Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-07-18
TnLFRATIaN

Liberty of speech and of the press are the
boastsd birth-rights of American freeman
These attributes Of constitutional liberty, are
lauded praised and sung, by heroes, patriots
and poets and yet how often do we witness on
the part Of those whoboast Of this blessing, a
disposition to abridge the right on the part of
Others. Aslong as expressions and views are in
accordance with their notions of thing, it is all
well enough, but if an independence in thought
is manifested, or breaking loose from estab-
lished customs and opinions is exhibited, the fell
spirit of intolerance and persecution is aroused,
and the privileges SO vauntingly boosted Of,
would gladly be eireurnscribed to very narrow
limits, if not abrogated altogether.
Such is the spirit of the opposition with which
the Temperance reformation has had to contend.
A decided expression of opinion as to the duties
Of Temperance men, morally and politically, is
an offence that cannot be tolerated" Men
may without censure deal out the poisonous bey-
erage of hell to their felIow-men; they may by
its circulation at the hustings and public gath
erings, infame the minds of the masses causing
them to imbrue their hands in their brothers
blood, and insult and abuse their defeneeless
families-they may, without rebuke, take from
the inebriate husband and father the last dime,
for strong drink, while his wife and children are
starving for bread-all these things they may
do, and it is intolerance" to eensure OF de-
~nounee them in their death-dealing business
and it is rank seditionto speak of Withdrawing
the illegal right" for them to do sol
Yes, when the philanthropist whose heart j.
madeto bleed at witnessing such scenes in the
true spirit of benevolence and charity, suggests
as the proper remedy for this evil that Temper.
ance men should act Commercially together for the
suppression of an evil so direful in its tenden.
a ey-then, forsooth, they are treading on forbid
den ground-no federation" is to be extended
to men who teach such doctrines no matter who
. they are, or what stations they may I'll. Such
! expressions of opinion are treated as abridgine
: the rights ofmen to make drunkards, guaranteed
by law, and therefore as reasonable and revo
3 lutionary. Great fears are expressed for the full
exercise of the Liberties Of the grog seller
but no sympathies are excited for the ~enslaxec
and deluded inebriate. Away with this doubl,
? tongued, hypocritical, demagogical can't.
We hold it to be the duty of all good citizen
to aid in the removal of any custom, law Of
0 principle, whose tendencies are "the creates
{ evil to the greatest number "-or in good demo
cratic phrase-to aid in building up and sus
tanning that which shall prove "the grea
/" test good to the greatest number" If the Gus
tom of treating at elections and public gather
5 ings. be a system productive of more evil tina
5 good, then it is our duty to aid in its suppress
4 ion. If the license law is a system by whic
E the greater number are impoverished and dir
graced, is it not our duty as good eitizens-d,
m~ocratie republican citizens-so to proclaim il
and use all proper efforts for its erasure frOI
= our Statute bOoki PROFESSIONALLY Then ID
US hear no more Of the supercilious cry, thu
Temperance men are threading on. forbidde
grounds, when they contemplate the removal 4
the great fountains Of an evil which they al
striving to suppress.