Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-07-23
ALCOHOL.
A ScalEling Decentralization 81
Infesn perance ana lis
Causes.

Colonel Il. G.. Ingefsoll, in
speaking to jury il case which
involved the manufacture Of al
cohol, used the following beautiful
and eloquent language:
Il ana aware that there is
prejudice against any man fngag
I'd in the manufacture OF alcohol.
/ believe ,hat from the time 1t is
sues from the c0iled and poison
Gus worm in The distil!ery until ii
empties into the he'll oil death, dis
honor aud crime, that ii democrat
ICES everybody that touches II,
from its source to where ii ends.
I do not believe anybody can con-
templat the subject without be-
coming prejudiced against the
liquor crime.
All we have to do; gentlemen,ts
to think Of the wrecks on either
bank of the stream of death; OF
the suicides; of the insanity; OF
the restitution; Of the ignorance;
of the little children Juggling at
the faded and weary breasts of
weeping and despairing wives,
asking Tor bread; OF The talented
men Of genius that it has wreck
ed, the men struggling with inn
aginary serpents, produced by
this devilish thing; and when you
think of the jails, of the aims
houses; of the asylums,o the pris-
ons, of the scaffolds upon either
bank, | do net wonder that every
thoughtful man is prejudiced
against the damned stuff that Is
called alcohol.
Intemperance cuts down youth
in its vigor, manhood ia its
strength and old age in its weak
ness. 1t breaks the fathers
heart, bereaves the doting moth
er. extinguishes natural affections,
grasses coDjugal love, blots out ill
ial attachments, blights parental
hope, and brings down MOURNING
age in sorrow to the grave. IL
produces weakness, not strength,
sickness, not health; death, not
life. 1t makes wives widows;
children orphans; fathers tiends:
and all of them paupers and beg
gars. 1t feeds rheumatism, nurses
govt, welcoms epidemics, invites
cholera, imports pestilence and
embraces consumption.
1t covers the land with ldleness,
misery and crime. 1t fills your
tails. YOUR almhouses and demands
YOUR asylums. 1T epgenders con-
troversies, fosters quarrels and
cherishes riots. 1t crowds your
penitentiaries, and furnishes VIC
inns to your scaffolds. 1t is the
life-bloo of the gambler, the ele-
ment Of the burglar, tue prop OF
the highwayman and the support
of the midnight incendlary.
1t countenances the iar,respects
the thief, esteems the biasphemer
It violates obligations, reyerences
fraud, and honors infamy. 1t de-
flames benevolence, hates love,
scorns virtue ana SANDERS inno-
cance. 1t incltes the father to
butcher his helpless otf,spring'
helps the husband to massacre
his wife, and the cdild to GRIND
the parracidal axe. Ii burhs up
men, consumes women, deteStc
life, curses GOD and despises heav'
en-. 1t suborns witnesses, nurses
perjury. defies the jury BOX and
stains the judicial crime.
1t degrades the citizen, deoase'
the legislator ,dishonors the states
man and disarms the patriot. !
brings shame, not honor; terror
not safety; despair, not hope; mis-
cry, not happin 6; aud with the ma
levolenca of fiend, it cam'y sur
yeys its frightful desolation, and
unsatished with its havoc, it pois
ons felicity, kills peace, ruins NOR
ais, biights confidence, Stays repu
ta,iOn and wipes out national hon
or, then curses the world ant
laugheS at its ruin. 1t does al
that aru uOre-it murders tn
soul. It's the son OF vilianies, tn
father Of all crimes, the mother q
nominations, the devils les
friend and Gods worst enemy.