Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-02-24

seen inOIc tldH tNtHt1 VI our no>l
promising young men--some Of their
grey-haired fathers are here tonight
thrust down into drunkards' graves,
Why, my friends, "-hc spoke now
with sudden indignantenergy-'one
Of those young men, with his intellect
undimmed, would have been worth a
thousand Of the miserable wretchcs
who destroyed them, and for whose
maintenance you so generously provi-
ded the trade Of dram selling. How
my heart swells and throbs, and almost
sufocated me with indignation at the
thoughts. But all how impotentlyl"
Mournful. very low and mournful
were these last words.
"Well my frieRds." he resumed,
after pause. "to protect and support
the idle, vicious dram seller, you sac
riice the rising hope of your village.
Unto this bloody Moloch you brought
your sons. For twenty years / have
sat on the bench, and | will say now,
before God and man, that in nine ca
ses out Of ten, every crime and outrage
which has taken place during that pc
riod, in this county, was traceable, di-
rectly or indirectly, TO the use Of in
toxicating drinks. And the history Of
crime all over ourland gives but par
allel testimony. And yet the rum
selleris protected in the accursed traf-
iic-regularly licensed to destroy the
bodies and souls OF fyourneighbors and
children, and FIVE, all whose hopes in
life are blasted by this evil, lift up our
voices against it, and ask for its sup
preston by the firm hand of the law
we are branded with coarse epithets,
and called visionary and fanatical dis
turbers Of settled order, &c.
"Show me any good that has been
done in P by DRAM .lrinking.
Show me man made more virtuous
and thrifty-a better husband, father,
and citizen. Bring him here tonight
and let us look upon him. Where is
he? Alasl he is not to be found
You cannot show the good, but the
evil. God help usl 1t lis everywhere.
my friends you all know thatI and
mine have been cursed by this curse:
but how deeply, few have imagined.-
Let me lift the curtain for you tonight
lift it for moment, and then let it
fall forever. Three sons grew up to
manhood. True hearted, clear minded
they were, and full Of promise for the
future. One studied law, one medi-
cine, and the other chose the life ofa
farmer ] used no intoxicating drink
IN my house, and yet these three good
ly sons sleep in drunkards' graves
Beyond my own house | could not
protect them. Temptation was on
every hand; temptation sanctioned by
law, and made respectable through
the blind favor Of men whose position
gave influence to their precept and cx-
ample. Like other young men, they
had their weaknesses; like other young
men, they thought lightly of warning;
like other young men, they moved
pleasantly along in the smooth current
of the world, all unheeding the danger
by which they were surrounded, until
resistance to the downward course was
hopeless.
"Three years ago, the eldest was
thrust from one of your tayerns at
late hour of the night, and falling on
the pavement, received a wound on
the head, which produced insanity
He is since dead. The second, after
six months abstinence, was enticed
into the same den of evil, by some
wicked men who knew his weakness.
He fell, never to rise again. Unhappy
young man! How had he struggled
with his appetitel OH how bitterly l
have seen him weep-how earnestly |
have heard him pray. in the lonely
night-watch, for strength: yet lie died
while the mad fever of intoxication
was in his brain.
"The third, my youngest son--his
mothers idol-he, too, went the same
way. Of all my sons, he alone mar
ried. The purest, fondest, sweetestof
women was the dear child he brought
away from her warm nest at home, to
grace and brighten our household
We had no daughter Of our own: and
so, all the lovein our hearts daughter
could have called forth, was lavished
upon this beautiful dove. Inced not
describe her TO you; you have seen
her, and many oil you loved her. But
she is at rest"
The old mans voice choked. For a
little while he stood silent, .nablc from
irrepressiblc emotion, to proceed AT
last he said, in u low, husky Whisper
"She is at rest now. Let me, ms
calmly rs am able, tell you how she
passed away. IL was not peacefully
aud sweetly, as an infant sinks to
sleep in It's mothers arms. All, no.
mol Her death was violent"
What thrill passed through the
assembly White lacos bent forward
eagerly, and brcaths were held in up.
pallIng expectation.
she was murdered by her husbondl
The old man sunk into chair whilt
a groan arose from the assembly.
mo good end is to be gained by
conecalment," resumed Judge VII
liams, us he rose and in irmer vote,
went on--"if the revelation spurs yoI
10 action, all desire is accomplished
My sou came homo one night. less thar
a year ago, intoxicated, aller0 longe
period OF sobriely than usual. lie ha,
never treated his wife with persona
unkindness. Ii she demonstrate,
with him, he showed no irritation: nm,
often, though her influence, woul,
make temporary efforts ut reformation
lie had passed to her room only
short time, when heard u momenlar,
! shuiliihg Of feet. and smolherod OK