The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-10-03

nant of the power Of the liquor clement.
Though the monster they are fighting is
hydra headed. and is not easily vanquished.
it will soon receive its GuietuS and be rele
gated to its final abode among the departed
spirits. Will not highly civilized Minnesota
follow the glorious example of Iowa?
Drunkenness is Il degradation Of human
nature that IS an insult to civilization!
Twenty drunkS and sixteen dsorderlies
were disposed OF at the municipal court
Yesterday (Monday) says the St. Paul
Globe OF Sept. 18TH reTerr ng 10 Minneap-
oils. There were seventy-siX cases in the
municipal court this morning. the large ma
jOrty being drunkS," records the St. Paul
Dispatch OF Sept. 24th. How much longer
will the people of this state be hunbugged
by the delusion of High License?" Le-
galize themanufacture Of rowdieS. thieves,
mendicants. marauders and murderers: then
arrest. try. convict. inprison. or hang the
wretched victims of drink. Blow up the
magazine. then ''regulate'' the explosion.
Delightful consistency! 1t reminds me Of
a story once read Of Lord Chamberlain
who. on being sent to examine the cellars
of the House of Commons. reported that
he found twenty-five barrels of gunpowder:
that he had removed ten of them. and he
hoped the rest would do no harm. This
illustrates the fallacy OF high license. Fif-
teen saloons in a gwen town would sell as
much liquor as twenty-five. The stream is
narrower, but prOportonately deeper. The
saloon is not necessary evil:" no one can
offer an apology for its existence. but it has
attained power in the political world and
the two big parties truckle to it in their mad
haste and greed for office. The third party,
Prohibition, purposes to demoIish the dia-
h01io l,o,, chnr nd fh,,c
home, purify politics. unite the nation
north and south, east and weSt-and en-
hance the virtue. safety and prosperity Of
the whole people. In this great fight for
the overthrow of the sons of satan-the
salOOnkeeperS-they are ably seconded and
aided by the W. c. T. u. the noble
White Ribbon army of $50. 900 women
that had such an humble origin in Hills.
bOrO Ohio some fifteen years ago. when a
little band of women knelt in the snow be-
fore the saloons of the town and besought
their owners to abandon them. They are
for "God, home and native land" and THE
SALOON MUST GO. The young ladies'
branch of the w. c. T. T.. known as the
"Y's." is also making its influence felt on
the side of temperance and morality: pos
sesSed with the grace and beauty of youth,
they are rescuing young men from the faSci-
nations OF evil. IL is ldluculdUle ldCl llldI
nearly two hundred of the inmates of this
prison are under twentyone years of age
On July 31st, there were four hundred and
thrty-seven cOnvicts confined here. and
their average age. on their commitment.
was but twenty eight years and nine months.
The ''Y's'' can be a very effective agency
in reclaimng the young delinquents from a
life of sin and sorrow, for they are win
nerS. not WhiDDerS of souls"
To my fellows who, like myself, are
soon to be restored to the delights of liberty.
for better or for worse, / would suggest
that very important matter. at this turn
ing point in our lives. is our choice of COM
panions. Let us seek company better than
ourselves. and above all avoid the saloon as
we would a peStilence. But evil is con-
tageous. remember that good is also
catching. Let us bear in mind that we are
responsible for the associations we choose.
and put ourselves as far as possible under
good influences. Another thing. avoid be-
ing despOndent if we are not quite success
full at the start. The world has no use for
means and wailingS. Remember that "A
wide-spreading, hopeful disposition is the
best umbrella for this vale of tears" and
let us wear a cheerful exterior even though
our hearts be draped in mourning, deep and
black. Many of us here remember lady
of the w. G. T. U. who used to visit us
when we were languishing in the jail at Min
neapOlS. She would come rObed in smile,
and sing beautiful songs for us that would
arouse the better impulses of our natures,
and disspate the deep shadows of the Jail.
Finally, my ellOw-unfOrtunates, let us