The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-07-15
A Question.

In an article entitled "Now and Then"
in the last Tribune, devoted to the con-
sideration of our national standing at the
time of our Declaration of Independence
and now, and noting the great changes
that have taken place, the following pas
sage occurs: ....-..
1--WE have changed ouv religious con-
dition, too; there was not so much relig-
ious freedom then among the liberty low
ing Americans as among their English
tyrants; Catholics held mass in stable;
q Quaker was liable to be whipped; and
q Baptist to be tied to the cart wheel.
Now they all build their affairs side by
side. The Mormon has his harem and
the Chinaman his joss. Each man stands
now on his feet firmly, but has not God
slipped from His place? How many of
rs, Il We co1ld not build our altars with
out hindrance, would emigrate to des-
ert as did our fathers, for freedom to
worship Him? Which of Us would leave
home and society and the newspapers
and brio brac, and settle, say In Alas
ka, rather than take off hat when con-
science bade Us to keep 1t onf Some OF
these questions are worth asking our
selves" .1 il-. a. .aI'
Any careful reader of history, and
even the observing man whose memory
reaches back over period Of fifty years
will not fail to notice marked decadence
in the standard of integrity and christian
manhood among the descendants Of our
puritan fathers. We are accustomed 70
amuse ourselves at the spectacle of
their rigid strictness in the moral and
religious training Of their children, but
it cannot be denied that the children Of
these parents developed manly qualities
and grew into strong and well-devel-
oped characters. fitting them for inau
ential positions in church and state, In
contrast with whom the children OF the
sickly, sentimental, slip-shod christiani-
ty of the present day are not worthy to be
mentioned. The reaction from too great
severity in family government, to almost
unrestrained freedom, is giving Us a gen.
Grafton of children and youth, bold and
rude, ill-mannered, impudent, immoral; Z
disgrace to their parents and curse to
society. With such lax discipline and
with such opportunity for the gratifica-
ton of every evil tendency, the wonder
Is that SO many escape the snares set for
their unwary feet. The schools for street
loafers, ranged along the hitching rails
of business places, where children, boys
young men mingle with the low and
hardened in vicious habits and crime, oi
more mature years, Is q sight to make
an angel weep. Their vile speech ant
slanderous gossip Is enough to pollut'
the atmosphere Of heaven. In such com
pany, at unreasonable hours Of night
and during the unoccupied hours of tn,
Sabbath, are the innocent ears Of III,
children Of well-disposed people, taking
their first lessons which shall bring fortl
bitter fruit in the near future. Afte
witnessing such q crowd. many Of then
bloated with whisky and beer, more o
them drawing intoxication from . pipt
or cigar which not infrequently leads Il
more destructive intempersnce, on
could almost wish for the enactment o
the old Blue Laws Of Connecticut. ant
the iron hand Of puritan parental govern
ment TO restrain the youth and suitabl!
punish the more advanced in years
With the world full Of pewspspes, snG