Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-04-01
THE WIDOWS SPEECH ON THE
LICENSE QUESTION.

This speech, though very short, goes to
the bottom Of the subject, and when well con-
sidored, will settle the question:
The Hon. George n Briggs, Ex-Governor
Of Massachusetts, delivered a temperance adj
dress some time since, in the course of which
he related the following anecdote with thrill
ling effect:
Mr.. Briggs said this question of the intro
duction Of Intoxicating drinks assumed some
what of a practical form last spring in a thri-
wing borough in Pennsylvania. The inhabi-
tants had assembled. as was their usual GUS
tom, to beside what numdcr, if any. of licen-
ccs the town should petition from the County
Court, from whence they arc issued. There
was a full attendance. One Of the most re-
spectacle magistrates Of the borough presided,
and upon the platform were seated, among
others, the clergyman of the village, one Of
his deacons, and the physician.
After the meeting had been called TO order,
one Of the most respectable citizens Of the bor-
ough rose, and after short speech, moved
that the meeting petition for the usual number
of licenses. They had better license good men,
and let them sell The proposition seemed
TO meet with almost universal favor II was
an excellent way to get along quictly-any
one, and then another in their turn expressed
their hope that such a course would be adopt
cd
The President was about to put the ques-
tion TO the meeting, when an object rose in a
distant part of the building, and all eyes were
instantly turned in that direction. 1t was an
old woman poorly clad. and whose careworn
countenance was the painful index of no light
suffering And vet there was something in
the fash Of her bright eve that told she had
once been what she was not then. She ad-
dressed the Prcsident and said, with his per-
mission. she wished to say few words TO the
meeting. She had come because she had
heard that they were to decide the license
question.
"You" said She "all know who | am You
once knew the mistress of one of the best es-
tates in the borough. once had husband
and five sons and woman never had a kinder
husband-mother never had five better or
more afcctionate sons. But where are they
now: Doctor. ask. where are they now; In
yonder burying ground there are six graves
filed by that father, and those five sons; and
o they are all drunkards graves. Doctor,
how came they TO be druukards You would
come and drink with them. and you told them
chat temperate drinking would do them good.
And YOU, too, sir addressing the clergyman
would come and drink with my husbands and
my sons thought they might drink with safety
because they saw you drink. Deacon, you sold
them rum, which made them drunkards. You
have got my farm and all my property. and
YOU got it all bv rum And now,' she said.
81 have done my errand. I 90 back to the
poor house. for that my home. You, revcr-
end sir. you, Doctor, and you, Deacon, shall
never meet again, until | meet you at the bar
Of God. where you, too, will meet my ruined
and lost husband and those five sons, who
through your means and influence, fin drunk
ards graves The old woman sat down
Perfect silence prevailed until broken by the
President, who rose and put the question to
the meeting "Shall VIC petition the court 10
issue licences this year, and then an unbro-
ken "No" which made the very walls reecho
with the sound, told the result Of the old wo-
mans appeal.