader, you think tha
is not true, you smile complacently ant
call 1t fananticism; but be assured tina
there Is no fact in earth or HEAVIER
more true, and until it is generally be
lieved and acted upon, not much pro
: gress will be made in abating the vic
5 of intemperance. -
D 1t may be well in this connection t,
! mention that the Spring election i
e near at land, when our stslwart TEN
perance men will have a chance {,
f show their faith by their works in tn
e election Of corporation officers. w,
I shall expect them to elect those who's
] bowels Of compassion yearn tenderl.
e toward the drunkard and saloon-keeper
, whose abounding charity and pity will
find it easy to forgive the poor unfortu
e nate victims of debasing appetite, a
0 well as him who for the sake of gain
: entices him on to his ruin; who will
. find 1t difficult to detect crime, ant
/. convenient to be ignorant and blind OF
8 occasions; who will deal gently witt
t the erring. And so intemperance will