Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-04-04
w Answer to the Enigmain our last paper
JoIN H SoNs OF TEMPERANCE"
RUM-SELLING AND MODERATE
DRINKING"

Which of these two great obstacles to the
universal spread of Temperance principles has
proved the greater barrier to this great moral
reform, is a question which may well be con-
sidered. The evil effects of the one, and the
pernicious example Of the other, are SO fatal
and wid~e-extended, that it is impossible to com
pute them. Let a grog shop, for the first time,
be established in a community hitherto pros
porous and industrious, where peace and plen-
ty smiled around, and how soon does a visible,
a sad change take placel 1t is seen in neglec-
ted farms, dilapidatA houses, torn down fen
ces, deserted workshops ;-haggard wives,
ragged children and squalled poverty meet the
passer by at every turn. The grog shop or
tavern is the only place of resort-the church
is forgotten, and the Spirit of the Still usurps
the place of the Spirit of Grace. All that is
noble, all that is holy and of good repute, is
swallowed up in the appetite for strong drink.
Who can compute the evils that this agent of
hell, the grog-shop keeper, has entailed upon
that community and who can say how great
an agency he has had in preventing the spread
of the benign and health-giving principles of
Temperance.
But, on the other, how disastrous to their
advancement is the habit of " moderate drink
ing?" The " moderate" drinker may emphat-
ically be styled the Apostle of DrunkardsL
because his example is cited as security in the
49,, sa liz ,re,,a a,I laole ls,nI-aJ. $1,000
ed of less selfcontrol, down into the lowly
depths of drunkenness and degradation. Il
ALL who partake of the maddening bowl were
~drunkards, the system of drinking would have
a s~alutary, rather than a deleterious effect
The inebriate is a living, acting, constant Tenn
perance Lecturer! His course, his fate and al
connected with him, are wavering remonstran
ees to all who partake of the intoxicatin;
draught but not SO with the quiet, respecta
bic moderate 4" drinker, who never trans
/ crosses the "rules of propriety," so termed
but fashionably partakes Of it in the social Gil
Gle, or in the gilded saloons of amusement an
i enjoyment The young witness their exampl
7 compare their course with the vile and filth
drunkard-and vainly conclude that they to
can partake in safety of the sparkling and eA
. hilarating beverage. And thus is paved tn
= way to despair and ruin.
Each of these causes, doubtless, exert a TT,
S mendous influence against the progress of TIT
abstinence and until the odiousness ofthe or
can be made SO apparent as to bring it I'M
popular disrepute, and to cause the Withdraw
al of the shield and protection approved it |
the latU, the moral and humane portion of Il
community will be left to mourn over its raw
e ges. And until the respectable and %inluenti
> of our citizens shall understand, appreciat
40 and act out their duty, in discountenancing t
evil of drinking, in " moderate " as well as il
moderate qualtics-families, communities al
the world will groan under the weight of f
IN ponderous car Of Intemperance, as its hea
re wheels shall crush and destroy the brigh'
re hopes of family affection, State character a
Religious influence. God send the worlC
Isl speedy deli,erance from both rum-selling a
:. moderate" as well as immoderate drinkiI