The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1895-03-01
Criticism on Alcohol.

The following strong article has
been handed in with the request
that we publish it 1t is Of special
interest because it comes from the
pen ofRobt. lngersoll
Il am aware that there is a prrju.
dice against any man engaged in
,he manufacture of alcohol. | be-
lieye that from the time it issues
from the coiled and poisonous
worm in the distillery until il emp
ties into the hell of death, dishon-
or and crimes, that it demoralizes
everybody that touches il from its
source to where it ends. | do not
believe anybody can contemplate
the object without becoming preju.
diced against tie liquor crime. All
we have to do gentlemen, is to
think Of the wreck on either bank
of the stream oil death, OF the *.
norance, of the des.itution, of the
little children Juggling ut the faded
and wilhered breasts of weeping
and despaired wives asking Tor
bread, of the talented mtn of genius
that it has wrecked, the men strug-
Cling with imaginary serpents pro
duced by this devilish thing and
when you think Of the jails, of the
alms-houses, of the asyIums, of the
prisoners, of the scallolds upon
either banR, | do not wonder that
every thoughtful man Is preju,ilced
against this wretclied stun that is
called alcohol
lntemperdnce cuts down youth
in its yigor,manhood in Its strength
and age in ils weakness. 1t
breaks ;he fathers heart, brre ives
the dollng mother, eXunguishrs
natural affections, grasses coniugal
lovers, blots out tilial attachments,
blights parental hope and brings
down mourning age "a sorrow to
the grave. IL produce, weakness,
not strength sickness, not health
death, not life It makes wives
widows children orphans; fathers
iiends aud all of them paupers
and heggars 1t feeds rheumatism,
nurses govt, welcomes epidcmics,
invlres cholera, imports pastilence
and embraces consumption. It
covers the land with idl-ness, mis-.
cry and crime. ltIitls yonr j,ils,
supplies your aIlns.housrs, and de-
mands your asylums. II engen-
ders controversies. fosters 4 rlrrel
and cherishes riots II crowds
your penitentlarlts, furnishes vic
Tins to the sclifjlls l. "a the
life.blood Of the gambler, the rls.
ment of the burglar, the prop OF
the highwayman, qad thu support ul
the midnight incediaries. It cnun
tenances the liar, respect, The thief,
esteems the blasphemar II vi2lii, :
obligations, reyartaies i.al and
honnrs infamy. 1t iim,sh new
olence, hates love, saosls virtue,
ISLANDERS innocence. II lncites the
father to butcher helpless offspring
and the husbIni e. massacre his
wife, and the chill to grind the
patricidal axe. 1t burns up men,
consumes women. i ,sis life. ours
es God and daspisr- Heaven II
suborns witnesses, mars perjury,
detiles the jury-box, stains the judi.
cial ermine. Ii degradrs the cit.
izen. .debases the legislator, dishon
ors statesmen, and dislrms the pat.
riot. 1t bring shame, not honor
terror, no. safety despair, not
hope misery, not happiness With
the maleyolence OF Gend il calmy
surveys it, frightful desplation, anc
unsatlsiisd with havoc. it poison.
felicity, kills peace, runs morals
blights confidence, slays reputation
and wipes out national honor, ther
curses the world and laughs at it
ruin. It does all that and more-i
murders the soul. 1t is tie sum o
all yillainies, The father of all crimes
the mother of abOmination, tn,
devils best friend, anl God,
worst enemy Robert. Iusersoll.