The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-05-08
INGERSOLL ON ALCOHOL.

/ Ihe following wonderful piece OF word
painting has been frequently published,
but we reprint it at the request of several
readers WHO desire complete copy. Col.
Robt. G.. lngersoll, in addressing jury
in Il case which involved the manufacture
of alcohol, made the following terrible
arraignment Of the demon:
81 am aware that thele is predujice
against any man who manufactures
alcohol. l believe that from the time it
issues from the coiled aud poisonous
worm in the distillcry until i; empties into
the jaws OF death, diSilonor and crime, it
demoralizeS everybody that touches it
from its source TO where it ends. do
not believe anybody cm contemplate the
object without being prejudiced against
the liquor crime All we have to do
gentlemen, is To think OF the wrecks on
on either side, OF the stream of death,
Of the suicides of the insanity, Of the
ignorance, of the dcstitution, OF the little
children tugging nj the faded and with
ered breast OF weeping and despairing
mothers, Of wives asking for bread, of
the men of genius il has wrecked, the
men struggling wirA Imaginary serpents,
produced by this dcvlish thing: ANA when
you think OF the jails, of the almshouses,
OF the aSylums, of the prisons, of the
scliio!l5 upon either bank, l do not
Il
preiuuiced against this damned stuff
called alcohol. Intenperance cuts down
youth III its vigor, manhood in It's strength
old age in its weakness. 1t breaks the
iathpr'Sheart. bereaves the doting mother,
eXtiEguiSleS natual affection. grasses con-
jugal love, b!otS out iilial attachment.
blightS parental hopes, brings down
mourning age III SORROW TO the grave. 1t
pro luCcj weakness, not,strength, sickness
not health, DEATH. not life. 1t makes
wives, widows, children orphans, farmers
iiends, and all of. them paupers and beg
galS. t feeds rheumatism, invites
cholera, imports pestilence and embraces
consumption. 1t covers the land with
idelness, misery and crime. 1t fills you
ja:l, supplies your almshouses, and
demands Your asylums. 1t engenders
controversies, fosters quarrels and cher
ishes riots. 1t crowds your penitentiary
and furnishes victims for your scaffo!ds
1t is the life blood of the gambler, the
element of the burglar, the prop of the
hiShwayman and support Of the midnight
lnccndialy. it coumtenanceS the liar.
respects the thief, estcemS the blasphemer.
Ii violates obligation, rcverences fraud
and hono!S iMf;my. 1t defameS benev-
o!cnce, hates love, scorns Virtue and
ISLANDERS Innocence. 1t incites the father
TO butcher his helpless offspring, helps the
husband 10 nlsSlcrc his wife, and the
c.:!d to grind the paricidal aN. 1t burns
up men, CONSUMES women, GctestS life,
curses God. despises heaven. Ii suborns
witnesses, nurses perjury. deiies the jury
box and stains judicial crm!nc. Ii
Hc9radcs the citizen. dcbaSrs tlIe lcgisia-
tur. Gisiionors the statesman and disarlns
the patriot. 1t brings shame. not honor:
lhistiN, not safety: despair. not hope;
misery, no; Happiness, and with the
nEtIcvocicc 0i Il licnd it calmly SURVEYS |
l.S iilghtful deso!ation and ul&,tiatcd
havoc. II no!SunS felicity. kills peace.
ruins go.a!S, blightS confidence. slays
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