Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-03-31
WhiSltcy Hadn't Killed Him.

Whisltey Hadn't Killed Him.
10 the Mionesota House of Representatives
DR.. Riley recently opposed bill which threat
cned the dram shops The report says that his
speech SO covered the bill with ridicule as to
endandgtr its passage, but the danger was
avered by other speakers DR.. Riley, who it
seems is O small man. began by saying that the
bill would kill 40 honorable and legitimate TO-.
dusiry-erapo raising. He then cited the
mirscla Of Cana, and proceeded:
Nov let Us consider Whiskoy and alcohol
| that good old American drink. Laughter. |
was born in Southern Illinois several years ago.
| My father before me was distller, aud almost
| the first thing that my eyes rested on after |
was born was STILL My father never sat down
to diuner without bottle of Whiskey on the
table, and We all drank it. Ever since can
remember have been in the habit of taking n
driuk of wbiskey, vine or beer every day. IfI
have skipped day have forgotten it. Laugh.
er. They say that whiskey kills men and
bloats them. 1t hasn't killed me, aud | ask
any member of the House to say if he thinks
it has bloated me. Laughter. l don't look
blosted. Renewed merriment. am q physician
and L have no hesiaDcy 10 saying that wbiskey
is the most vitalizIng of stimulauts. When q
r,aa .cceives an Injury the first thing phys-
clan docs is to give him little whisksy tor the
purpose of putting his blood in circulation.
Perhaps it msy be necessary to pass law to
protest those miserable drunksrds who cannot
protect themselves. but it is cot necessary TO
restrain others OF their liberty 10 take drink
when they want or need it. Temperance may
n bNti h. Il
too fer. This bill reminds me of the man who
Was 10 the habit Of getting druuk overy night.
When he had got comfortably full he would try
to mount bis horse, eyelaiming as he did 80,
'God help me! u But one night he was not
IS drunk IS usual and misoalcuated his distance,
falling on the opposite side of the horse, when
ho added to his prayer, But not quite so
much lGrcat laughter These God and
humanity people had botter take care. They
will be helriog US too much.
why, | have seen ladies at tea party,
perhaps not drunk, but certainly very iolly.
from drinking tea. And yet they come to this
Legislature with petitions signed by al whom
they could lafuercs or bulldoze into signing
them-mep. women, and children to the
number of 10. 900. | haven't counted them,
aud don't know how correcs the figures are
bat supposiDg there are that plumber, what docs
IL amount to? There arc 100000 people in
Minnesota, aud we are proposing to l.t these
10000 override the 100000. How long do you
suppose this large M iorty will permit this to
so Oh? How long will they stand dictalion
from tho minority? Not very long, can tell
YOU.
Tho Pfohibi'ionis;s claim that driokips
tends to lmpovlsh the people. For God Is sake,
10 yCu believe that? Look at tho Germaus.
Il tnk oG 1ooJ
soacsly support a hog and make q fortuue off
it, Laughter They all drink beer. Thoy
take their wives and their children to tho beer
garden, aud Sit down nud drink thoir beer cyery
day. atd even Tho baby in arms will stretch out
to get taste OF u. These people ara 40 heallhy
10 my ueigkbolhood thst have actually not
been salc to make liviog out Of my German
corstliu ,Et0, aud have been obliged to Iun for
the legislature 10 order to get money enough 10
buy Tread. IGrdat laughter
"Ihey say, too, it tends to tho deeeuerscy Of
the human race. How does it happcn that in
New Eog'anh, where rrohibitory laws are
in foror, tho race las 80 degererated
that they don't ssem to bo able to
raise any children? There the families don't
a7ersgao ono child arieco. Laughter Look
at the lIl.h, who drink Whskey all tho lime.
You Il-6ud seven children in overy Irishmau's
shanty in tho country. Laughter. That's the
| effect CT drinking WHISKY. Lock at the Ger
mans. who drink beer all the while. You'll
lad large family of children in every Germans
house. Arc they degenerate? The children
| of'to'al absiinsrco people are CONSTANTLY dying.
From the vital statistics of Minnesota [ saru
| that 2 900 children died last year under two
years of age. They wtud not have died If
| they had been led op good wholesome beer. |
would advise motheis-anl have advised them
| 10 my practioe-to give their sckly children
| plenty Of beer and whisky psp-Igreat laugh
| terl-and know have saved many an Infants
| life. Boer is the best cure 10 tho woli for
oyspe psia. l have cured women of the terrible
disease by advising them to drink three elas 8 8
Of beer evtr5 day, and ssy to you mothers
who are here that if you will dri1k beer and
whisky. aud feed your children on whisky pap,
you will raise more children and healthier chi j.
dreu. IGreat laughter
| "ReerrDg to the vital statistic, of the State,
| [ 6nd but six men died Of intempera1c, durit
the frs. yeay-tWo Of delirum treueps aud
four OF s1uctbi0g else, which they couldn't
tel a0gtblrg about, so cied it intenperauce.
Eleven we're killed by horses during the same
time. Why don't ytu abolish HORSEPOWER
use them OF 20 near them. Thirty.fve commit
ted suicide. Why don't you prohibit the use of
rivers for fear some poor fool will drown him
self? Sc ma 1872 died of heart disease. don't
want any heart IN miae Twenty ladies were
acslded to death. You ought to prohibit the use
cf hot water fer fear thst more ladies will got
into it and bslish. Eaushter.l
"England, away across the sea, has breved
beer fer = COD years and will continue to brew it
for 2 COZ more; and to the fact that the Enpli, h
peopie haze drank baer all that time T attribute
their present ssestness-the fact that the sur
never sets on her dominions. Bear drinkers are
slow bu. sure. Lock st Germsny-that great
nation. We couldn't pay her for the money we
have borrowed of her. Her great army, the
finest in the world. was raised on beer In
America, while We drink all kinds of liquor, we
are the greatest nation in the world. II injury
ia done The pine il not m hloma hut tha ,on,