The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-07


state of unrest which indicate that the excite
ment pervading every Southern State, and
which eliminated few weeks ago by carry
ing the city of Atlanta for prohibition, is
likely to be transferred to Indiana soil. A
large and enthusiastic meeting was held on
the 10th ult., at Charlestown, Clark county,
which was addressed by Judge J. H. Stotsen-
burg and Rev. DR.. Austin, of New Albany,
and Rev. s. A. Bright, of Charlestown, the
immediate purpose of which was to organize a
Voters League" to be formed in every town
and precinct in the State. The object of the
league can be best given in its first article:
"The object of this league is to ascertain:
First, the number Of voters in the State of
Indiana who are in favor of advanced practical
legislation to restrict public tippling and sup
press intemperance; second, to unite them as
brothers on the common platform of practical
advanced temperance legislation, so far, at
least, as to secure, if possible, majority Of
sincere and honest temperance Legislators in
the next and succeeding General Assemblies
who will advocate and vote for practical, adj
vanced temperance legislation; and, thirdly,
after victory at the polls, to aid in securing
the passage of law which shall diminish the
number of drunkards and drinking saloons in
Indiana, each member agreeing to waive his
individual preference as to the details of such
legislation"
The address Of Judge Stotsenburg is pub
lished in full in the Clark County Record of
the Goth. It's animus may be inferred from
the opening paragraph:
"Fellow- citizens-One Of the most conserva-
tive religious organizations of our country,
recently assembled in convention, unanimously
adopted the following resolution:
Resolved That the present aspects Of the temper
ance cause demand the gravest consideration of all
Christian men,.
HThat resolve does not 60 far enough, in my
opinion. | would amplify and intensity the
declaration by adding the words, and of all
voters, whether Democrats, Republicans, Ma
tionalists, Prohibitionists or anti Prohibition
lists, and of all inhabitants, male or female,
white or colored, whether they believe in
Christianity or not for assert that there
never was time especially in Indiana, when
sensible men and women, of all parties, creeds
and systems of belief or unbelief, yearned so
much for practical and efficient action in sup
pressing intemperance as they do now; and
there never was time when, with all the tai
ent, the intelligence, the eloquence, the popu-
lar sympathy, the moral and religious senti-
ment on the side of repression, so little, so
very little, is being done to diminish the num-
Der of drunkards and places of public tip
ping"
There is significance in this movement
which does not appear upon the surface in the
fact that the prime movers have never figured
conspicuously liz the temperance work. Judge
Stotsenburg, though long recognized as a con-
sistent temperance man, has not been prom
inent heretofore in any temperance movement
He is Democrat in politics, and has figured
largely in the local politics of southern Indi-
ana. Rev. DR.. Austin is a much honored
Episcopal clergyman, and Rev. Mr. Bright is
a Methodist pastor, formerly Of this city.
The movement seems to be entirely outside
the ranks Of the known leaders of the tenn
perance work.