Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-12-03
lNGERSOLL ON ALCOHOL.


The following beautiful language
is an extract from a legal speech
made by Colonel Robert Ingersoll:
81 am aware there IS prejudice
against any man engaged in the
manufacture OF alcohol. believe
from the time it issues irom the
coiled and poisonous worm in the
dishllery until it empties into the
hell OF death, dishOnor and crime,
that it is demoralizing to every
body that touches 1t, from the
source TO where it ends. | DO not
believe that anybody can cOntem-
plate 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 III
sanity, of the poverty, Of the de.
struction, of the little children tug
ging at the breast Of the weak and
despairing wives asking for bread,
of men of genius it has wrecked,
the men struggling with imaginary
serpents produced by this devilish
thing; and when You think OF the
tails. of the aims houses, of the asy-
lums, OF the prisons, Of the scatlolds
on either hand, | do not wond'
that every thoughtful man is pre-
diced against this vile stuff cal cd
alcohol. Intemperance cuts down
youth in its vigor, manhood IN It's
strength, and age in its weakness.
at breaks the fathers heart, be-
reaves the dOting mother, extln-
cuisines natural affection, grasses con
iugal love, blots out filial attach
ments, blights parental hope and
brings premature age in sorrow to
the grave. 1t produces weakness,
not strength sickness, not health;
death. not life. 1t makes wives
widows, children orphans, fathers
fends, and paupers. 1t feeds rheu-
matism, nurses govt, welcomes cpl
denies, invites cholera, imports
pestilence, and embraces cOnsump-
ton. 1t covers the land with mis-
cry, idleness and crime. 1t engen-
ders controversies, fosters Quarrels,
and cherishes riot. 1t crowds your
penitentiaries and furnishes victims
to the scaffOld. 1t is the blood of
the gambler, the element Of the
burglar, the prop Of the highway
man, and the support of the mid
night incendiary. 1t cOuntenances
the liar, respects the thief, esteems
the blasphemer. 1t violates obi
cations, reverenceS fraud, honors
infamy. 1t defames benevoleDce,
hates love, scorns virtue and inno-
cence. 1t invites the father 10
butcher his helpless offspring, and
the child to grind the patriarchial
axes. 1t burns up men, consumes
women, detests life, curses God, and
despises heaven. 1t suborns wit
nesses, nurses perfidy, dehles the
jury box, and stains the judicial
ermine. 1t brides voters, dlsquall'
fes votes, corrupts elections, pol
lutes our institutions, and endan-
GERS the government. 1t degrades
the citizen, debases the legislator,
dlShOnOTs the statesman, anu us
arms the patriot. 1t brings shame,
not honor; terror, not safety; de-
SPAR, not hope; misery, not hap
piness; and with the malevolence
of a feld, calmly surveysits fright
ful desolation, and unsatished with
havoc, 1t poisons felicity, kills
peace, ruins morals, wipes out ma
tional honor, then curses the world,
and laughs at its ruin. 1t does
that and more-it murders the soul.
1t is the sum of all villainies, the
father of crimes, the mother Of all
abomination, the devils best friend,
and Gods worst enemy.