The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-02-07
Onward to Ward.

The intelligent readers of this county for
some time have been greeted by periodical
illusions. some supposedly humorous, others
alleged to be serious and sensible from the
pen of one who styles himself, Ward"
For the past few weeks, since local op'
| ton has been a mooted question In the
county, we have been treated regularly to
dissertations devoid of sense, and with zeal
worthy of better cause to arguments
barren of logic, and the conclusions arrived
at were, to say the least, rather startling and
far-fetched.
In reading the writings we would be led
to believe that they either originated In the
fertile Imagination of mind given to
romancing, and in need of some diversion,
or of a man with an ''axe to grind" said
axe being either so.called ''vested inter
est"-to sell, or an appetite to use, the arti-
cles usually vended in saloon.
These articles have nearly all passed by
unheeded and unchallenged, for no doubt
| the same reason as that given by the Irish
man who was kicked by a mule and failed to
retalate: HE considered where 1t came
| from"
Last week your readers were treated to
collection of verbiage, headed, "That Eaton
County Resolution" He begins by stating
that, 1T is hard for me to keep my hands
off from that poor little resolution passed by
the Eaton county board of supervisors, on
the 18th inst" Just imagine If you can
the righteous indignation of the great and
only "Ward," when the board of supervis-
ors of Eaton county presume to pass resO-
luton not in accord with his views and
without deigning to ask his advice. Who!
gentle reader can wonder at his struggle
for self restraint, when he considers such
presumption.
Then he says, at looks as though it was
passed under duress, 1t is so feeble, so inno-
cent, SO mild, so uncertain. so inoffensive."
1t is strange how the complexion of the
| world is changed by the color of the.glasses
| we view it through.
We think the above resolution is nicely
worded, is strong, vigorous, sensible. brief,
and to the point. Why should it be passed
under duress? Whom had they to be afraid
of?
Then referring to the last sentence of the
resolution the author says: ''And we are
left to conjecture, whether the law or the
expense has been beneficial" We would
suggest that Ward" analyze this sentence
again, carefully, and if still unable to de-
termne what the word Sits" in said sem
tence refers to, then call in the aid of your
village school teacher, or some schoolboy,
who has sstudied the rudments of grammar.
Then in the next paragraph among other
things he asks: ''In how many ways can a
law be successful" We believe morally,
socially and financially might be mentioned
as elements of success in this law. Those
whose minds are not too obtuse will realize
at once that the word ''success," is as strong
a word.as could be used, and admitting Of
no higher degree of comparison.
The Eaton county supervisors are evil
IDENTIFY not so addicted to verbiage, as the
Laingsburg ''oracle."
He next assumes pious air and exclaims:
'Now in the name of all the Gods at once,
etc." Hold on! Not too fast One at
time. Honestly, was not that prayer ad-
dressed to, and the inspiration derived
principally, from only one deity, Bacchus?
The above article was evidently written
by a man, who, lacking in argument, at
tempts to make up the deficiency in ridi
Guile. This is the class of men who solemn
ly tell us that without saloons our towns
will be dead, as people will go to trade
where they can get drink, and in the next
breath as solemnly affirm-that more liquor
is and will be sold under prohibitory law.
Their consistency(?) is apparent.
1t is the universal opinion of the Eaton
county officials; men of education, good,
sound judgment and integrity; men who
know whereof they speak, that the law in
that county Is just what is needed, and is
enforced better than any law on their statute
books. We quote from letter to a friend,
from E. l.. Mason, principal of the high
school in Charlotte, Shiawassee county
boy, whose opinion is unbiased; among 9TH
er things he says: 81 would say that in
the main would consider local option in
Eaton county a success. 1 believe that no
one dares to sell to boys. The city marshall
reports that he has not had third as many
cases OF drunkenness to attend to as before"
One of our ministers, few nights ago
uttered sentence full of truth. He said
''That man deserves the heartiest of censure
and the most cutting ridicule, who tries to
vent his sarcasm upon man who does any
thing because he believes that it is right"
ONWARD.
In recent editorial the Salem, Oregon.
nd do,,Ao