The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-08-29
Five Gents
Bob IngersOll on Rum.

Il am aware there is prejudice against
any man engaged in the liquor traffic. |
believe from the time it issues from the
coiled and poisonous worm in the distillefy
until it empties into the hell of death. dis
honor. crime, that alcohol is demoralizlng
to everybody that touches it. from where it
ends. l do not believe anybody can con-
template the subject without being pieju-
diced 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 de-
StructiOn coming from alcohol; of the little
children tugging at the breast of weeping
deSpairing. starving mothers begging for
bread of the men of genius it has wrecked;
OF the men struggling with imaginary ser
pents produced by the devilish thing: and
when we think of jals and almshouses. of
the aSylums of the prisons and of the scat,
folds on either bank. l do not wonder that
every thoughtful man is prejudiced against
the vile stuff called alcohol.
''Intemperance cuts down youth in it's
vigOr. manhood in its strength, and age in
It's weakness. 1t breaks the fathers heart
bereaves the dOting mother, eXtingushes
natural affection, destroys cOnjugal love,
blOtS out tilal attachments. blights paternal
hope. and brings premature aye in sorrow
and dshOnOr to the grave. 1t produces
weaknesses, not strength; sickness. not
health: death. not life. 1t makes wives,
widows: children. orphans: fathers. tiendS
and all paupers. 1t feeds rheumatism.
nurses gout. welcomes epidemic. invites
cholera. imports pestilence. engenders con-
sumption and covers the land with ideneSS,
misery and crime. 1t produces controversy.
fosters quarrels. cherishes riots. 1t crowds
our penltentaries and furnishes victims for
the Sca1fOd.
Alcohol is the blood of the gambler, the
inspiration of the burglar. the stimulus of
the hghwayman. and the support of the
midnight incendiary. 1t suggests the lie
and countenances the liar. condOnes the
thief, esteems the blasphemer. 1t violates
obligations, reverences fraud. turns love
into hate. scOrns virtue and innocence. 1t
eXcites the father to butcher his helpless
offspring. and the child to sharpen the par
ricidal axe.
''AlcOhol burns up men, consumes wo-
men. destroys life. curses God, and despiSeS
heaven. 1t SubOrnS witnesses, nurses per-
tidy. defileS the jury box. and suStains the
judicial ermine. 1t bribes voters. cOrruptS
elections, pOllutes our institutions, and en-.
dangers the government. 1t degrades the
citizens. debases the legislator. dishonors
the statesman, and disarms the patriot. 1t
brings shame. not honor; terror, not safety;
despair. not hope: misery not happiness;
and with the malevOlence of a fiend calmly
surveys its frightful desolation; and revel-
ling in havoc, it pOisons felicity, destroys
peace, ruins morals, wipes out national
honor. curses the world, and laughs at the
ruin it has wrought. 1t does that and more
it murders the soul. 1t is the sum of all
villainy, the father of all crimes, the
mother of all denominations. the devils best
friend and Gods worst enemy"