The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-06-14

has lent its powerful AMI judicious aid. Lee
turers with feryii eloquence and unanswera
bic facts, have been listened % in every school
house, impressirr truth upon the rural dis
tricts Human suffering, has vet more eio-
quently plead our cause: and graves opening
in our pathway on the right hand and on the
l-ft to receive prematureiy the victims OF in
Temperance, who have lived out but half their
DAYS, have spoken win awful power.
through all this mighty host, be assured.
the masses have been stirred and the public
judgment maured Our law makers have
noted the progress Of public opinion. The
wall Of the widow has az length been heard
and Needed within the stately columns which
stand around our Legislative Halls. From
Maine TO Iowa. North Of Mason and DIxon's
line. there are but two or three States without
a restrictive law. In some States, as in New
York aud Wisconsin, the Governors veto has
defeated the popular nill until by the legili
mate workings of our poli.ica! system. this
impediren. could be removed. Thus far the
principle of prohibition is strongest where
longest tried The ballot box has come to be
its strength Old political parties must ad
vance to the higher platform which public
sentiment has reached. or be overwhelmed.
There are those who seem TO deprecate po-
li,ical action on questions of this kind Don't
carry IL into politics. is the stereotyped warn
ing of those who have long made party poll
tics their trade. And why not? What is
politics in its highest sense? Webster defines
it to be .'that part of ethics ,chich consists IN
the regulation and government Of a ,aotton or
state, for The preservation Of It's safety, peace
end prosperity" Has the traffic in liquor no
bearing upon our safety, peace and pros
perity?
These obiectors will allow US 10 vote our
sentiments upon the question whether the du
ties on imported goods worn by our families,
shall be few cents more or less; bu. to carry
to the polls our earnest convictions on the IL
quor traffic, is proof of bigo.ry, and ominous
of dire caamities to the body polite, In
popular government the laws are presumed to
be bu. the authoritative embodiment of public
sentiment. and that sentiment IL will be admit
ted. is rightfully expressed at the polls. Shall
the temperance question be made an excep-
ton? May not the people in casting their
votes, give expression and force to their con
victions AS well the liquor on the tariff
question? Shall not the laws of the land re
fleet truly the public judgment upoa grea.
moral questions, as they do upon party issues?
Those who maintain the contrary, whatever
progressive tendencies they profess, are behind
the advancing spirit of the age. "Fogies."
they must be, of the most ancient and venera-
bic type.
The assumed unconsttu;ionality of prohi
bition, affords to many the last hope of free
trade in liquor To the decree of the highest
Court we must all conform. But in this coun-
try, on question like this, public sentiment
has great force. The Courts will no, be found
persistently against the moral progress Of the
age.
la conclusion, therefore, may add thas on
tho If Fort W1rua AT this r11,b
depends. Letus be diiigent. fearless and lib
eral in aid Of the constituted authorities.-
Strong are the motives to ac1ion. Long
enough has our city been disgracel by this
licensed iniquity. Heavily enough have We
been taxed to meet the expense Of Furnishing
the crimes il has Induced, AMI to support the
poor unfortunate victims which lis cupility
has made poor. Thousands for protection
against the tratfic--noi a cent for this unjust
taxation ]. L. WILLIAMS.
Fort Wayne, May 90, 1853.