Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-11-15
Gbuirt IitRraturR.
.aDDRESSto the Young Men cfths UNI
ted States, on Temperance,

ted Stdtes, on temperance,
BY RT. REV. C. P. NJ ILvAINE, D. D.,
Bishop ofthe Protestant Episcopal Church. :
In addressing the Young Men of the t
United States in regard TO the great en-
terprise of promoting the Universal pre- |
valence Of Temperance, we are not {
aware that any time need be occupied {
in apology. Our motives cannot be mis-
taken. The magnitude of the cause, and
the importance Of that cooperation in its
behalf which this address is designed to
promote, will vindicate the propriety of
its respectful call upon the attention Of
those by whom it shall ever be received.
1t is presumed that every reader is al
ready aware of the extensive and ener-
getic movements at present advancing
in our country in behalf Of Temperance.
That an unprecedented interest In this
work has been recently excited, and is
still rapidly strengthening in thousands
Of districts; that talent, wisdom, expe-
rience, learning and influence are now
enlisted in It's service, with measure of
zeal and harmony far supassing what was
ever witnessed before in such cause !;
that great things have already been ac-
complished; that much greater are near
at hand; and that the whole victory will
be eventually won, if the temperate
portion Of society are not wanting TO
their solemn duty, must have been seen
already by those living along the main
channels Of public thought and feeling.
Elevated, as we now are, upon high
tide Of general interest and zeal-a tide
which may either go on increasing it:
food till 1t has washed clean the very
mountain tops, and drowned intempe
rance 10 its last den; or else snbside, anC
leave the land infected with plague
the more malignant and incurable from
the dead remains Of partial inundatioI
lit has become a question Of universe
application. which those who are nov
at the outset Of their influence in socie
~ should especially consider Wha
can Ue do, and what ought we to do i
this cause 7" For the settlement of thi
question we invite you TO brief vie'
Of the whole ground on which tempe
rance measures are now proceeding.
II cannot be denied that our countr
is most horribly scourged by intempe
ance. In the strong language Of ScriE
ture, 1t groGneth and trGUGlleth IN pain,
be deIiUered from the bondage of this co
1uption. Our country is free; NTH
great price obtained we this freedom "
feel as if all the force of Europe cou
not get it from our embrace. Our shor
would shake into the depth of The g
the invader who should presume to SCI
it. One solitary citizen led away in
captivity, scourged, chained by f
eign enemy, would rouse the oIdt
nerve in the land to indignant complain
and league the whole nation in loud
mand for redress. And yet it cannot
denied that our country is enslaved.
Yes, we are groaning under most d.
olating bondage The land is trodd
down under its polluting foot. Our ia
ilies are continually dishonored, ravag
and bereaved; thousands annually sla
and hundreds of thousands carried aW
into loathsome slavery, to be ground
powder under its burdens, or broken
on the wheel of its tortures.
What are the statistics of this trafh
Ask the records of madhouses, and IL
will answer, that one-third of all Il
wretched inmates were sent there by
temperance. Ask the keepers of
prisons, and they will testify that, v
scarcely an exception, their horrible p
nlation is from the schools of IntemT
Ance. Ask the history of the 200,
psupers now burdening the hands Of ?
lie charity, and you will find that t
thirds of them have been the victi
directly or indirectly, of Intemperal
Inquire at the gates of death, and
viii learn that no less than 30, 900 S
are annually passed for the judgment
of God, driven there by Intempera
How many slaves are at present an
US. We ask not Of slaves to man,
to Intemperanee, in comparison
whose bondage the yoke of the tyra
freedom. They are estimated at 480,
And what does the nation pay fol
honor and happiness Of this whole
TEN of ruin9 FTee times as much,
Ve1r, as for the annual support of its ,
system Of government. These are tr
50 often published, SO widely sahctit
so generally received, and so little d
ed, that we need not detail the par
lars by which they are made out. '
then, is the whole amount of guilt
; of woe which they exhibit? Ask
"unto whom all hearts are. open, a