The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-08-26

under that of its opponents. But we
should also wish to show that the word
and deed of the hour invited the surest
faith that change must necessarily be
loss. The Republican convention of
New York is called for the Z3d of
September. Let it remember the
brethren who begin to think that a
little change would be useful, and act
accordingly.
STATE POLITICS.
Temperance Legislation i'm Indiana.
CRAwFoRDsvILL Aug. Is.
To the Editor of the journal:
A glance at the Temperance legisla-
ton Of this State during the last forty
years will show that the Democratic
party, instead of keeping step with ad-
vancing civilization and morality. has
been all the while going in an opposite
direction. In the year 1892 the first
general law on the subject was passed,
This was in many respects more string
ent than the present law, against which
the Democratic party has unbottled
its wrath. The law of 1892 contained
this proyiso: That no license shall
begranted to any person residing with
in any town or township where 4 ma
jority of the freeholders in such town
or township shall demonstrate against
the granting of the same" See Re
yised Statutes of 1888, p 5S2, sec. 5.
This law remained on the statute
books without alteration, and was
rigidly enforced, for twenty years
aud many of the older citizens of the
State will remember its beneficent
effects. The writer of this, in 1851,
nineteen years after the passage of this
law, travelled through almost the en-
tire State on horseback, stopping at
the way-side inns and villages, and he
well remembers in what glowing terms
be relaied 10 his friends on his return
to his then home, in Kentucky, the
fact that he had found State where
public drinking houses and drunken
ness were never known. The differ
ence between the state of society here
at that time, and in Kentucky, was SO
marked that no on. could have helped
being deeply impressed by the fact.
AT that time man staggering IN the
streets was very unusual sight.
Everywhere 1 was informed that
drunkenness was almost unknown.
The law of 1892, about which [
have been speaking, it will be observ-
ed, did not permit a majority of voters
to decide whether license should be
granted or not-it was the freeholders
only who were to decide it, The Bax-
ter law is much more liberal toward
the liquor seller.
We come down now to 1853. when a
new liquor law was passed. The old
law OF 1892 had been repealed by the
revision of 1852. In the winter Of
1853 the State was strongly Democra-
tic. Joseph A. Wright had just been
elected Governor by almost twenty
thousand majority. The Legislature
of 1853 was more than thirds
Democratic in both branches And
now what will our Democratic friends
say when the fact is unfolded to them
that this Legislature passed, and Gov.
Wright approved, law in all its es-
sential provisions, just like the Bax-
ter law? The first seeton provided
that no license should granted ex-
cept upon the consent of majority of
voters in the township, and the appli-
cant was to give bond as under the
Baxter law. The tenth section pro-
vided that any wife, child, parent or
guardian might sue for injuries to per-
son, property, or means of support,
the section being an almost exact copy
of the present law on that subject.
This law was passed before the influ-
ence of such pure men as Coy. Whit
comb ceased to govern in the councils
! of the Democratic party. The local
option feature of this law was stricken
down by the Supreme Court, in the
celebrated case OF Maize VS.. The
State of Indiana, the court holding
this provision unconstitutional. But
it is to be remarked that the present
Supp eme Court has virtually overrul-
ed that decision, and now holds that
llocal option is not unconstitutional
SO we thus have the authority Of an
intensely Democratic Legis lature and
| Democratic Supreme Court in favor
of the leading features of the Baxter
law.
But all who support these measures
now are denounced as fanatics How
is it that what was good Democracy in
1853 is now ianaticism? Is it because
the Democratic party of 1853 had. no
'sGernan editors. no secret Society
of Freedom and Right" to dictate
platforms and policies Tor it? Or, is
it owing to the fact that no over grown
whisky and beer interest then fur
nished money to carry on political
campaign?
knew fellow once, Bill Smith; he
was the worst old beat you ever saw
He'd chase a mosquito eight miles
with pair of lemon squeezers if he
thought he could get one cent for the
oil. He got married on tick, and has
slept on tick ever since. He was SC
mean that once when he had cent
in his pocket, to keep his wife from
getting it, he made his Oldest son
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