The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-08
AT BATTLE-GROUND.

Temperance Day-A Number of Speeches, and
Some Startling Information.
Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal
BATTLE GROUND, Aug. THE camp meeting
continues with undated interest as an occasion
of social, intellectual and religious enjoyment
The preaching is good, and the side entertain
ments are frst-class. Tuesday afternoon was
chiefly devoted to the Womens Foreign Mission
airy work. In addition to the interest which the
women always throw aroundth these meetings. there
was the talk of Rev. WA Davidson a member Of
the Northwest Conference, who has spent seven
years as a missionary in Japan He throws
unusual interest around his narration of the
incidents of missionary life. He is a man of de-
cided ability and his brethren love to hear him
talk
Yesterday was Temperance day" The man
ayers had arranged to devote the whole day to
this one subject, and to invest it with unusual
interest by obtaining the services of rare talent
They began with DR.. Marine of Central avenue
Indianapolis; then DR.. Goblin, of DePauw Uni
versity; then Bishop Walden and Miss Willard
But only the first two materialized leaving the
day to be filed up by such home talent as thew
could pick up. DR. Marine was at home both as
to his theme and the occasion, and by the time
that he got warmed up enough to take his left
hand out of his breeehes' pocket and his other
hand from its resting place on his right hip be-
hind he was In media res, and carried his audi
ence with him in most eloquent defense Of
prohibition, which was fearful in its denuncia-
ton of the liquor traffic DR.. Gobin's address
was not whit inferior in point, and ability, and
enthusiasm, differing from DIR. Marine only in
his lucid presentation Of the best method of OBJ
tanning the desired legislation, which was en-
Enthusiastically applauded. He was followed by
Colonel Ritter, of Indianapolis, who made a
fearful arraignment of the liquor traffic as
constant rebel against civil government from
the whisky rebellion of 1894 down to date, with
Characteristic good taste avoiding discussion
of the differences at present existing among
Prohibitionists as to methods. He was followed
by an able speech by Rev. S. P. Colviu,
who took high ground for prohibition and
struck out from the shoulder, and without
gloves, at what he called the third party move
ment. The result was very lively discussions,
after ADJOURNMENT, in groups of two to dozen,
OF the political situation, showing entire unan-
unity IN favor of prohibition, with quite differ
once of opinion as to the best step next to be
taken, and no little solicitude as to the probable
course of the speaker who had been improvised
for the night hour, in the place of the absent
Bishop Walden. Would he pour oil upon the
waters or throw fat in the fret Those having
the charge of the meeting called on him to
suggest and he promised. Being an
old man, from Indianapolis, of known
conservative views, he was permitted
to proceed very much in his own way. But
what could any man but king do coming after
such kings as Marine, and Goblin, and Ritter and
Colvinl He could not add to the arguments in
favor of prohibition, for they had been piled
mountain high, and the occasion was not suit
able one to abuse the third party or the others,
50 he contented himself by exhorting the moth
ers to teach total abstinence to their children,
and surprising some of the young Methodists by
telling them that their church was once a whisky
selling church. and made special provision in
her Discipline for the conduct of Methodist sa-
looms, and that her chief official paper used to
defend wine-drinking by the example of
the Savior. He found an unoccupied field in de-
nouneing the craze for prohibition in the consti-
tuition, instead Of utilizing what is already there,
sufficient to close every saloon as effectually as
saloons are closed in Kansas, or Maine, so that
he Gained the storm by putting the whole of
them on the defensive, and all retired in a
good humor.
The meeting will continue till the middle Of
next week, closing with two lectures from Dr..
Alabaster. DR.. Marine will remain over next
Sunday U. L. SEE.