Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-11-19
WAIiHALIIA, s. G.
WED DNESDAY, NOV. 10, 1910.
AN ATTORNEY ON ALCOHOL.

The following wonderful piece Of
word painting has been frequently
published, says the Chicago Tri-
bune, but we reprint IT at the re-
quest of several readers who desire
Il complete copy. All attorney. in
addressing Il jury IN Il case which
involved the manufacture Of alco-
hol, made the following terrible ar
raignment Of the demon:
II am aware that there is preju-
dice against any man who manufac-
lures alcohol. believe that from
the time it issues from the coiled
and poisonous worm in the distillcry
until 1t empties into the jaws Of
death, dishonor and crime. it de-
moraliZes everybody that touches it,
from its source TO where it ends /
do not believe anybody can contem-
plate the object without being pre-
judiCed against the liquor crime. All
we have to do, gentlmen, is to think
OF the wrecks on either bank Of the
stream Of death, Of the suicides, Of
the insanity, OF the Ignorance, Of
the dcStitution, of the little children
' tugging at the faded and withered
breats Of weeping mothers, Of wives
asking for bread, OF the men Of
genius it has wrecked, the men
struggling with imaginary serpcnts,
produced by this devilish thing; and
when you think OF the jails, OF the
almshouses. Of the aSylums, Of the
prisons, Of the sea folds upon either
bank, do not wonder that every
thoughtful man is prejudiced against
this damned stuff called alcohol. In
temperance cuts down youth in its
vigor, manhood in its strength. old
;,,
fathers heart, bereaves the doting
mother, extinguishes natural affec-
tion grasses Conjugal love, blots out
filial attachments blights parental
hopes, brings down mourning age in
sorrow to the grave. 1t produces
weakness, no. strength; sickness, not
health; death not life. 1t makes
wives widows; children orphans;
fathers ficnds; and all Of them paup-
ers and beggars. 1t feeds rheuma-
tism, invites cholera, imparts pesti-
lence and embraces consumption.
1t covers the land with idleness, mis-
cry, crime. 1t fills your jails, sup
plies your almshOuses, and demands
your asylums. 1t engenders contro-
vcrsies, fosters quarrels and cher
ishes riots. 1t crowds your peniten-
tiaries and furnishes victims for
your scaffolds. 1t is the life blood
Of the gambler, the element Of the
burguar, the prop Of the highway
man and support Of the midnight in
cendiary. 1t countenances the liar
respects the thief, esteems the bias
phemer. 1t violates obligation,
reverences fraud and honors infamy.
1t defames benevolence, hates love,
scorns virtue and ISLANDERS innocence.
1t incites the father to butcher his
helpless off"pring. helps the hus-
band to massacre his wife and the
child to grind the paricidal AK. 1t
burns up men, consumes women. de-
tests life, curses God, despises heav-
en-. 1t suborns witnesses, nurses per-
jury, detiles the jury box and stains
judicial ermine. 1t degrades the
citizen, debases the legislator, dis
hcnors the statesman and disarms
the patriot. 1t brings shame, not
honor; misery, not safety: despair,
not hope; misery not happiness, and
with the malevolence Of fiend it
calmly surveys its frightful desola-
tion and unsatisfied havoc. 1t poi
sons felicity. kills peace. ruins
morals. blghts confidence, Stays
regulations, and wipes out national
honor, then curses the world and
laughs at its ruin. It does all that
and more. 1t murders the soul. It
is the sum OF ali yi!lianies, the faith
or n' al crime. tho mother OF all
abominations. the devils best friend
and Gods worst enemy"