Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-02-24
What hone for us Is here?-.

ana we, the poor Nlcums, chnnot pass
by without getting hopclessly entan.
gled. All over the land are these spi-
ders and their webs, and there is No
broom to sweep them aside. Give Us
the Maine Law, and We have broom
that will do the work eiiectually. ]
90 for this law, gentlemenl And am
going to the meeting tonight. Judge
Williams is to speak. Poor mani
He will speak in vain. for all the good
speaking will do him; but il he doesn't
stir all hearts to their lowest depths,
call Dick Thomas a fooll'
"You'll give 'em speech too won'i
you," said the landlord, in impotent
contempt.
"If you're there, | WILL" retortcd
Thomas. 81 couldn't have better
subject than the spider and the fly"
A shout of applause from the rude in
mates of the bar-room answered this
cutting speech. and under the govern
ing impulse Of the moment, 1t was vo-
ted to attend the Maine Law meeting
in a body.
YOU'D better drink all round to
bolster up your good resolution" said
the landlord. forcing laugh. lie had
sense enough to see the folly Of quar-
reling with his customers, and so re-
pressed his irritation.
"Not a bad idea," quickly answer
ed one Of the company: and in mo-
ment the fickle crew was at the coun-
ter, and the landlord as busy as he
could be in mixing his tempting poi
sons for their lips. l turned off, sad
at the sight, and left the bar-room.
AT an early hour in the evening |
was at Lyceum Hall. The room was
nearly filled on my arrival; but Imam
aged to get a place near the speakers
stand.
Judge Williams is to speak," |
heard whispered behind me. This
seemed the leading attraction Of the
evening. Who Judge Williams was,
or what the particularinterest attached
to him, had not yet learned. That
blight was on him in hiso old age, was
plain; but where and what the blight
was, could not infer but vaguely.
The meeting was organized in due
form, and resolutions offered approving
the Maine Law, and calling upon the
Legislature to enact one similar in its
provisions. Then came pause ofex-
pectation. The old man had thought
10 see on the stand, was not there. l
looked around the room, but failed to
recognize him. Others seemed in like
expectation with myself. There was
now a movement near the door. /
turned with the rest of the audience,
and saw the pale, thin, intelligent face
of the old man | had seen at the brown
cottage.
"There is Judge Williams" heard
passing from lip to lip. He moved
slowly along the aisle till he reached
the platform, which he assembled and
took chair near the President of the
meeting.
1.-The Secretary will read the reso-
lutions again" said the Chairman.
The resolutions were accordingly
read: A brief silence followed, and
then Judge Williams arose in slow
dignified manner. A little while he
stood; his fine eyes that seemed to
Ii sht up his whole face, wandering over
the audience. all was still rs if there
had not been living soul in the room.
"My friends, his voice was low,
and trembled slightly--''I meet you
this evening in public assemblage, for
the first time in many months. | may
never meet you again. A lonely old
man, with all hope in life gone, l am
a lingerer here only little while
Soon the places that have seen me will
see me no more. L shall pass the
bourne from which no traveller returns
and pass it, feel, right early. |
have been among you for several
years; and in all my public life, | have
in the fear Of God, sought to Judge
rightly between my fellow men. To
err is human; therefore | have not
been free from error; but the merit of
a good intention | must in justice
claim.
"My friends, look at me as L stand
before you tonight" and he advanced
"a few steps on the platform. "This
head is winter than il was year ago
this hand not so steady--this poor
body less firm and erect, am a shat
tered wreck on the sea of life; the last
frail vessel of goodly feet that went
down in the pitiless tempest. How
vainly did | reach for harbor, where
| saw the storm gathering; but there
was none in which We might ride in
safety.
Fellow citizens, his form was now
more erect. and his tones iirmer and
decper-"turn your thoughts back loI
tweve years such OF you rs can recall
events for so longa period, did | moi
then say 10 you that licensed drinking
houses would bo u curse to our beau
iiful yillage9 Did | then not urge
warn. implore you, and with all The
little eloqucnce possessed, Did
} not then declare Il was my beliefthat
rs body OF citizens, united in eorpo
rate form 10 secure our mutual well
: being. II was our duty 10 guard th'
weak and the youthful from the iasci
nations Of drink, by prohibiting III,
: sale Of intoxicating liquors in our vii
lager We had Us much the right I,
do this rs the right to restrict or pro
. hiblt the sale OF poison, IL was
, measure of self-proIeoton as Legitimate
! as any other, Who was to bewrong
4 cd by itY The man who, too idle /,
{ work, sought 10 live by corrupting hi
! neighbors, and sowing broadcast tn
seeds Of vice, crime, deprayity, an
j eternal death? No; not even he wa