Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-05-09
THE LIQUoR TRAFFIC.

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Public opinion is fast settling down upon the
conviction, that to this system, chiefly, if not
is to be attributed the perpetuation Of
drunkenness in the land. Public Lecturers
may declaim; the Press may expose, and or
ganized Associations labor, for the purposes Of
rescuing the incbriate and saving those who
have not yet fallen victims to the fell-destroyer;
but still, little permanent good will be accom-
plished, while these Barracks are kept open with
their thousands of Recruiting Sergeants scat
tered throughout the entire country, e~nlisting
and fitting up the ranks of the Drunkard's
Army, faster than all our concentrated efforts
can depopulate them. We say, this fact is be-
coming to be seen and felt by the people, and
we rejoice in the suspicious signs of the times,
that the day is not far distant, when the bust
ness will become so disreputable, that no hon
orable man will be found who can SO far COM
promit his own selfrespect and his duty to his
fellow-men, as to be engaged in it.
To effect this desired end, all classes of the
religious, moral and virtuous portions of our
citizens, must lend their aid, countenance and
exertions. The burden of the work must not
be thrown upon the Temperance Associations
Of the country. By the very nature ofthe or
ganization of the "Sons" they cannot, in their
associated capacity, interfere with any matters
connected with either Church or State. They
dare not seek an interference with the laws of
the land, or the politics of the country nor do
they desire to do so. Their only province is to
enEighten; to persuade and exhort their fellows
to an abandonment of the manufacture, pur-
chase sale or use of all Intoxicating drinks
But in this philanthropic work, they crave the
aid of all good classes oftheir fellowcitizens-
If you will not unite with US in our Association,
we think you should at least give countenance
and encouragement to eur efforts, by ayowing
the truthfulness of the doctrines we advance.
7 Let all your influence energy and talents be
thrown in the scale of Temperance-for the ex-
5 position of the liquor-trafic with all its abomi-
nations-the deleterious effects it is e~xertine
S on the social, moral and religious destiny of
: mantle crime, paupery, misery and death it
r IS engendering and has accomplished-in a
word, let the Press the Pulpit, the Bar, the La
y boratory, the Forum and the Legislative Halls,
d with the voice of wisdom, experience and infu-
ence, lay bare to the public gaze the enormities
of the abominable traffic, and soon the masses
will be so enlightened and aroused to the i'm.
porta nee of the subject as to cause an erasure
d of the foul stain from our statute book which
~legaizes so wicked a trade, and 1t will be con
signed to a grave so deep that it can neyei
again be revived to disgrace and blight thu
fair face ofGod's creation.
a These are the means ace seek to bring abou
e this desired result. Statutory DEGREES and en-
actments will prove futile and Of no avail to ef
feet the object, if the popular mind-the mass
n es-do not desire it. But let those who &C
70 upon the minds of the masses in other thing,
exert themselves in this behalf, and then, AM
not until then, will they be apprized of tn
m grinding tyranny of the abominable system
% God speed the happy day when North CAROL
ma shall dissolve her copartnership with tina
h. business which is robbing her citizens, destroy
ing their lives, and empoverishing the land.