The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-01-24
PALLADIUM CORRESPONDENTS.
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ne people drc eager, duu cNcu ouAlOuS
o hear the cause of temperance dis
,ussed. The fact is, they have wit
,essed the blighting, withering curse
IF intemperance upon persons, fami-
les, and society, until they are tired
md disguised with the whisky traffic. |
In this town, they tell me, that some
Of the most determined opponents to
the granting Of permits at the last ses-
sion Of the Commissioners Court,
were Incorporate men. They took
tho position chat they never could re-
form as long as those whisky dens
were in their midst. They sec their
sad condition, and therefore, in order
to assist them in their endeavors to
reform, they worked most heroically
to defeat the granting of permits. If
some of our good, moral, and religious
people would only back up these en-
deavors with earnestness, soon would
the open traffic Of liquor be banished
from our commonwealth.
At Mooresville, in Morgan county,
we held a two days temperance con-
vention. People assembled there
from a radius Of seven miles round.
The largest hall in town was crowded
at every session. Resolutions Of an
earnest, radical character were passed,
declaring that as the rum traffic is the
greatest curse to our country, and as
it is of vital importance that men in
favor of temperance should be elected
to Office, they would not support any
candidate for Office by their ballots
who is not in favor of stringent tenn
perance legislation. These resolu-
tions were passed by rising vote, al
most unanimously.
At Martinsville, the county seat of
Morgan, where two years ago l went
to hold a temperance meeting, but ut
terly failed, from the fact that l could
not get single person in that town to
assist me in getting up meeting. At
that place, / found on my arrival, the
town hall filed to overAowing, wait
ing anxiously for the speaker. l had
for chairman, G. w. Grubbs, one of
the most influential and best citizens
Of Morgan county, and on the plat
form sat some of the leading men of
the county. Ministers, doctors, law
yers, were in full attendance, thus
demonstrating that this question is
taking hold of the people as it never
did before. Radical resolutions were
passed here also, with tremendous
eclat. No longer can politicians ignore
this question; no longer can either
political party give it the cold shoul-
der with impunity. The spirit of the
people is at fever heat on this ques-
ton, and whichever political party
fails to take hold Of it, that party will
be defeated in the State.
This is as it should te. The whis.
Ky party has not only resolved te
break down our temperance law, but
also to tear down our SUNDAY LAWS
and all laws which interfere with theil
so-called personal liberty. Therefore
if they succeed in the coming election
we shall not only have free whisky
and free Sundays, but free lotter,
establishments; free gambling houses
free dens of prostitution; immortality
debauchery, RIGHTEOUSNESS and ranl
atheism, will reign untrammeIlet
throughout our State. Is this wha
our fair State must come to? Surel!
notl But it will come to this, if til,
moral, the virtuous, and the good d.
not rally in one grand phalanx to tn
cause of temperance and morality
We have the power to crush the mon
ster if we will use that power discreet
ly!
Last night I spoke in the Colleg
Hall Of this University, to more thai
three hundred students-all the Pro
fessors-and about four hundred peo
pie who live in the city were. there
For two hours that vast and learne,
audience listened with the most mark
ed attention. What grand opportu
nifty this was to indoctrinate the youn
minds in the cause of temperance
have to speak in the same place to
night again. Deeply do I feel the re
sponsibility of assuming such posi-
ton, but 1 pray that the ''Good Sher
herd" will strengthen and sustain m
in this labor, and that He will sanct
fy all to the happiness Of mankind
and to his glory!
After the lecture last night, l Wis
ted, under the very kind invitation {
the President, DIR. Mutt, the lare
museum. There [ met Professe
Owen. He kindly showed me the v;
rious specimens in Natural Histor.
&c., which had just returned from th
Vienna exposition. To me, this wa
most interesting occasion. foun
all the Professors very cordial, court,
GUS and attentive. What a mob
work are these men doing for til
youth of our State /! Oh, what glt
rious achievement would it be if "
could only shut up every grog saloo
throughout our State; and instead {
spending the money in whisky an
lager beer, we could spend it in SUI
porting such institutions as this. Ho