Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-01-31
AnnREsS.

It's IL mas created IN our husbands and sons,
have brought upon US. To you it may be
profit and pleasure to fill the intoxicating cup
for others; but to US, and to our children, it
sshame, poverty, and misery worse than death.
We sincerely pray that your wife and children
may never be visited with the evils you bring
on US; for we truly believe that they, while
eating the bread and wearing the clothing
which you take from US and our children;
would rejoice to see husband and father en-
gagged in some pursuit Of which they could
think without shame. sssasG Il
Blame us not if we speak wish severity, shall
it be required of US who must daily see hus-
bands and fathers drunk, (oh shameful word J
and who know the places where they drink,
and the men who sell to them; who know al
so that if it were not for these places and men,
there would be hope ;-shall it be required
ofus. wives and mothers knowing these things,
to use soft words with those who destroy the
peace and comfort of our homes?
We do not curse you; we dare not; but re-
member, that every prayer we offer to God
for deliyeranee from the mseries We endure,
must call down vengeance on you. There is
asGod who counts our tears, and hears our
groanG He has said, "Wo unto him that Civ
eth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy Bot
tie to him. and makest him drunken" You
may laugh at our words and mock at the
warnings of God There is a class of men
who fear not God nor regard man" But
| God hath said, vengeance is mine, will re-
pay" and be assured he will not forget our
sorrows. Think you the God of heaven, can
hear the groans Of anguish. and behold the
bitter tears of despairing wives and mothers,
and not turn an angry eye on you who cause
their misery? Do not tell us that it is not
your fault that husbands and fathers are drunk
ards. Were it not for the temptation you
thrust In their way, perhaps our entreatiss,ou
patient enduring love, might win them back to
bless their homes and firesides with kindness,
and purity and comfort But while there is
consuming appetite within, and the means
of drunkenness on everyside, all entreaties are
wasted; even promises and oaths are like fax
in the fire.. Empty your barrels, and Danish
your bars, and hope will revive in our breasts.
With the closing,of every bar VIC seeone foun-
tain of misery dried up.
Do not insult us by saying that you do not
sell to drunkardsI If you sell only to those whom
you call temperate, or to drunkards aaatI they
are drunk, what worse could you do? If in
deed you would take the opposite course, and
sell only to drunkards, and to them oaly after
they are drunk, it would be a mercy to the
community and to US, Then might other wives
and mothers hope that their husbands and sons
would be safe; and even Ue should be safe.
| We tell you that the man who sells to those
who are taking the first steps, and to drunk
ards Ohile get sober, is the author of all the
evil that follows. Say not that you do not
| know the husbands whose wives here address
you You know the men. The very instant
your eye fell on the caption of this address,
your mlRds reverted to the men Ofidle habits
and in1amsd countenances, who are daily Wis
itants al your bars. You know them, and we
their wives, here in the face of the whole com
munlty, and In the presence of God who will
Judge you, we beseech you to 6ll the intoxicat-
ing cup for them no more
Do not tell us you cannotrefuse them while
you sell to others. Stop selling to all and
your excuse will be groundless.
But if you will not do this sell no more to
our husbands and sons. When their money
and credit are gone, it will quickly be seen
whether you can or dare refuse them.
Cease to daub your conscience with such
untempered mortar as this
Tell US not that you and yours must live
No. tell not that to u.s. Must we die daily
death that you may live? Must eur families
pine with want that you may be fed? Must
our hopes perish, must shame and degradation
take up their abode in our homes, that the
wants of you and yours may be supplied -
Is it necessary that. you should live upon the
ruin of others?
'Tis false; there is no need thatyou should
live upon our misery. This land effers you
abundant means of support, without feeding
upon the wretchedness of others. And ifit
did not you had better starye, you had better
perish with cold and nakedness, than live by a
business which Prospers only by destroying
the peace of families, and by running men in
body soul and estate.
ThiIk not that you will obtain any real pros
perity, or true happiness by such a business
J, There are some sins SO fragrant, so daring, SO
destructive, that the vengeance of Heaven
cannot delay till life is over, but ssizSs on the
criminal here. The crime of making and vend-
/ ing intoxicating liquors is such sin. Seldom
perhaps never, dOss he who engages in this
business, escape retribution even In this life
Thousands have fallen into the pit they digged
for others; and often their sons and oven their
wives have stumbled after them. sa -
The money you obtain by this business viii
never bless you. The curse of God is on it
It will one day eat your. souls as doth canker
Every penny, every sixpence viii be heated
to seven-fold heat, and win burn into your
heart.
We appea! toyou by our tears and suffer
ings; by the shame you bring on our children
(as dear to US, as yours to you.) BY the ruin
, you bring on our domestic peace; by the feal
Of that God who shall judge you; by aregard
} for your own safety and that of your children
to forsake this business, and to sell intoxieat
ing dainks no more to our husbands.
We ask you to remember that ne thorn vii
f be planted in your dying pillow BY giving
heed to our prayer; and when you shall stanc
with US and our children, before the Judge o
all, the meeting will be less terrible, if 20.
;, cease from this hour, to send poverty, infamy
- and misery into our families.
,