Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-07-23
TEMPERANCE QUESTION.

We are not now prepared TO say we arc in
favor Of The Maine Law. so called, but VIC
arc prepared 10 sey, we will not support or
vote for any man, who is not a thorough tenn
perance man We will never again support
any drunkard, tippler or moderate drinker-
From this our bona tide purpose, no party or
pecuniary interest or interests shall cause us
to swerye one jot or title. f,hc consequen
ces Of this declaration we are regardless
So long as we WELD public press, we wiR
through it, speak out our honest convictions
and sentiments; and when we shall be no
longer able to sustain ourself in SO doing, we
will retire from the business. To those of
our readers who may be startled at this an
nouncement we wish to PROFOUND question
or two: Are not we as q people, literally
groaning under the burden Of enormous and
grievous taxation In all candor. how much
do you suppose, our readers, of our money is
annually guzzled down the throats Of our tip
pling, drunken Legislators and public officers
How much of a liquor bill do you suppose
we will have to foot for our legislators Of last
winter? Have you any recollection of the
drunken blackguard rows and 6sticuffs among
some of our dign6ed(?) Legislators of Ohio
during their last session? Please think of
these questions until our next issue.
On the subject of temperance, the most
important subject for politica! action before
the people of Ohio, at this time. we desire not
to be ultra or unreasonable; We wish to speak
the plain truth in plain language.
We entertain no unkind feelings towards
any man, or class ofmen. If we had never
SO much power to njure liquor trafickers or
liquor drinkers, we would not lift an unfriend-
ly hand TO disturb one hair of their heads
We wish simply 10 exercise that right, vouch-
safed to us by the Constitution of our country,
and by the Ruler of the Universe; the right
to defend our life, our liberty, our happiness.
We have felt the cursing, withering, blight
ing influence of intemperance-we now feel
it, and shall perhaps, until we go down to the
grave Even now while we write the most
poignant, painful feelings gil our breast
Bitter, bitter, unbidden sorrows and regrets
come yelling up from the deep fountains of
our heart. Sad, very sad, are the remem-
brances of dear friends of our youth, whose
graves we're green long ago-whose graves
are those of the drunkard Unutterably sad.
are the recollections of those who were bop6d
to us by the strong and affectionate <fes Of
consa' !yuinity, who-have fallen victims to the
unreenting, and fell monster alchohol We
were never drunkard or what might be cal
led moderate drinker, but our daily orison
is, "lead us not into temptation" And is
this silly prayer? Is it only the wild promp-
tings Of some extravagani hallucina!ion of a
fevered and distorted imagination? All no,
NO. Who is safe from the bewtching temp
tatOns of the sparkling wine cup? Who have
f fallen victims to "strong drink" The weak
and the simple, the low and the ignorant on
ly? We all know such is not the case. Emp
erors and Statesmen--the strongest and most
brilliant intellectual giants have fallen before
the savage monster. Nay, even some of the
first Ministers of the Gospel, have fallen from
the sacred desk into inebrates' graves. All
our readers we need not go from home tc
r prove to you beyond the shadow of doubt
: the assertion to be true, that not one soul o.
. our race is safe, SO long as he lives within the
4 reach aud influence of liquor venders ant
/ liquor sellers. Permit us to say, in this illu
sion to home, we desire to wound the feel
ings Of no man. We say it not through il
. will, nor in mace-we say it in the utmost
spirit of kindness and with heartfelt regre
nj but the truth must be told, though tht
y heavens fall"
o We have remarked that we were no
d prepared to say that we believe the "Main'
It Law" to be the best law; but we are pre-
o pared to say, We are decidedly in favor @
J. rigid and efficient Legislation on the subjec
l. of the liquor trade; and we would rathe
have the "Maine Law" or one even NOR
IS severe, rather than have a bad inefficien
l. law, or no law at all, to restrain the oui
II rageous, barbarous, nefarious and damnabl
Il business of running men in this life, and j
e that which is to come,