The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-03-11
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JUST how much prominence should be
given 10 the doings Of the drunken and dis
orderly classes and TO the lesser crimes that
enter into the usual history Of small towns
is very frequently matter of difficult sol.
ution. Such events often furnish fruitful
topics for local writing, but whether the
morals Of town are improved by the
regular mention OF drunkenness, lighting,
gambling, petty theiving and other similar
crimes may be q question. We have not
observed that such publication had any
tendency to awaken the attention Of cili-
zens 10 the growth of these vices and TO
the duty of making increased effort TO
remove the causes that lead to them. On
the contrary these things appear TO grow
with our growth" and so far from exciting
apprehension, seem TO be looked upon
with indifference. Intemperance and
drunkenness are increasing, and though
we have been unable TO secure suitable
legislation, we are not prevented from
making use of those social and moral
influences that have often been used with
such persuasiveness as 10 effect genuine
revival of temperance interest whose infiu'
enee has resulted in permanent advantage,
The social evil is scarcely less perva-
sive and aggressive. Almost an entire
street has been largely given up to
the occupancy and trade of the "demi-
monde" and young men of leading fami-
lies are caught in their tolls and led
on 10 ruin. Then the vice of gambling
is regularly and almost openly carried on
in connection with drinking places, and
the young are being taught the first lessons
in one of the invariable accomplishments
of thieves and blacklegs of every grade.
Our police administration was nevel
more efficient and thorough than now, and
for this our officers deserve special com
mendaiion, but instead, too often sympathy
is extended to the criminal and those who
administer justice treated to misrepresen
tation and abuse as though they were th'
prosecutors and oppressors of the defense
less and innocent. There Is no question
that society by reason Of carelessness AM
indifference is much to blame for tn
growth and prevalence of the evils tina
infest our towns and villages. The oil
saw that "what is everybody's business
nobody's business" never Ind a NOR
striking illustration than the attitude a
sumed by the average man towards vic
and crime in his own community.
Under such circumstances it seems u.s.
less for the newspaper unaided TO attemT
to conserve the morals Of town by th
regular mention of the doings OF the Grin
inal classes when the only ones who Civ
marked attention TO such notices are th
criminals themselves, and tend TO eGaspe
ate and embitttr and not TO reform then
Itwould seem to be about as profitable a
exercise land similar In It's resulls)
butting ones head against a stone wall.
We do not refrain from want
courage but we have tried that exhilara
ing exercise several times and coul
never discover that the wall sufere
any special damage nor could "
discover that the dear people were ben
fitted OF melted 10 increased zeal for Il
promotion of the morals and good order
society.
Those who imagine II Is the duty Of Il
country editor TO 60 for all social ar
moral evils, stir up the animals and ke'
them in healthy state oi excitement a
invited TO a free use Of our columns ov
their own signatures.
We have had occasion to remark sever
times before this how easy II is TO S
another mans duty and 10 have coura
70 fight his battles. "Now give US Arrest