Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-12-24
TemperanceDepartment

Eds, Tel:--We are glad to see, through
your columns, that the cause Of temperance
is yet alive and battling for the good Of
the human race, but have sometimes
thought that temperance workers. in their
eageness to grasp at once the whole hu-
man family, have often overlooked the fact
that all around us are human beings that
demand our immediate attenuonand con-
sideration; aud who, il timely Influenced,
can be saved from the curse Of alcoholic
liquors, The poorer classes are subjected
/ to many privations and dlscouragements
that are peculiar to their lot, and often
from sheer neglect upon the part Of chris
| tian people often lose their self respect,
and feeling that mo one cares for their
souls" resort alcoholic stimulauts to
drown trouble. They live in the midst OF
innumerable indulgences and qualifications
which are placed beyond their reach, but
enjoyed by their more fortunate competi-
tors in lfe's journey Their connection
with them, though not close enough for
spiritual communication, is near enough
to influence appetites, desires and wants,
which can meyer be satisfied. From their
cherries rooms they look out upon the
abodes of luxury. While surrounding the
scanty board they are reminded of the fact
that their more fortunate neighbors have
"bread enough and to spare, and perhaps
their tables are crowned with sparkling
wines and fragrant with the delicacies Of
every cline. Painting with toll, they of
ten meet others seemingly unburdened
with care or toll, and they think that all
Of lifes prizes have fallen to them. Very
seldom does a distinct authentic voice Of
wisdom come 10 them from the high
places Of society, telling them that riches
are not happiness, and that felicity
which riches cannot buy is within the
reach OF al. The uueducated poor, with
out resource in books in their families, and
pressed down with disappointment, debt,
dispondence and toll are driven by an inn
pulse, dreadfully strong, to the haunts of
intemperance, and there they plunge into
a misery surer than all Of the tortures in
vented by human skill They quench the
light of reason, blot out Gods image as
far as they have power and take their place
among the brute creation. The poor are
peculiarly exposed to discouragihg views
OF themselves, OF human nature and hu-
man life. Their faith in Gods goodness,
| III NTlutt III luluOl ldlllgs 10 ooiheIlhiOo w
scured by the darkness Of their present
lot. We often shut our eyes to the fact
that in very large cities dwells multitudes
of human beings fallen into extreme
degradation, living in dark, filthy houses,
unven tilated cellars. where the child is
trained amidst coarse manners, impure
words and the fumes Of intemperance, and
from thence sent forth into wide world
to liye, perhaps the life Of a beggar. ]
do not mean that all Of the poor are such
as l have described. For among them arc
"the salt of the earth" "the lights Of the
world, "the elect Of God;" yet poverty
has tendencies to moral degradation, and
it is the solemn duty Of all true lovers OF
the human race to assist, not only in their
puzzling wants, but also assist in that
moral and religious culture which is the
greatest blessing that can possibly be be-
slowed upon the poor. Spiritual culture
is the most effectual service we can send
him, and let all lovers Of the human be-
stow it to the extent of our power. have
often thought Of the language Of our
Savior-"The poor ye have always with
you, but me ye have not always" W.
Richmond, Dec. IA, 1880.