The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-01-27
BAXTER.
THE BILL AND ITS AUTHOR.

BAXTER.
THE BILL AND ITS AUTHOR.
HIS TEMPERANCE LECTURE AT BLooNINoToN
HOW HE LAYS DOWN THE LAw-How
THE BAXTER BILL WAS MADE-THE RES
oLUTIoNs Alphabetically BY THE HON.
, JUDGE Observation-Disclosures SCENES.
From Occasional Correspondepror sentreI.
BLooMINeToN, IND, Jan. 10-Last Friday
night the Hon. VIM. Baxter, author of The
temperance law, gave lecture in the college
chapel on the evils Of Intemperance." The
people being anxious to hear this man, Who
has become noted on account of IndiaIa's
famous liquor law, came out in great num-
bers. The meeting was opened with music
by Professor Stin, who sang. Then prayer
bS the Rev. Mr. M'Nery, of this place. The
speaker, after being introduced by the prssi-
dent of the university, DIR. Mutt, proceed
to unburden his brain OF few thoughts. He
made no preliminary remarks. Though
the gentleman's grammar and pro-
nunication are somewhat detective yet, the
vim with which he enters into his discus
sion won the entire attention of the aldi-
tory. He is quite forcible in his arguments.
and adduced some astounding facts, and Just
such ones as interests his hearers and erlist
their aid in the fight against intemoer-
ance. When a nays anything that dir
ectly or indirectly interests the money
pocket, then he gains the owner Thereof to
his cause. This seemed to be the chief aim
of Mr.. Baxter. He states how many per-
sons become paupers by incompetence, how
many insane, how many go the peDten-
tiary, how many suffer the penalty Of
death on the scaffold and otherwise,
all on account of the use OF alcoholic liqtors.
Examining" he says, "we find that the
American people spend annually seven iun-
dred millions of dollars for Intoxicating
liquors. OF this large amount perhaps you
can have no adequate conception, but If
tell you that of all the money used for Char-
liable purposes in the United Safes
amounts to about thirty-five million ddlars
you might know. But will tell you sSme-
thing else that will tend to show how @or-
nous the traffic in liquors.. Ofall the money
spent for food in this country, of all spent
for clothing, of all spent for boots and shoes,
and of all spent for hats, caps, etc., would
tall short by one hundred millions Of that
IMMENSE AMOUNT OF MONEY.
We may examine the statistics in oar own
state and we will find that this cursed in
temperance costs the state about seventy
five per cent Of her taxes. You talk about
high taxes, but if you desire your legisla-
ture to decrease your taxes you must strike
down the great monster that is con tinually
swallowing up your hard earnings. But
| they say we have no right to complain.
sell to the man that has not the
moral courage to resist the temptation.
He becomes frenzied with drink, destroys
our property, and murders our people.
Have we not a right, when through them in
directly the damage is caused? And who
pays the damages or expenses of prOsecu-
ton OF the case? We, the tax payers-who
else? If we have to help pay the fiddler.
certainly we have right to say what kind
of tune he shall play. Men talk about
moderation. What is moderation2 Some
say it is wine glass full occasionally, some
say it is just enough to make man feel good.
| The man in the gutter dead drunk has
just got enough to make him feel good.
Thus moderation is anything from wine
glass full to a hogs head full" This but q
brief extract of what he said, as he spoke
about an hour and three quarters. After
some music by the choir, the meeting adj
| journed until the next night. Saturday
night the house was crowded. The praise
spoken of the other lecture brough out many
more. The choir sang national temper
ance anthem then prayer by Prof. Owens,
which was followed by the song, "Renoupce
the Cup" sungs by Prof. Stin, Mr. Baxter
was introduced by Prof. Hoss. His lecture
that evening was upon the "Causes of In
| temperance" and
| THE TEMPERANCE LAW
These causes he makes out to be three: [.
The belief that they are necessary. 2. Be
cause it is fashiona BILE to drink. 8. The traf-
fic in the liquor: First. His principal srgu-
ment was quoting upon the authority o.
Liebig, the German chemist, that "a man
would have 20 drink four barrels Of beer to
| get as much nourishmenta as there would be in
as much flour as you could hold on the point
OF a knife" That Philadelphia doctor of a
half century practice said that "alcohol when
taken into the stomach, If not Immediately
absorbed, would completely debar Digestion
Second. He says that young men are like
surgeons. They have not the backbone to
stand up and say "no," but with a grestle
instead OF a bone try to wriggle out or away.
Let this suffice forthe causes. Concerning the
law, the following are the most interest
| ing points: When / went to the legislature
went with the determination OF getting a
| temperance law, If possible. Ihadto get one
that would stand. Some ask, "why did you
not try prohibition?" No, mol that would
not do. One was passed in 1856, and Judge
l Perkin knocke ed 1t highter than Kite. L had
to cut the coat according to the cloth. Men
say have license. Glad there isno license,
and thank God the legislature has wiped
this license from your statute books.
Licence Is the price of blood, allowing crime
to increase the school fund.- Some object to
the clause saying when these grog-shops
should be opened and when closed. / will
tell how that clause came there. One even
ing when at a temperance nesting in In
dianapolis, resolution was passed praying
the common council TO pass sn ordinance
closing saloon at ten o'clock. There got
the idea asked Doctor -, who was
with me, how long man ought to rest.
six hours for sloep, one and oDe-half for
meals, and one and one-half for recreation
4 Then nine from ten leaves fifteen, which the
laws allows the poor grOg man to stand be-
hind tho counter. We now come to the
ninth clause, which has been decided uncon
stitutional. But we have moved for rehear
ing and see ii they will not decide otherwise
Aext time.
GOVERNOR HENDRICKS.
When he first read the bill stopped ant
asked, when he came to the ninth clause
lis Lot that little too hard?' of mar
whom he called ont of the house. "0h! no,
said the mao, and explained the matter 4
The satisfaction Of tie governor. Gentle