Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-05-14

READ the following description of
Alcohol AMI it's effects, written by Col.
lngersol
There is prejudice against any man en-
gagged IN the liquor business [ believe
that from the time it issues from the coil
ed and poisonous worm in the distillery
until it empties into the hell of death,
dishonor and crime, that alcohol is demon
alizing to everybody that touches it, from
ITS source to where it ends. do not be-
lleVe that anybody can contemplate the
subject without being prejudiced against
the crime. All we have to do is to think
OF the wrecks on either side of the stream
of death, of the suicides of the insanity.
OF the poverty, pauperism and destruction
coming from alcohol; of the little children
tugglng at the breast of weeping, despair
ing, starving mothers begging for bread:
OF the men of genius it has wrecked, of
the men struggling with imaginary SCRIP
ents produced by this devellsh thing; and
when we think of the jails and almhouses,
OF the asylums, of the prisons and of the
scatfolds on either bank, do not wonder
that every thoughtful man is preiudiced
against the vile stuff called alcohol.
. lntemperance cuts down youth in its
vigor. manhood in it's strength, and age
in its weakness. 1t breaks the fathers
heart, bereaves the deting mother extin-
guishes natural affection, DESTROYS con-
Jugal love, blots out filial attachments,
bllghts paternal hope and brings prema-
ture age In sorrow and dishoner to the
grave. ltproduces weakness, not strength;
sickness, not health; death, not life. It
makes wives widows, children orphans,
fathers fiends, and all paupers. 1t feeds
rheumatism, nurses govt, welcomes cpl
denies, invites cholera, imports pestilence,
engenders consumption, and covers the
land with idleness, misery and crime.
IL produces controversies, fosters quar-
rels, cherishes riots. It crowds our peni-
tentiaries and furnishes victims fer the
scaffold.
Alcohol is the blood Of the gambler, the
inspiration of the burglar, the stimulous
OF the highwayman, and the support Of
the midnight lnCendiary. It suggests the
lie and countenances the liar, condones the
thief, esteems the blasphemer. Itviolates
obligations, reverences fraud, turns love
to hate, scOrns virtue and innocence. It
incites the father to butcher his HELPLESS
offspring, and the child to sharpen the
parricidal ak.
Alcohol burns up men, consumes wom-
en-, destroys life, curses God and despises
heaven. Itsuborns witnesses, nurses per
fidy, defies the jury box and stains the Judi
cial ermine. 1t brides voters, disuuallfies
votes, cerrupts elections. pellutes our insti-
buttons and endangers the Government.
1t degrades the citizen, debases the legis-
lator, dishonors the statesman and disarms
the patriot. It brings shame, net honor;
terror, not safety; despair, not hope; mis-
cry, not happiness; and with the malev-
olence OF a f1end calmly surveys it's fright
tul desolation; and reveling in havoc, it
poisons felicity, destroys peace, ruins NOR
ais, wipes out national honor, curses the
world and laughs at the ruin it has
wrought. ltdoes that and more-it muir
ders the soul. 1t is the sum of all william
les, the father of all crimes, the mother of
examinations, the devils best friend and
Gods worst enemy.