The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-02-21
FROM FORT WAYNE.
:. ID No. 14th. 1874. /

ID Mo-, 14th. 1874.
EDIroR PALLADIUM Tho three
meetinss held At Huntington, were
very large. The people there are
deeply interested in Temperance, but
there appears to be lack of earnest,
energetic men, to take the lead and
direct the proper and thorough agita-
tion Of the cause. Without organiza-
tion, and incessant agitation, the work
cannot be successful. In this county,
as in others. ] found that the temper
ance law had lessened the number of,
grogshops and intemperance very
much. The Improvement was great
up 70 tha time that the Supreme Court
pronqlee3 the 9Th clause UB-consti-
tuti6pii: Si116s then, intsmperancss
has largely increased here, and in a
letter just received from correspond
ent at Wabash, he says: Matters
were going ON successfully here, until
the 9th section was pronounced un-
constitutional; but since then, the sa-
loon keepers seem to have taken new
courage. They have become bold,
and now we can see men reeling drunk
in the streets" Such is the effect of
that decision. l have just been read.
ing over again the written decision of
the majority and minority judges. l
have endeavored to do so without
bias; yet, after all, candor compels
me to say, that according to the best
of my judgment, the minority report
has the better both of the argument
and the authorities; but of course, as
three out Of the Eve hold the clause to
be unconstitutional, the presumption
is, as Judge Buskirk said at Bloom
ington, that the majority are right.
We cannot, however. conceal the sad
fact, that this decision is proving
most disastrous to the interest and
morals Of the people. All over the
State we see the destr ructive effects Of
that decision. Sincerely do we hope
then, that the next legislature will
pass bill that will reinstate that
clause; and here l will suggest. that
whoever should draw such a bill, let
him be sure to consult the best jurists
of the State, so as to be certain to have
it 80 framed, that it will stand the test
of the Supreme Court.
Huntington is a thriving town of
about 1000 inhabitants. Here is the
headquarters of Colonel Bryant's
Stave Works--the largest in the State.
On the 9th we held a meeting at
Roanoke, and on the 10th at Antioch,
both in Huntington county. The
meetings were large and very cnthusi-
astic committees, composed Of the
best men in the community were ap-
pointed at each place, to carry for
ward the work of organization and
agitation. The country towns are far
ahead of the county seats on this ques-
ton of temperance. If our State
should be redeemed from the cursed
influence of whisky, it will have to be
brought about very largely, by the
moral sentiment of the rural districts
and small towns.
On the 11th, 18th, and 18th, I lee.
tured at Fort Wayne to immense, and
very appreciative audiences. Here
was pleasantly disappointed. Before
l came, I had learned that For
Wayne was given over body and sou
to whisky and lager, and that there
was scarcely a person in town in favol
of temperance; l was therefore pre-
pared to meet slim and Indifferent au
diences. Judge my surprise when
entered the largest public Hall il
town, to find it thoroughly packet
J with people who listened with tn.
: deepest interest. During my sojourr
. here, I found that there are some very
earnest temperance people, Dnt TN
liquor raihc mas sucn an immens'
, ascendancy' as apparently 10 override
, the temperance sentiment of the city
, The few noble workers here deserve
9 efea. ueu u ~, synpa a.1 s.ppo,'
,ol .ney a,o os''ne aea'ns' g., -, '1I
: sinc0l0'y nol0 ,"a' '"1y w, .e :,
!, enIoulaecu y "o' W. "''A.ue :.
= 'asA .o"e''"o. may 90" nope.e. =
= u.n anu 'su' 'Aues u'.,.n',.'
3 pic'an "ons 'ne roDe "a"u
ruc 'emPc,.ncc men, .u .,..,. w.ols