West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1885-09-16
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
WHO is RESPONSIBLE.
A Tragic Story and Some Pointed
Questions.

their occurrence. Inc local papers
also related the same at the time:
Some 10 or Is years ago, in the
Western part of Ohio, there lived a
Young man and his wife. They
we're In easy circumstances, fnan-
cially, and had an only boy, not
vet two years old, who was greatly
beloved by them both.
With great concern the young
wife noticed the husband and IA
Their cominghome, at evening,slight-
" intoxicated. She also noticed
that the habit was growing upon
him. Something must be done.
One day she said to her little son:
willy, l am afraid your dear Pa
is becoming a drunkard. Won't
you help persuade him not to drink
any more whisky?" EYES," said
he, "Tll persuade him not to drink
again"
Upon time when he was strict
ly sober, and in a pleasant humor,
she told him her fears and ankle
ties, and asked him to promise her
never to touch the intoxicating cup
again. By this time the little dar-
ling boy had climbed into his ia
theirs lap,and throwing his chubby
arms around his neck, kissed him
and said, eyes, Pa, you'll promise
me, won't you" The father was
overcome, and made them the most
solemn and positive promises that
he would never drink again. The
promise was sacredly kept for
awhile; but one day, falling into
the company OF the companions
with whom he had formerly had
his sprees, he was overcome by
their persuasions, and went home
at night drunk. The young wife
was absent a short distance-the
boy was in the front room, and his
quick eye detecting what was the
matter, he said, "Now, Pa, you
have been drinking again" The
father seized him, saying, "You lit
tie rascal! I'll teach you how to
speak to your fatherl" and with all
mis- frenzied strength, threw him
against the wall of the room, and
he fell upon the carpet, dead. The
father, realizing what he had done,
was instantly sobered. He ex-
claimed, GOV what have l done p?
/ have killed my boyl have muir
dered my SON! o! how can l ever
meet his mother? How can | en-
dure to live with this deed ever in
my mind? and never can do itP
He rushed into another room
opened drawer, and taking there
from revolver, he returned to the
dead boy, and discharging the wea
pom, he fell dead upon the body Of
his dead boy. The wife and moth
er now came in, and seeing the
lifeless forms of her husband and
boy, lying in their gore, she gave
an unearthly scream, and was in
stantly changed into a raving ma
MAC, and had to be locked up in
an asylum, where she afterwards
died.
Now, we ask, who is responsible
for all this? Some may say, his
own appetite. But who depraved
1t? Others may say, it was the
boon companions, who enticed him.
Others, that it was the saloonist,
who put the bottle to him, and
made him drunk. But who licens-
ed the bar-keeper to do this? Did
not the United States license this
man, and receive his money for a
permit to carry on this business ?
Who gave the Government their
authority? The voters. The Gov
eminent derives its authority from
the people. The people, simply by
putting in the right kind of ballots
on election day, can have this law
for licensing grog shops abolished,
and have the liquor curse removed
from our nation.
Then, if SO easy, why is it not
done? What infatuation has taken
hold of the people, that they com
placently look on the harvest OF
death-the carnival of crime,
misery and woe, that follows the
fry stream of the liquor traffic ?
Election morning dawns beauti-
l., f0f h q