Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-12-12
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

The evils, injustice and enormities of the
traffic, in intoxicating beverages, is at the pres
ent time exciting the attention and considera-
ton of every portion of this vast Confederacy.
And it is high time that the people were aroused
upon this subject that those who from sad
experience Ito use the language of the Ken
lucky Era) or observation are satisfied of the
deleterious influences exercised by. the vending
of intoxicating drinks, and who know and feel
that it is the greatest bar to public and private
prosperity, should no longer stand with their
arms folded, hoping for a change for the bet
ter, when every day furnishes renewed evidence
that the march of the destroyer is onward, and
the number Of his victims ~fearfully on the in
crease. It is idle, worse than idle, to do moth
ing more than talk of moral suasion. In the
midst of the noise and confusion, JOY and sor-
row, gladness and grief created by this invete-
rate foe of mankind, the voice of reason is on
ly heard by a few. The masses, in their mad
dened course of sin and folly, hear it with SO
faint an ear, that it makes not the slightest i'm
preston, and they rush heedlessly on to de-
struction.
The temptations and opportunities for indul-
gence are so great, and desire for the destruc-
A;S~- 100 st-ong. os to make it afnoStune-
quail contest, and reason is left in a hopeless
minority.
Actions speak louder than words" is an
old and most true adage and is almost enough
of itself to prove the propriety of an energetic
and continual movement that will effectually
suppress the traffic. Saint, sage, and sophist
may speak and write till dooms-day, and the
effect will be almost nothing, if all they say
and write is merely to end in cords.
/! The truth, the iDiquity of the traffic, has been
boldly, plainly, and, to ONE extent, convin-
cingly spoken, and yet it fourishes, the num-
Der of dens for the manufacture and sale are
upon the increase, and will continue to increase
as long as they are permitted under the sane
ton of law to do so, and the trade made hon.
orabIe, according to the statutes in such case
made and provided. And just so long as they
are permitted to exist, just so long will they
increase. Every young and old man that is
induced to enter and partake, adds to the list
of consumers, and contributes towards creating
the necessity for other bars, more decanters
the w~herewithal to fill, and iends to man.
age them, and most dishonesty impoverish
all who com within their power.
Every dictate, therefore, of common sense
proclaim the absolute necessity fora suppress.
ion ofthe traffic-a breaking up root and branch
of the entire trade in all that can intoxicate.-
Then may we hope for a reform in the morals
and prosperity of the hundreds and thousands
who are now, ~ruinously to themselves, uphold
ing the plague spots with which the country
is infested and then may w also look for AZ
improvement in the happiness of hundreds anc
thousands who nave not sinned, and yet are
the greatest sufferers, by a misery entailed OF
| +hpps by those WIG shnnld have sk:eldod tho,
from harm, but who, regardless of Nove anc
duty, have yielded to temptation, and permit
ted a love of liquor to absorb every faculty o
the soul.