The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-04-16
INGERSOLL ON ALCOHOL.
n Beautiful Piece or Word Painting
by the Noted Intiurl

The following wonderful piece OF
word painting has been frequently
published, says Tho Chicago Tribune.
but we reprint it at the request of
several readers who desire a. complctr
copy. Col. Robert G.. Ingcrsoi. in
addressing II jury in II case which in
volvcd the manufacture OF alcohol,
made the following terrible arruign-
mcnt OF the demon
am aware that there is Il prciu-
dice against any man who manullc-
lures alcohol. believe that from the
time it issues from the coilcd aud
poisonous worm in the distillcrv unit.
It's emptics into the jaws Of death. dis
honor and crime, it dUmoraliHcs every
BODY thrt touches it, from its source
to whore it ends. do not belcv,
anybody can contemplate the object
without being prcjudiccd against the
liquor crime. All VIC have TO do, gen.
tlcmcn, is to think Of the wrecks on
either side Of the stream Of death, OF
the suicides, Of the insanity, OF the
ignorance, OF the dcstitutiOn. of the
lttlc children tuGgin% at the faded
and wlthcrcd breast Of wccpin. and
despalrlng mothers, Of wives asking
Tor Dread, ol the men OF genius it has
wrecked, the men struggling with
imaginary scrpcniS, produced by this
drNlllSh thing and when you think Of
the Ja'ls, OF the aimshouscs, % ,hc
asylums, OF the prisons, OF the scatlolds,
upon either bank, | do not wonder that
every thon@htfu! man il prcjudiccd
against this damned stun called aico-
hol. lntcmpcrance cuts down youth
in It's vigor, manhood in its strength,
ora age In It's weakness. IT breaks the
fathers heart, bcrcavcs the doting
mother, rXtinguiSbcs natural affection,
grasses conjugal love, bIots out iiliai
attachment, blights parental hop, Is,
brings down mourning are in sorrow
10 INC grave. IL produces weakness,
not Str"ngth sickness, not hcaith
death, not life. II makes wives wild.
owH; children orphans farmers frnds,
Nnd ali Of them pnuprrs and brggars.
IT. leeds rheumatism. invites chUiora.
imports prSti!cncc and embraces CON
sumption. II covers the lund with
ldlcncsS. misery, crime. 1t fills your
lalls, supplies your HlmhOus~., aud
demands your a~ylums. 1t rngcndrrs
controversies, testers qunrrcls ANA
chcriShcs riots. IL crowds your pen
ltrntlarics and furnishes victims for
your ScaIiOldS. IL is the life blood Of
the gambler, the element of the bur
glar, the prop Of the highwaymnn ana
support Of the midHight inccndiary
1t conntcnnaccs the liar, respects the
thlci, est, ems Lhc h!asphrmcr. |,
violates obligation, rcvcreuccs franc
and honors inlamy. 1t dcfamrs buncv
oirncc, hates love, scOrns virtue and
siandcrs innocence. 1t incitcs the fa
thcr to butcher his helpless offspring
helps the husband to massacre hi
wife, and the child to grind the pari
c'dal AK. IT burns up men, consume
women, dctcsts life, curses God, de
splscs heaven. 1t stubborns witnesses
nurses perjury, dciilcs the Jury bo,
ana stains judicial crminc. 1t de
grades the citizen, debasscs tho lcgis
lator, dlshonors the statesman and dis
arms the patriot. 1t brings shame
not honor; misery, not safety; de
Spalr, not hope; misery, not happiness
ana with the maicvolencc OF fiepd i
calmly surveys it's frightful dcsolatio
ana nnsatiatod havoc. 1t poisOns fell
city, Kills peace, ruins morals, blight
confidence, Stays regulations and wipe
out national honor, then curses tn
world and laughs at its ruin. 1t doe
all that and more. 1t murders tin
soul. 1T is the sum Of all yillainics
the father OF all crimes, the mother c
all abominations, tho devils bcs
friend and Gods worst cncmy."