Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-07-24
FRIDAY, JULY l3, 1855.

SPEECH OF JUDcE MEExER.-We think
no one who reads the speech Of this gentleman
in to-days paper, will find fault with the space
we devote to its publication. 1t viii be remern.
bered that we alluded to the subject-matter Of
which it treats, in an editorial letter from Sauk
Rapids, and we are more fully confirmed in our
belief that the views then advanced are Of q.
| character 10 enlist the sympathy OF every Min.
ncsotian. The views Of the Judge are broad
and comprehensive-dive Of sectional feel
ing and pointing only to TIE welfare Of the whole
Territory. We ask for it careful perusal.
THAT THEATRE.-Wc took occasion to re-
mark in our issue of Wednesday, that during
the existence of the Theatre in our midst, o.
gentleman lad informed US that there had been
more drunkenness and dissipation in our city,
than there had heen for double the same time at
any other period. To this the Pioneer takes
exception. Quite likely. Like begets like
But the Pioneer calls our remarks an "unjust
fling" at the company. Not so; we have said
nothing against the company, but have pointed
out the evils which invariably follow theatrical
exhibitions, the more prominent of which is
drunkenness. Show US Theatre that has rot
a bar connected with it, and we will show You
a whitc-black man. But Is 10 the fact was
there more drunkenness and dissipation while
the Theatre was with us than before e We
answer yes. Sleeping in the immediate neigh
borhood, we had ample opportunities for wit
Messing the increase Of dissipation among our
young men, some OF whom, for the first time,
became dizzy with the Poisonous beverage and
were conveyed to their rooms, attributing, in
their sober moments, this, their first deviation
from the path OF sobriety, TO the excitement Of
the Theatre and its surrounding Influences
This we know, (not from peeping into the low
groggeries, with which, unfortunately our neigh
Dor is more convcrsant than we,) but from ac-
tual observation in the street; and further we
knoav, if the gentlemen themselves are to be be-
licved, that during the rising Of the curtain lc-
tween the plays, plenty Of fast young men re-
tired and came back boisterous, produced by the
effects Of liquor. And we know fuither, that
more drunken men were seen in our streets
(some Of whom found lodgings on the pave,)
than have been seen before for months, we think
we can safely say, for years. Does our neigh
Dor doubt it If SO, let him inquire Of those
who reside in the immediate neighborhood, and
who have been annoyed by the midnight howl
ings Of many OF those who frequent theatres,
and other like places Of amusement. Let him
inquire Of the bar-keepers how much extra rot
gut they soll on the occasion If by stating
what we know to be true, is an insult to the au.
dience, then be it SO /; hut we must confess that
we have higher appreciation Of the common
sense Of those to whom our neighbor alludes,
than to supposed that they would become Of
Tended at US for making known that which is
SO notorious. We see no necessity for attack
ing the Drana-it is the evil which flows from
it that we arc dealing with. If the Drama
could be kept pure-if drunkenness and icen-
tousness did not follow in its wake, it would be
less Objectionable, hut these elements have be-
come so interviewer with it that to separate the
two would require an almost superhuman effort.
We propose to elevate the Drama-to elevate
the public taste-not to pander to vice and COW
er over with a thin veil those pitfalls into which
many an unsuspecting ard promising youth has
fallen and been lost forever. If we think the
Theatre is detrimental to the morals OF the
young, we shall say so-if it is The source OF
drinking and debauchery and lccntiousness, we
shall make that fact known, and thus perform
what we consider the first and paramount duty
of the journalist. Does the Pioneer writcrun-
ders;and!