The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-11-12

] People sometimes say that 'these
temperance people are a set Of re-
ligious fanatics, led by the clergy"
Ii may be well for such to read
what the chief skep.ic of America
says about rum. No one will ac-
cuse Robert G. Ingersoll of being
led by the clergy. But on this one
subject he speaks a good deal as
they do. In speaking to jury in
case involving the manufacture of
alcohol, Col. Ingersoll used the
following eloquent language;
am aware that there is q peju-
dice against any man engaged in the
manufacture OF alcohol. from the
time it issues from the coiled and poi
sonous worm-in the distiIlery-
until it empties into the hell of
death, dishonor and crime, it de-
moralizes everything that touches
it, from its source TO where it ends.
| do not believe anyone can con-
template the subject without becom-
ing preiudiced to the liquor crime.
All we have to do, gentleman, is to
Think of the wreck on either bank
CT the stream of death, of the sui
cldes, OF the insanity, of the desti.
tuition, of the little children tugging
at the weary and faded breasts OF
despairing wives asking for bread;
OF talented men of genius it has
wrecked, the men struggling with
imaginary serpents produced by
this devilish thing; and when you
think of the jails, ofthe almshouses,
of the asylums, OF the prisons, of
the scaffolds on either hand, L do |
not wonder that every thoughtful /
man is prejudiced against tbs dam
nable stuff called alcohol.
Intemperance cuts down youth in |
its.vigor, manhood in its strength,
and age In its weakness. |
1t breaks the fathers heart, bereaves
the doting nothing extinguishes
affections, grasses coniugal ]
love, blots out tilial attachments, |
blasts parental hopes and brings /
down mourning age in sorrow to the /
grave. 1t produces weakness, not /
strength; death, not life. Il makes
wives widows children orphans
parents childIess, and all of them
paupers and beggars. 1t feeds
rheumatism, nurses gout, welcomes
epidemic, invites cholera, imparts
pestilence ard embraces consump-
ton. 1t covers the land with Idle
ness, misery and crime. 1t fills
your jails, supplies your almshouse
aud demands your asylums. 1t en-
genders controversies, fosters quarrels
and cherishes riots. 1t crowds your
penitentiaries and furnishes victims
to your scaffolds. 1t is the life blood
Of the gmbler, the element of The
the prop Of the highway
man and the supports of the mid
night incendiary. 1t countenances
The liar, respects the thief, esteems
the blasphemer. 1t violates obliga-
ion, reverences fraud, and honors
nfamy. 1t defames benevolence,
hates love, scorns virtue and SLAM
lers innocence. 1t invites the father
% butcher his helpless offspring,
helps the husband to massacre his
wife, and the child to grind the par
lcidal axe: 1t burns up men, con-
iumes women, detests life, curses
iod and denies heayen Itsuborns
nurses perjury, denies the ,
ury box, and stains the judicial er-
nine. 1t degrades the citizen, deba-
es the legislator, dishonors the
tatesman and disarms the statesman
md disarms the patriots. 1t brings ,
hame, not honor terror not safetyE |.
despair. not hope; misery. not happi- !
less and with all the nalevolence ola
lend it calmly surveys its frightiul :
lesolation and unsatisfied with its
lavoc, it poisons felicity, kills peace !
uins morals, blights confidence,
lays reputation. and wipes out na- :
ional honor, then curses the word :
md laughs at its ruin. 1t does all :
hat and more-it murders the soul.
/ is the sum of villainies, the fa- s
her of all crime, the mother of abom-
nations, the devils best friend, and
iod's worst enemy. \