The Press., 1893-08-17
Number 20.

the consent of the government, would have been a sober man, an industrious workman, a tender father and loving husband. But to-day my home is destroy ed, my wife murdered, my little children -God bless and care for them-cast out on the mercy of cold and cruel world, while am to be murdered by the strong arm of the state.
 "God knows, tried to reform, but as long as the open saloon was in my path way, my weak, diseased will-power was no match against the fearful, consuming, agonizing appetite for liquor. At last, sought the protection, care and sympathy of the church of Jesus Christ, but at the communion table I received from the hand of the pastor who sits there, and who has testified against me in this case, the cup that contained the same very al- coholic serpent that is found in every bar room in the land. It proved too much for my weak humanity, and out of that holy place I rushed to the last debauch that ended with the murder of my wife.
 "For one year our town was without a saloon. For one year was 8 sober man. For one year my wife and children were supremely happy, and our little home a perfect paradise.
 "I was one of those who signed remon- strance against re-opening the saloons in our town. The names of one-half of this jury can be found to-day on the petition certifying to the good moral character CD of the rumsellers. and falsely saying that the sale of liquor was necessary in our town. The prosecuting attorney on this case was the one that so eloquently plead. ed with this court for the licenses, and the judge who sits on this bench, and who asked me if I had anything to say before sentence of death was passed on me, grant ed the license"
 The impassioned words of the prisoner fell like coals of fire upon the hearts oi those present, and many of the spectators and some of the lawyers were moved tc tears. The judge made a motion as if tt stop any further speech on the part of tho prisoner. when the speaker hastily said:
 'No! no! your honor, do not close my lips; am nearly through, and they arc the last words shall utter on earth. | "I began my downward career at sa loon bar--legalized and protected by tho I af ic hi oh hox received annually part of the blood money from the poor, deluded victims After the state had made me drunk arc and murderer, am taken before anoth CT bar-the bar of justice CD by the sam power of law that legalized the first bar and now the law-power will conduct m
 to the place of execution and hasten m
 soul into eternity. I shall appear befor
 another bar--the judgment bar of God
 and there you, who have legalized tn
 traffic,> will have to appear with ma
 Think you that the Great Judge will hol
 me-the poor, weak, helpless victim (
 your traffic-alone responsible for tn
 murder of my wife? Nay, I, in my drunk
 en, frenzied, irresponsible condition, hay
 murdered one, but you have deliberatel
 and wilfully murdered your thousands and the murder-mills are in full operatio
 to-day with your consent.
 "All of you know in your hearts tha
 these words of mine are not the raving
 of an unsound mind, but Ged Almighty
 truth. The liquor traffic of this natio is responsible for nearly all the murders
 bloodshed, riots, poverty, misery, wretch
 edness and woe. It breaks up thousand
 of happy homes every year; sends tn
 husband and father to prison or to tn
 gallows, and drives countless mother
 and little children into the world to suffe
 and die. It furnishes nearly all the erin inal businessof this and every other court and blasts every community 1t touches. "This internal traffic is sustained wit , your ballots. And yet some of you hay , the audacity to say that you are in fave of prohibiting the traffic, while your vote l go into the ballot box with those of tn ! duu tLlO WOISO clcluOutS Ol LII land in favor of continuing the business
 Every year you are given the opportunit l of voting a protest against this soul-ant body destroying business and wash you hands of responsibility for the fearf,
 results of the traffic. but instead you il l form the government by your ballot ths you are perfectly satisfied with the pre- t ent condition of things, and that the ] shall continue
 y "You legalized the saloons that mao l me @ drunkard and a murderer, and yo ) are guilty with me before God and ma 3 for the murder of my wife.
 "Your honor, am done. I am no 8 ready to receive my sentence and be le g forth to the place of execution and mu 8 dered according to the laws of this stat t You will close by asking the Lord to hay
 mercy on my soul. I will close by so D emnly asking God to open your blind ey' g to the truth, 10 your individual respons
 bility, so that you will case to give yo, l. support to this hell-born traffic."
 LOCAL TOPICS.
 i Penned and Scissored.