Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-09-01


ring from one end Of the state to the
other with a cry, 'You are carrying
Temperance into p olitics.
II is both natural and right for men tC
fight in self-defence. Rum dealers 90 te
the ballot box TO retain their rights, be-
cause you and other fanatics 60 there to
deprive them OF their ong-establishet
privileges. That, certainly, is nothing
wrong, for you and your party are the
aggressors-the active assailants.
Very we'll to tho ballot box it ].
then. Let both parties have an equa
chance ut the ballot box If the people
lsustain them in their work of rum. we
will submit TO il but il they sustain
the principles Of temperance, then they
like good citizens. should stop their
work of death. We ask no unreason-
able thing we are willing to submit to
the will of the majority if they will
agree to do that, the question can easily
be settled.
am wholly opposed to deciding the
matter in any such way. You and your
party have pressed this question until
you have broken up the political parties
into fragments. No matter what great
political question is up, you must throw
in your hackneyed topic, to distract
divide, and break up the parties into
factions.
That, undoubtedly, Mr.. Morrison, is the
secret OF your opposition to this law
You well know how many men are elec-
ted to Office by the aid Of rum. YOU
are man OF too much sense not tc
know that rum is powerful ally to the
present political parties. You under
stand very well the influence Of rum in
elevating persons to stations OF honor,
How does rum do it! By you and
your fanatical party, all the evils in the
world charged to rum.
| think | can show you so you can un.
derstand 1t. One year ago last fall
when Samuel Legget was elected as
sembly nan, he spent more than three
hundred dollars. jerks peddled out
more than two barrels Of whisky, that
were bought with his money, for votes,
Five or six years ago, when James Hal.
sted was up for Congress, he spent over
a thousand dollars for liquor, which the
landlords in the Congressional district,
peddled out for votes. twas a common
report, you remember, that all. or nearly
all, the drunkards voted for him. And
you. presume, have not forgotten that,
when Mr.. Henderson was up for magis-
trate, Doty had barrel Of liquor con-
cealed in his old horse barn, and charg-
ed Ned Darby to give II out freely to all
who would vote for him, and to be sure
aud tell them that he was in favor OF
granting licenses. Now, Morrison, |
for one am opposed to this kind CT
business; and it seems to me that you
and every other respectable man should
be.
Mr.. Scribncr left Morrison feeling
that party ties are closely drawn, and
that, unless men can be induced to act
from principle in their political rela-
tions, the temperance reform could new
er be carried to its triumph. As he
passed through the town securing names
to his petition, he celled on Mr.. Samuel
Colburn, a gentleman of standing aud
wealth. Mr.. Colburn, at an early age,
formed an appetite for intoxicating
drinks, aud became quite incorporate.
He had possessed good na'uIal talents,
energy OF character. and q passable bu-
siness turn. Soon after his marriage
he became very Incorporate, and spent
much Of his time and money with dissi-
pated companions. Through the instru-
mentality Of Scribner's father and Jere-
miah Donaldson he was induced to sign
the pledge, which saved him from bank
ruptcy, disgrace, and premature grave.
He owed bis all, under the providence
OF God, to the TEN perance reform, and
and ought 10 have given his influence
and money to carry forw ard the canse.
When Scribner went in he found Mrs.
Colburn sitting in any easv chair, with
her poodle Ia her lap, reading the anti
quated novel of "Paul and Virginia. -
Mr.. Colburn sat near his wife, for whose
edifcation she was reading aloud.
We are deeply interested in this book,
said Mrs. Colburn TO Scribner; ! don't
think have shed so many tears In three
years as have since commenced il.
II is very touching, Is II asked Scrib-
NET.
Indeed 1t is. II fills my eyes to think
OF their suiferings. Poor paul saw many
hard times.
Ihave been informed so never read
IL.
You haven'ti Why, you should, to
learn something Of the difficulties and
asperiiies OF life. especially among the
afflicted.
| can learn that without reading nov
els. | was In at Whlpple's the other
day, and | thought | saw something Of
the roughness of life there. Whipple
was lying on the floor drunk two Of
his children were sick with the scarlet
fever and two others were crying for
bread, not mouthful OF which had they
in the house. And Mrs. Whipple said
they had nothing In the house which
they could eat. The poor woman reel.
ed, as she walked from one sick child TO
the other. from hunger and weakness.
Indeed | was not aware that there
were any so poor as that in our town,
said Mrs. Colbtrn, with an indifferent
air and tone OF voice, rocking in her easy
chair.
There are eight or ten just such fami-
lies in town and they are In a suffer-
ing conditinn, and sed help.
Their Incorporate habits, suppose,
said Mr.. Coburn, is what has reduced
them 10 such extreme want
Yes, rum has ruined them. And as
long as the sale OF II Is legalzed, there
is no hope for them. am to-day solic-
iting names to apetition for the Maine
law. Yon will give me your name, ]
suppose, Mr.. Colburn J
Well, really, Mr.. Scribner, hardly
know what to say. am a temperance
m, n, you know. am not quite clear
in mind as to tie constitutionality Of
the law. | had a little rather not now,
until get little more light on the
subject.
II you will take pains to visit some Of
the wretched families In this tows, made
H.. ..s.l ltsrh