The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-13
WAR OR INTERFERENCE.
IN. Z. p" Discusses Some of the Horrible
Results OF Both.

Results OF Both
FRIENDS OF THE H. L. Cit has been
some time since attempted to write let
ger for the page devoted to our use, but if
the kind editor will permit me the space
necessary for the expression of a few
Thoughts, shall endeavor to while away
few moments by a visit to the charming
circle.
The question now receiving the most
attention seems to be (which has Caused
the Human Family the Most Misery, War
or Intemperance." 1 have given this
question but little thought am scarcely
able to divine its real meaning. If, how
ever, it relates 10 the condition of man az
he exists here, ] should say war If We Law
aside all reference to the future life, and
consider man only as a mortal being, We
undoubtedly do assert. without fear of
contradiction, that war has caused more
human misery than the monster intern
peTance. Ii Is true that man has, almost
since the first dawn of existence. been adj
dicted TO the use of wine and liquor, but
A. has only been for the period o: a few
wears that its use has been excessively de-
moralizing, while it is the case that wars
have been waged with cruel. unrelenting
force since the earliest of which We
have an account. If we viii but glance
back over the period of our existence we
shall find that there has been one long
period of iucessant strife since the demon
jealousy first took possession OF the heart
Of Cain and prompted him TO take the life
OF his brother Abel.
Advance" has briefly glanced at these
wars but he has failed to portray the mis-
cry and suffering produced by them, and
for the very reason that before them the
human pen lies paralyzed. The millions
OF homes made desOate, the thousands of
wives made widows, the countless num-
Der of children, helpless and dependent,
deprived of fathers love and protection,
end the beautiful and abundant lands
made one desolate and barren waste by
one stroke OF this merciless war.
We find among all these none more
cruel and terrible than those brought
about by religious ZEAL We can scarcely
conceive at this day when our bright land
Us so happy and prosperous, how it was
that such wars con.d have occurred For
example, the war between the MoOrs and
Christians, or the famous riot of London
where the catholic and protestant forces
were held by each other in so much ter
ror, and where multitudes breathed in an
atmosphere of misery and death, simply
because of difference in their religious
belief, give us but a final idea of all the
sorrow and heartache, all the misery and
degradation consequent upon the cruel
reign OF war.
But, my dear readers, as sit thus mus
Ing upon the devastation and death
brought on by these mass there is still a
picture in the background that comes to
our relief Ii is the thought that those
who participated in them were fighting
for cause which they believed to be
right. No matter how strong they may
their belief else they would not have
risked their lives in defending il.
But to leave this subject and glance at
the monster intemperance as it relates to
man, an immortal being. l shall try to
give you pen picture which is not the
least exaggerated.
In desOlate cabin around which the
fierce winds of cold December night are
sweeping sits the bowed and broken form
of a woman. Her children, three of them
in number, are lowering around her cry
ing for bread, while her own pale face
shows traces ofrecent illness. 1t takes but
one swift glance TO disclose the history of
that home; it is the old, old story; the
beautiful promise OF useful life blighted,
the sunshine of prosperity shut out for
tever and the dark and deathsome fangs of
this hideous monster, intemperance, fast
ened with unrelenting cruelty upon the
master OF that house.
At length the helpless beings, 80 de-
pendent upon mother who is unable to
help them, cry themselves to sleep and
airy laid upon their bed of straw while the
mother draws closer to her precious treas
ures, folds her thin, pale hands in an
agony Of despair, raises her ewes toward
heaven as If beseeching Gods mercy.
while the tears flow INCREASINGLY adown
her paid cheek.
Presently her head drops lower and
lower, then sinks upon her bosom; her
eyelids close and she is lost in slumber
She sleeps, and sleeping dreams The
past, the bright, beautiful past, comes
back as plainly as if it were but yesterday.
She is once more happy child, warm
hearted, loving, trusting girl, and last a
beautiful, blushing bride, happy, oh, so
happy in her husbands love. But at
last the scene changes; the fatal cup has
done its work and the once happy
wife and mother Is transformed into the
miserable, half-starving, wretched being
We now see before us. At length the
spell is broken, the dream is over and the
dreamer awakes. She has been awaiting
the coming OF an inebriate husband, and
now that hour has come, the hour from
which each night she shrinks as from the
approach OF demon. The heavy tread is
heard coming closer and closer with I'M
steady step, the door creaks upon its
hinges, the miserable howell is entered and
oh what a vision meets our gael Look
at that bloated form and face, from which
every semblance of manhood has van
ished, and tell me il in this you recognize
the handsome, talented man of ten years
previous2 He was once respected and
esteemed, and would today have been pro-
noting his country's welfare had not the
serpent, intemperance, gained possession
of both mind and body.
From the homely couch, q bed Of
straw, little boy OF five years rises and
in piteous tones asks for bread. The cruel
hand of the unnatural parent is raised
and strikes the beautiful child with such
force as sends him almost lifeless to the
floor and the mother with one piteous
shrek finds reliefin Inconsistencies.
OH the horror of scene ike thisl Oh,
the misery and woe and heartachel
But that fathers days are numbered.