Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-07-04
STRANGE DELUsIoN.

There are some men who indulge in strong
drink, who absolutely seem to regard every a.
vowed Temperance man as their open enemy
They suffer no opportunity to pass unimproved,
for iDdulging in gross personal abuse and vitu-
peration of all who take any prominence in the
temperance reformation, as though they behold
in such persons men who were disposed to do
them a positive injury. Now how preposter-
Gus, absurd and unjust is such a course of con-
duct. The temperance reformer can by no pro-
cess of reasoning be made to assume any other
character than that of q phiLdnthropist. He
seeks to do his fellow-men good his object is
to estrange men from a habit which is subver-
sive of social enjoyment, ruinous to the we'll
being of society, destructive to character and
reputation, and insulting to the laws of God and
man. He seeks to keep in the man owns pock-
ct that of which he is robbed by the rum-seller
he desires to induce all men to adopt a course of
life which will ensure to each individual a grea-
ter amount of personal respect, more influence
to do good for others in the community around
him-that will give him a clearer head, a heart
more warm and generous to oil the nobler i'm
! purses Ol HulidIlllN-iI4ab VIII mdhe MIN u bel-
ter father. a more dutiful son, a more affection
ate husband, a more devoted friend-a better citi-
zen and q purer christian. Is it not strange
then, that such persons can he regarded IN the
light that some seem to look at them And how
is such astonishing conduct to be accounted for
Simply from the deceitfulness of the disease
they seek to eradicate and remove Appetite
and passion have 60 far gotten the mastery of
such men, that they attribute every thing like
opposition to their qualification as positive en-
nifty to then1-and hence they look upon tenn
peranee men as almost a deadly enemy and
would gladly avail themselves of favorable OPP
portunity to do them an iniuryi
Now how unjust and ungenerous is such a
course of conduct. The strongest impulse that
a~ctutates the heart of a Temperance reformer is
to do good to his fellow-man; and many seek tc
do this at the sacrifice of personal interest, ease
and comfort. They are found in the highways,
by-ways and private walks of life, seeking TO re
store the fallen, TO revive the sinking hopes, en-
couraging the desolate and abandoned, warning
and entreating those are but Just entering upor
their downward career, and endeavoring by al
means in their power to set the prison er fire.,
and give life and liberty to the captive. Is sucl
an one deserving os opprobrious epithets?-
Should such an one be treated with scorn anC
derision by the very men for whom he is sacri
fcing SO muchl If personal aggrandizement o
earthly glory were the goal of ambition to whicl
E these men were looking, there might be som
excuse for undertaking their efforts, but cvel
e then the goodness of their deeds should aware
them some need of praise; but when no such mo
q tive impels, but a generous, philanthropic i'm
: pulse moves them forward, are they not entitle,
to the respect and gratitude of their fellow-me
for their labors in this department of benevc
/ lence and enterprisei And who is there so IN
e just as to withhold ii.