Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-07-25
"sTRAws SHOW" DC.

There are some who, despite the marked change
in moral, business and social life, occasioned BY
the Temperance reform-the tens of thousands
who have been caused by it TO abandon them
selves, and discountenance in others, the use of
strong drink-there are some, we say, who af
feet to believe that no great reformation has been
effected through the Agency of Temperance as
sociations. Facts, however, strongly prove the
contrary, one or two of which having recently
come to our notice, we will here briefly notice.
In looking over the ARTICLES of Agreement
between Contractors and the Directors of the
Central Rail Road, we find the introduction of
ardent spirits among the hands laboring on this
great State work, strongly interdicted. No con-
tractor is allowed 70 sell or give it to his hands,
nor is it to be introduced under any circumstan-
ces, except BY special permit from the Engineer
having charge ofthe work. Nor is any ~eontrac-
tor to employ any drunkard on the work, under
certain penaltiesll Now who will pretend to
say that this change in public sentiment has not
been brought about through the influence of
Temperance associations9 They have flooded
the country with light on this subject, and dem
onstrated that Temperance principles. are essen
tial to the successful and speedy completion of
every industrial enterprise and acting upon the
knowledge thus gained, the Directors ofthe N. c.
Rail Road have wisely determined to exclude it
entirely, with all its pernicious onsequences from
the operations of this great work. Is there moth
ing gained to the Temperance cause in thisi-
On the contrary, is it not a strong and tangible
: admission, that the principle Of total abstinence
is right A few years ago, when our Capital
was built and the Raleigh and CASTOR Rail Road
constructed, what would then have been thought
if such requirements had been madei Why it
would have been denominated rank fanaticism,
and this "abridging Of human rights" strongly
denounced. But how much better for the OPP
p~eratives would it have been had such interdic-
: tons prevailedl If no drunkard had been EN-,
ployed in building our State Capital, how much
sooner would that work have been completed
and how many made sober by this rule, would
have retired from the job with money in theil
4 pockets and their families well provided for
instead Of, as was the case, many of them, al
though receiving high wages, retired in debt
the liquor seller getting almost their entire wa
:, ges, their constitutions broken down, and thei
II families IN want ana suffering.
q Again--A correspondent informs Us TIA
m Messrs. Bland d Dunn, Contractors for til
q Stage route to the Western portion of Mort
ID Carolina, have determined to employ none bu
Temperance men, as drivers on their whole line
of These gentlemen are experienced Stagers, an
nd they know there is little, safety to the passer
nd gers and to the taking care of their own interest
e - IL -. -1..l - H. -. VI
Id honor these gentlemen for their noble and HI
name stand on this question for no portion
he the community have suffered more through il
an temperance, than have the travelling public /
lev the carelessness and recklessness of drunke
g. " stage drivers, engineers and conductors on RAJ
ere Roads, Steamboats,, &c. When this principle G
nd tablished by Messrs. B. d I. is universally q
oh, ted upon by those having the management
Of the modes of conveyance for travelling, as v
hat have no doubt it soon will be, then we shall 81
to dom hear of broken limbs and loss of life, nc
of so common to those who travel on our R
rel roads, kos "a rivers.
We would here add, that Messrs. Bland
the Dunn have stocked the road with a number
pa teams of horses, rarely equalled. The coacf
too are mostly all new and commodious, the driv,
try. gentlemanly, sober and oblfging, who will
ride everything in their power to make a journ
9TH under their guidance as agreeable and please
inal as the ease will admit. The fare from Salisbu
mer to Raleigh by Salem, although some miles out
the the way, is less than it used to be in going dir
de- from Greensboro to Salisbury. With these ex
the tons on the part of these gentlemen, to sci
4 to the Public, we think it but fair, that in retu
red, they should be literally patronized in usingth
g, a conveyance for travelling, especially since tn
ever is greater security for life and limb, in hav
.o-; sober men to hold the reins. Messrs. Bland
.mer Dunn, will bee INSTANTLY on the road and we h.
no doubt that ladies who are compelled to tr
less Ell without a friend or relative, will find am
oat security from unpleasant occurrences on tn
amt ll;nan