Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1850-09-06
ALCOHOLIC ~STIMULANTs

HAOOAAO1AS OAAAACA 1
OF all the vices which ensnare mankind.
none have chung with mOic ~tenacity to him,
than the appetite for alcoholic stimulants. The
lust Of conquest and the desire for gain, have
each welded an influence destructive Of the
peace of society, and subyersiVe Of the happi-
ness of individuals to such an extent, as to
alarm The friends of humanity, and 10 shock the
benevolent feelings Ofall philanlhrOpisis. Fire;
Pestilence and the sword, have in their turn,
devastated the fairest portions Of the earth, and
made many of The most beautiful spots on the
globe, desert and bowling wastes. Lofty cities
have been iunbled TO destruction 10 satisfy the
ambition of a few designing and unptincipled
men ; while communities have been enslaYed,
and the seinblance even Of human liberty has
been driven from the earth. The desire Of
gain, and the lust Of a~yirice, have deadened the
feelings of humanity in whole communities, and
broken asunder the tics which bound people to-
gether.
But all the worst passions Of man combined,
have not exer,ed 0ne 1.-THE Of the influence for
i'll, which has marked the track of The demon
alcohol. Mankind were aware that ambition,
~avarice and the other vices in the catalogue of
crime, were open enemies to their raee-and
seeing their evil effects and destructive tenden-
cies, were able, in a great degree, to stop their
Influence and establish such a state Of public
feeling, as was warranted by the relations they
owe 10 each other but this hydra-headed mon
ster, insinualing itself into all ranks and orders
If society, in lAs guise Of friendship, in the
midsi Of its embFaees. plarted . dagger into the
bosonis Of illsse who embraced it. Not regarded
as an enemy, il had free access 10 the hearts
and houses Of all-carrying destruction in its
path, and spreading hiJeous ruin whichever i.
went-not "a the torrent or the wLirlwind in
dreadful majesty and open horror, but with The
merciiess and assassain- like tread Of the savage,
who gluats over his victim in secret, aud stabs
him TO the heart, when he least expects it.
, Such have been its evil effects, and so blind
have mankind been to it, that it has been DER.
United 10 stalk forth unmolested, and commit
{ lis deeds Of death and destruction almos; with
out any opposition. But the eyes Of good men,
Of patriots and Ihilaa;hropisls, have been turn.
ed to II they have resolved 10 stop lis work d
devastation and TO free the race from, The rau.
y ing letters which are bearing them down. va.
: rious societies have sprung up, whose objeei
e was the suppression Of this must ~nefarious Gus.
, tom they have nnurisfed had their influence
and decayed. The good they have dune, Ia.
{ not died with slem-it Aas4igad ssg hear.
! Of many, andeis now operating upon thousands.
r who would else have been hoaelessIy ruined.-
But amidst the progress Of this enlightened are
. an institution has sprung up which has defed
the sPeculations Of philosophy, as to its prog.
ress, and asionished lis friends and the friend,
OF humanity by the rapid advances il has mads
g in the work of redeeming fallen man from hi:
: degrading condition, and e~leyating him 10 that
r position which the God Of nature intended he
= should occupy. Eternal ennlily by its infu.
a ence, mast be established between man snd
7 king alcohoEand the SoSs o. TrMpEnAsc,
may say TO their fellow man, beware, Jeueare.
: sof the monster.
: 'Look, when he fawns he bites and when he
bites,
Ills venom tooth will rankle to The death.
Have not 10 do with him, beware Of him:
oin' death, and hell, have SET their marks on
him.
: And all their ministers attend on him.,