The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-03-14
FROM LEBANON, IND.
LEBANON. Boone, Co..
sf8- I'd Mo. 7th. 1874.


mense meetings at Frankfort, Clinton
county: one at Colfax, and one at this
place. All these meetings were very
enthusiastio. The people see clearer
than ever before, that this temperance
4 question is THE question of the day
Republican and Democrat alik G begin
to see that it will not do to ignore this
/ question any longer. The intelligent
voters in each party are determined
to make this THE ISSUE. at all the
! above meetings committees composed
of Republicans and Democrats, were
appointed, so that this grand move
ment is now irrespective Of party.
This is as it should be. for the curse
of the drink traffic falls heavily upon
all. The taxes imposed upon the peo-
pie in consequence of this ruinous
business, are surely enough to arouse
every intelligent taxpayer to action
\ In Marion county, in 1873, there
were l3,769 polls. and 259 saloons.
The cost per poll for criNinal pur-
/ poses was $3.50, and for paupers &'. 26,
making together 1916, while in Grant
county, where there are over 1866
polls. but no licensed saloons, the
criminal expenses were IL cents per
| poll, and poor expenses 81 cents; max
|. ing 81 90, not, one-ffth Of Marion
county with her 259 saloons
= d =
In Vanderburg county, there we're
in 1873, 4,SS polls and III licensed
saloons; criminal expenses $3,47 per
poll, and poor expenses 4,14, making
together $7,61, while in Hendricks
county, with 3,226 polls and no licensed
saloons; criminal expenses were 30
cents, and poor expenses 81 81, max
ing together 80, scarcely one ne-fourth
of Vanderburg with her III saloons!
From these figures and comparisons
| it will be readily seen. that the great
cause of our heavy taxes is the pres
ence of grog saloons. To remove
these then should be the primary
object Of every person who wants to
lessen the heavy burden of taxation.
We hear much about the Grangers,
and in SO far as their object is to lessen
taxation--to remove corruption from
politics-to educate and elevate the
masses-to cultivate more social in
tercourse among the people, am
with them heart and mind but right
here allow me most respectfully and
kindly to suggest to the Changers,
that if they are really desirous of les
sening taxation, let them take hold of
and support this temperance move
ment with all their strength; because,
in doing so, they will work most effect
ually toward reducing our taxes. I
sincerely hope, therefore, that they
will give this subject their best con-
] sideration. We should all be inter-
| ested in the common good, hence, we
should ever be ready to join hands
with any movement carried on for the
benefit and advancement of mankind.
T. at all points where l have lately
been, there seems to be a full deter
mination to inaugurate a woman 8
crusade against the saloons. No won-
der Of this when every mother must
see that the grog shop is proving the
! great curse Of many of our young
men. It is the agency which, above
| all others, threatens to ruin her child.
Self preservation is the first law Of
nature. 1t has often seemed strange
to me, that women have borne the
blighting influence of this curse upon
her child SO long and so quietly. The
time has surely now come, if it ever
should come. when 'forbearanee
ceases to be virtue" and who can
stop to censure our noble women for
the Holy Indignation which now pos
sesses their souls? This crusade may,
and no doubt will, run into some ex-
travagances; but even they lean to
virtues side.
|. When all contemplate the terrible
suHerings women have borne for years.
| let US throw the mantle of charity
over some Of their actions, and bid
them hearty and cordial God speed
in their arduous labors of love, for
| the removal of the greatest curse that
ever afflicted mankind The very
fact that mothers By the thousands
daily leave their comfortable firesides,
and. thoughtless of ridiculc and con-
tempt, plunge into the vilest saloons
in our land, there to reason, and per-
suade, and implore these agents of
evil to give up their unholy calling. is
one of the most sublime acts of moral
heroisnl that this century has pro-
dueed. May God speed them in their
labors until every grog shop be ban
ishcd from the land. But shutting up
the grog shop is the least considera-
ton involved in this woman S crusade.
1t Is the moulding and framing OF
public sentiment to higher standard
of legislation, touching the traffic in
drink. that affords far more impor-
tant theme for consideration. l be-
heve that this movement will ulti-
mately produce a moral sentiment in
the minds OF the people, SO adverse to
the drink traffic, that our Legislature
viii be constrained to erect laws put
ting complete ban upon the traffic in
alcoholics as a beverage. Just as the