Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-03-03

their helpless victims, we have petition
ed the legislature year after year. but
all in vain. Instead Of receiving nm
answer to our petitions. we mar truly
say, in the language of the men Of '76
that ''our repeated petitions have been
answered only by repeated injury"
for instead Of cnacling laws more pro-
tectiyc in their nature, those that did
afford some protection have been re.
pealed. and general system Of irre-
sponsible liquor selling has been subsii-
tutcd in their place.
We speak Of resorling 20 law. This
Is no new notion. From time out Of
nnind law has been resorted 70 on this
subject. The only thing new In our
proposition is that we propose to pro-
hiblt tipping houses altogether. instead
kof merely attempting TO control them.
They can not be controlled. The ex-
periencs ofall past time demonstrates
this. But they can be prohibited
And why not prohibit them? Can any
good grow out OF them that can COM
lpensate for the evils they produce?--
Surely not. Can the fact that n few
! men--say one hundred in the County
make fortunes or even make liyings By
I producing drunkenness and crime, and
poverty, this compensate for the
loss community sustains in all the at
tcndant circumstances Of iippling
houses? Our present system is sys-
tenn Of wrong, IL in no other sense. in
this that its benefits are for the few, its
evils TO the many. II protects the
liquor seller. and disregards the wives
and children Of the victim, and inflicts
pecuniary losses on the sober and in
dustrious.
But how shall we obtain this law?
Had we been asked this question n few
years ago we would have said, petition
the legislature"
Il But IL is useless 10 say so now
There is point beyond which Ameri-
cans will not bow the knee ms suppl-
ants. Among the first lessons taught
our chlldrcnis that they are free and
that they must act MS frecmen. We
have considered this beet deliberately
and we intend now TO speak through
the ballot box.
And why not? Is there any other
question now before the people Of Indi-
ana OF equal Importance? Are we
asked on any other subject 10 vote for
men opposed TO our views, and then 10
petition them? Why should the usual
means of securing the enactment Of
good laws not be used in this case?--
You will see by reference 10 our resell
utions that we have resolved not 20
form new or third party, but TO select
from those presented TO us in the ordi-
nary way, such persons rs viii favor
our wishes. Nor need this necessarily
sever. even temporarily. our connection
|, with the political associates Of former
years. To these we are united by
T strong afiinities, but We can rot con-
! eciyc that temporary abandonment
Of party, il need be, can be fraught
with the evils we now suffer, particularly
ut period like the present when there
is no question at issue but the spells OF
. Office. We have therefore deliberately
i chosen to make this question paramount
/ to all others at the approaching cleo
ton. and we appeal 10 every lover Of
} humanity 10 join us. II may save your
children from drunkard's grave.
We need say but little in reference
TO the kind OF law we want. It's cs-
sential features are set forth in the
resolutions accompanying this address.
We do not give the details, simply be-
, causcit is the duty Of legislators TO
attend to the detail. In no law has
the detail ever been got up first by the
. people. They assert the principle and
, send men to the legislature to settle
details. We want a law that shall
have penalty, and we have the ex-
perience of other states to prone lhatno
law, which does not contain the princi-
Piles of SEIZURE coSFIscArIoN AND DEs-
TRucTIoN, has ever been efficient
Wherever these principles have OBJ
tanned the law has been useful.
And why not incorporate these
principles? We do not fine the counter
feiter and leave n his possession the i'm
pliments Of countcrfeiiing. These are
. SEIZED coSFIScATED AND DESTROYED
We do not fine the burglar and leave in
his possession the keys with which he
may enter another dwelling immedi-
ately. These are SIZED, coxFIscArED,
. AND DESTROYED. Our Legislators have
authorized city and town authorities
to SEIZE, coSFIscArE AND DESTROY or
sell for their own use, all butter that is
not done up in given quantities. We
only ask that the means Of doing mis-
chief shall be taken out of the hands
OF these mischeyious men, and not that
they may continue to violate the laws
Of the land with impunity.
In conclusion, we respectfully ask
: you to carefully consider this subject.
We would guard you against The mis-
representations Of the opposcrs Of our
views, and ask you rs intelligent citi-
zens, 10 vote withus or against us rs
your judgement dictates. after carefully
weighing the subject. Look at the
spoils Of the traffic. See the wreiched
homes and the poverty it causes, count
its costs ifyou can, and then vote as
you think best, bnt vote as freemcn,
not shackled by Office holders and Office
seekers, and driven to support party
for their sakes alone.
On motion each OF the foregoing
Resolutions was separately considered
and with tho address, unanimously
adopted.
The committee on officers, having
nominated candidates for a Central