Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-04-21
An Overwhelming Speech.

The Hon. George N. Briggs, eI-GoV-
eFnor Of Massachusetts,, delivered 4 TEN.
Peranee address some time since, 10 the
course Of which he related the following
anecdole, With thrilling effect:
Mr.. Briggs sail this question Of the in.
PRODUCTION ofintoxicaiing drinks assumed
somewhat Of practical from last spring,
in q thriving borough in Pennsylvania.
The inhabitants had assembled, s was
their usual custom, to decide what number,
IL any Of licenses the town should petition
from the county court. from whence they
we're issued. There was full attendance.
One Of the most respectable magistrates
Of the borough presided, and upon the
platform we're seated, among Others, the
clergyman Of the village, one Of bis deacons
aud the physician.
After the meeting had been called to
order, one Of tie most respectable citizens
Of the borough rose and, after q short
speech, moved that the meeting petition
for the usual number Of licenses. They
bad better license good men, and let them
sell, The proposition seemed 10 meet
with almost universal favor. 1t was an
excellent way to get along quietly, and
one and then another in turn expressed
their hope that such a course would be
adopted. The President was about to
put the question 10 the meeting, whea an
object rose in distant part ofthe building,
and all eyes we're instantly turned in that
direction. 1t was an old woman, poorly
clad, aud whose eareworn eountenance was
the painful index cf no light suffering
And yet there was something 10 the flash
Of that bright eye that told she bad once
been what she,wss not now. She addressed
the President, and said, with bis permiss.
ion, she wished to say few words to the
meeting. She bad come. because she had
heard that they were TO decide the license
question.
"You," said she, "all know who l am.
You once new me the mistress Of one Of
the best estates in the borough. l once
had husband and FIVE sons; and a wo-
man never had a kinder busband--mother
never bad five better or more affectioEste
sons. But where are they nowl Doctor,
| ask where are they nowi In yonder
burrying ground there are SIX graves filled
by that husband and those five sons, and
oh! these are all drunksrd's graves. Doc
tor how came them they TO be drunkardS !
You would come and drink with them,
and told that temperate drinking
would do them good. And you too, sir.
the clergyman, would come and
drink with my husband; and my sons
thought they might drink with safety, be-
cause they saw you drink. Deacon, you
sold them run which made them drunk
ards. You have now got my farm and
all my property, ,and you got it all by rum.
And now," she said, 81 have done my err
rand. go back to the poor house, for
that is my home. You, reverend sir, you,
doctor, and you, deacon, l shall never meet
you again, Hntil meet you at the bar Of
God, when you too will meet my ruined
and lost husband and those five soRs, WHO,
your means and influence, filed
the drunksrd's graves" The old women
sat down. Perfect silence prevailed, until
broken BY the President, who rose to put
the question to the meeting-shall we Pc
tition the court to issue license to this bor-
ough the ensueing year? And then one
unbroken "Noi" which made the very
walls re echo with the sound, told the re-
suit of the old women's appeal.