Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-07-23
THE GREAT EVIL.

lHlelnptihuCey III lne ueChue JUST closed
II all the printed columns on this theme
were pasted one to another the band
would doubtless encircle the globe; and
more has been spoken, probably, during
the ten years than has been written. Has
it done any good? Has the tide of
intemperance been in anywise checked,
and have its evil consequences been les
sened or mitigated thereby?
The subject has been treated from every
conceivable standpoint, and viewed in all
its phases: and the conclusion TO which
all impartial and intelligent investigation
tends, is that the incorporate use of al.
coholic 5timulants is unquestionably the
great evil Of the age.
Living witnesses to the correctness Of
this conclusion, may be seen each day
upon the streets Of every city,-eyen
Rockford. Here you may point to a score
OF men past the noon Of life, who for
ten, fifteen, some Of them twenty years.
were moderate" drinkers, that is, they
thought they were, because, though in al
these years they were never without
liquor in their stomaohs, they were sell
dom if ever "too full" 10 attend to bu-
slness. They were unconscious of the
rapid waste Of vital forces, which the mod
crate drinker can not escape, until they
power to stimulate them, there was so
little vitality left in their brains a nd
bodies for the stimulant to borrow from
for it is known that alcoholic liquors do
not nOurish, nor strengthen, nor invig.
crate the human body, nor add nerve and
brain power, but that the stimulant makes
drafts upon all the vital parts of the hu.
man system that are Immediately paid
thereby weakening it, us is learned when
the effect Of the sLmulant Is gone, and
lassitude and eneryation follow.
These men we speak Of have within
few years fallen away from positions
OF responsibility and usefulness, and lib
era! compensation, one after another, be-
cause of their long-contnued use Of slim
ulants, which in time untitled them for
places OF trust. Most Of them were OPEN
hearted, honest, good men, generous to
the last degree, and without perceptibe
fault, save the one consuming weakness
OF drinking intoxicating liquors. They
were not warned by friends in time, be-
cause the esteem in which they were held
on account OF their recognized good uual-
tiles seemed to prevent these friends
from saying anything that might wound
their sensibilities.
This score of unfortunate men have
stopped drinking, They discovered their
own danger only when they felt their mem
tai and physical powers failing them and
then, men as they were, they summoned
their waning energies Of mind and body,
and concentrated them IN the effort to
free themselves of the injurious habit.
Some Of them were too late; their Vitality
was too nearly consumed; thev are very
near mentally and physically wrecked.
Energy to grapple with the real work of
the world, ambition to do, and to be.
are gone. They are like furnaces without
fire, engines without steam. And vet
they manfully repel the temptation to
use stimulants tdsbring back temporarily
something of their lost energy. How we
honor them for it, And how our heart
goes out in sympathy to them, while we
note their tired action and faces tn at
seem never to smile, They are moral he
roesi nameless to the world, 1t IS true, but
there are those who can properly estimate
the import Of the victory these men have
won. Mankind everywhere have glorifed
Grant for achievements that cost less of
manly endurance and high resolve.
Others OF these we're more fortu-
nate, and stopped drinking before their
energies were so nearly wasted. These,
by one, two, and three years Of total ab-
stinenee, haye regained in good part the
mental aud physical powers they had lost
and are moderately successful In their
vocations; but the old fire aud enthusiasm
does not come back to them and 1t never
will.
The young men Of Rockford know the
men we have In mind, and 10 them these
warning examples would seom sufficient.
II more is needed, look Rt the men YOU
know, who are unable to conquer them.
selves, and will drink till they die.
Each sometime drank his first glass. We
implore, never do that. The few do il
and escape; the many by that act imporil
all their future; you can not dare the
hazard the possible consequences arc too
tul TO contemplate. We think the
'yldepces about us Of the power
i TO work irreparable injury TO
ID be all-potent to young men
pulating drinks. No temper
no written argument, can
auently IN behalf Of sobri.
r|y spoken Of the damage
Alq1ldted upon these men
will not lift the
No domestic griefs and
ERE tde o1spring Of
Allss the worse than
Nleir Incomes and sal
Nleaseaina OF home
ea and he throw.
Dat should have edu-
and guarded the
NoWhfd possibilities
pectaCle of once
Nleto manhood In
sd mhn, is sad
picture Of his
VIE and chill
Of temperance
gl Much, that
than we know.
Rs not deemed
lerable number
this eommun.
men Of good
y daylight. Fiji
II several women
conceded, that
anged, and by
pion that dis
Men who re-
ithstand the
iuman hearts
alton Of their
bile sentiment
Alton Of the sub
I has been had
4, in pulpit, press,
expects this agta-
importance continues
would be the man