Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-07-31
A Word to Christian Voters OLE the
subject Of Fem s,cr;sascc.


] assume. dear reader that YOU are a
Christian. and that you acknowledge your
responsibility to God for your influence
in society. Can YOU. therefore. divest
Yourself Of a sense Of responsibility when
you go to the ballot box. especially now.
while in every state vigorous Efforts are
being made ipr the repeal Of those laws
winch make YOU partner in every liccn-
sed dram-shnp' DO YOU not know that
your own chillrcn are exposed to the
snares of the liquors. seller. and that the
law. even where IT does not iiccnsc. con
hives al thc ruin of those YOU love, Do
you no, know. also. that while you con
sent 10 support The party tickets. without
reference 10 the sentiments of Your repre-
sentatives on this subject. that YOU re-
enact the laws which are 50 odiouS to the
moral portion of community! You viii
not say that you think the system of IL
crnSing men To make drunkarls is the
best method Of suppresSing intcmpcrancr:
for YOU know that under this system IN
temperance reached its most Alarming
height. You certainly cannot think that
"mora suaSion" alone viii remedy the
evil. for YOU cannot hope for more moral
power 10 be brought 10 bear upon this
last ten years. II you do please tell the
world how il is to be done. You will not
SAY that Yourself and children are out Of
danger. and therefore YOU are cxcuSablc
Tor you know that Won are. in a great de-
gree. the keeper of YOUR brother. and in
an important sense. the guardian Of his
children. especially after his death: and
Their are hundreds of orphans now in
= =, l., 81,
and supported by your law.
Can you. as a Christian. say that the
interests of the party are such that YOU
dare not vote against the nominee. even
il he is in favor Of the liquor selling in
terest! Perhaps. before another annual
election. YOU may be in your grave; and
LEI me ask you. will The thought that YOUR
party succeeded at the election. compeE-
safe. on your death bed. for the harrow
ing reflection that YOU leave Your children
To the protection of n state which for
trifng sum Of money. sells them 10 the
drunkard- maker. and that the last oppor-
tuniiy YOU had YOU recorded Your vote in
favor of that law, Nethinks that then. if
never before. YOU will feel, perhaps acute
~. that there are higher interests TO be
consulted by the Christian citizen than the
mere success OF rarity. GU vii! not Oh
iect to- making this an Indispensable quail
life alton in Your candidate because YOU
object to bringing the question of temper
ancc into politics, for YOU know that il has
been there for wears. and that at least four
fiiihs of the officers of Your county have
used the influence of dram. sellers TO se-
cure their election.
The question is not. shall temperance
enter into the selection of officers. but
shall temperance men still be ruled by the
dram-shop influence: and shall those who
rum our children compel Us 10 sanction a
law which legalizes their business,
Were il not for !eng,henng this com
munica,on. l would aluJe 10 many Of
the objections which those who opDose
legislatIng on the subject urge against the
course proposed; but as they are all oh.
Jectlons that originated in dram. shons
Though some who repeat them arc no,
aware of ill., shall desist Let me how.
ever. urge you. Christian reader, TO mall.
the sentiments of your representative ON
his subject n matter of concern. because
Of the ravages Of intemperance under the
present laws, despite our strongest moral
suaSion
was pointed. few months AGO. 10 the
s'e OF promising young mana son
VI an aged and much beloved minister of
me Gospel. lie died of drunkennesS
Moral suasion could neither roach Az.
nor his murderers. In one of tho wet.
s,ates now making vigorous efforts 70
abolish the license laws. and which o,n,
On you 10 lend the influence Of your Chris. |
uan character. an aged minister of ,h.
gospel. one dearly beloved by all who
new nm. received. few months AGO,
.o.n abusive language and blows on the
Ureet, from a drnnkc On son wy