The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-04
Another VOlley at Intclnperance.

1t is probable that number of our read
ers have assigned me the uncharitable ap-
pelation of Temperance crank' and con-
signed me to the lower regions For the edii-
cation of these | may state. that | am will
ing to carry the load. but will not be re-
sponsible for its delivery to his satanic maj
esty, as am under the impression that all
those disciples OF intemperance may posi-
bly, pass through the regal portals of the
torrid domains Of everlasting misery in ad-
vance of the writer.
In my opinion the medium through
which we have the privilege of airing our
views on this and other momentOus ques-
tiOns, is source from which some good ad-
vice may be expected TO emanate.
am certain there are a number among
us who are well qualified to write up dis
astrOuS experience with intemperance.
There are also within these walls a number
of those encyclopedias" who assert that
whisky is not the cause of the majority's
presence here. From them would ask
reply to: what, then. is the cause? They
are ready at all times to advance criticisms,
ont are very reticent about giving them to
the public; for the simple reason, imagine.
that they are inwardly convinced that their
argument is founded on Qnicksand.
1t is an old and well known fact that the
liquor traffic has been the curse of all ma
tiOnS; and the modern press gives daily ac-
counts of its ravages. It is all very we'll
for those advocates OF the saloon to say,
that when man gets into trouble and be-
hind the bars, he blames whisky. What l
hold is this; if he had never seen whisky
his chances of never wearing the stripes
would have been greater. and he certainly
would have reached higher grade of mo-
rality. Take, for instance, the following
case as an example: A young man receives
liberal education; gets good situation to
start him in life; he attends church and is
respected; he is in the habit of taking
glass of beer, and from that goes to whisky,
gradually becomes a regular topper; loses
his situation and self-respect; becomes an
habitue OF the saloon, where he meets with
older and hardened sinners, and by follow
ing their advice and example lands in
state prison. Again; take look at the sur
rOundingS of the WOrkingman who is strictly
temperate, and what do you see? A COM
Portable home; happy and cOntented wife;
joyous, we'll fed and well clothed family.
The father, on his return home from his
daily toll, is welcomed by the loving smile
of his devoted wife, and the gleeful mirth
and innocent prattle of his little ones. On
the other hand. peer into the gloom of the
Incorporate mans home and what meets
your gaze? A veritable spectre. broken
hearted and detected wife-misery depicted
in, foo of,ro- oh in, fhoir
emaciated bodies clearly exhibiting the suf-
fering they endure from the want of the
necessarieS of life. The besOtted husband
reels from the saloon to his miserable home
with the ever ready curse upon his lips to
be received by her, whom he vowed to love,
cherish and protect, in all the agOnleS of
grief; and by his little ones with looks of
abject terror. Is this, would ask. pic
ture to be laughed at? Are the seeds which
the wretched parent is sowing in the minds
of his progeny likely to bud and blossom
into maturity so as to enable them to be re-
spectacle members OF society? This unfOrt-
unate victim of the damnable curse neglectS
himself and deprives his family of the COM
forts of life; and allows them to grow up
uneducated and depraved in mind. through
the terrible example set them in youth; and
as a natural consequence they follow the
footsteps OF their father
l admit that some may say in truth. that
whisky did not bring them here, but that
they committed some crime against the laws
of the country to extricate themselves from
some financial difficulty consequent upon
ntemperance. There are others again, who,
through no fault OF their own. seeing their
early training was not conducive to good
morals, have fallen into the rank and file of
the robber and burglar; but who might have
become honest and industrious citizens, had
the inevitable and innumerahle roads to ruin
in the shape of saloons. not been in exist
ence.
The most desperate crimes are concoeted