The Osceola times., 1881-12-17
\ W arning Voice

few weeks since of the terrible pis-
tol duel which took place at Coving-
Tenn, in which Capt. J. L. Cooper
Marshal of the Town was killed by
Jas. A. Slaughter. On the occasion
of the funeral of Capt. Cooper, Rev.
J. b. Carne delivered the funeral
oration, and during the course of his
remarks uttered the following words
of warning:
"There is another point to which
/ call your attention, that is to the
cause of this sad death. 1t requires
but little thought OF reason to trace
this back to whisky drinking, not
that our deceased friend was guilty
of this, but that the drunkenness of
others furnished the occasion for his
murder Upon this subject ! will
use plain language. In saying what
/ shall have no wish to hurt the
feelings of anyone. Among the sa-
loon Keepers / have personal friends
men whom like in many respects.
But the time has come when as a
minister Of Jesus Christ and as law
loving citizen ! feel it my duty to
speak out regardless OF personal con-
siderations. We all see what the
liquor traffic is doing for us. Upon
Saturdays, on rainy days and public
days, our streets are filled and our
sidewalks obstructed by crowds of
drunken blackguards who use the
most profane and obscene language.
Braw1s and fights are frequent. In
short, on such days our town is turned
into perfect pandemonium. Dur
ing the past week, besides other mis-
chief, the drinking houses have been
the means of sending one of our cit
zcns into eternity in fit of mania
potn. Another one crazed with
drink is said to have threatened the
lives of his wife and children with
pistol in hand. Then our friend who
lies in that coffin was from the same
cause hurried into eternity through
no fault of his own, while still another
citizen has his hands stained with the
blood of this innocent victim. You
see that this traffic is taking the
bread and clothing from our helpless
and innocent children. 1t is making
demons of our men. 1t is making
widows of our wives and orphans of
our children. 1t is taking our chill
dren from under the paternal roof
and out of the family circle, and from
faithful and obedient sons it is trans
forming them into drunkards and
gamblers. In fact, it is simply turn
ing our town into perfect pande-
monium. Now these are facts that
we all know. 1t may be that dealers
have never thought of these things.
They may never have realized the
results of their unholy |
traffic. If so, when they see these
things as they cannot help seeing
them; when they realize that for their
triAing gains they are hreaking the |
hearts and blighting the lives of our
and our wives; that they
are making beggars, widows and or
phans of our children; that they are
beasts and demons of our
men; when they realize these things,
then if they have one spark of man
hood or honor in them they will give
up the unholy traffic. But if, with
these terrible facts staring them in
the face, they are SO greedy for their
gains as to persevere in their busi-
ness regardless of the consequences,
then if there be ip the world of woe
a vault deeper and darker and more
hopeless than any other it will GER
tainly be their home for eternity.
And now | appeal to all good and
law abiding citizens. You see our
laws defed and tramplcd under foot. |
You see our town oyer-run by the
most lawless and abandoned charac-
tiers. You see our women and chill
drcn turned into widows and orphans.
You see our good citizens murdered
upon our streets. ! call upon you
as honest men and law-abiding cit
liens to see that, if this unholy bust
ness must continue, that it is at least
kept under legal restrictions. l APP
peal to you in the name of murdered
in that coffin: appeal to
you in the name of this heart. broken
widow and these orphaned children
turning and pointing to Mrs. Coop
er and childrenl; / appeal to you in
the name of humanity; ] appeal to
you in the name ofmy God to arise
in your might and arrest this tide Of
lawlessness and crime.
/ am aware that | have spoken
plainly, but the time has certainly
come for plain talk. As minister
of God, and as a good citizen, ! have
felt it my duty to speak out, let the
consequences be what they may.
Guiteau denies he is crazy, but
u-hap a urtfpnss faLac tho st,pl opI