Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-06-06
THE TEMPERANCE Preparation.

temperature eiofnlhuonsIn reaSOnaDleness Oilts
and principles, the innocent simplicity !
of its demands and the extensive utility of its
aim, places it beyond the reach of {
cavil. The history Of its progress, has been
the history of the t~riumphs of reason and NOR
atty. 1t presents one of the most splendid evil
dences of the almost unlimited power of moral
capacity; and ofthe benefits as unlimited in guam
tity, as important in quality, which may result
to the world from the exercise ofmoral energy.
It presents a series of successes attendant upon
the Developments of truth and reason, ~unparal-
lelled either in ancient or modern times, both in
their extent, and in their beneficial results, to the
political and religious world, and to social and
individual happiness.
Irs OBJEcT-The Reformation, under all names.
has had for its object the suppression Of intern
perance; an evil as enormous in its extent and
magnitude, as dangerous and destructive in its
effects and consequences an e~gregious national
sin, than which none, more at war with nation
a, social and individual happiness, and the puri-
ty of our institutions. ever crept into our sys-
tenn of self-government. There was no limit to
the evil, it infested every part of the country,
cursed almost every social circle, and polluted
every channel in our system. It infested the
halls of legislation, disgraced the bench, the pull
pit and the bar, and threatened to rob that pal
ladium of justice, the jury, of its integrity.
" Each mortal seemed to boast the power, at least,
In transformation, TO become a beast"
The simple means of intemperanee cost our
country millions of money, and its results, thou
sands of lives and incaleulable abasement and
misery. Millions more were expended annually,
to relieve the country of its baleful train of con
sequences. About three-fourths of our taxes
went to its support. For nearly all our paupers
and about nineteen-twentieths Of all our crimi-
mails were the offspring of this monster. 1t filed
our hospitals and assylums with insanity and
disease. burdened the community with loathsome
~lindolenee and deprayity, stagnated the channels
of industry, and robbed labor of its wages. Thu
evil had become of such a formidable magnitude
that none were safe, scarce a family escaped
without yielding up one or more of its member
r to the seducements of this great Moloch. Their
was a general deterioration of the physical an,
moral character. Itpolluted religion, and under
mined virtue, destroyed hope, and robbed affec
: ton Of its endearments. 1t promoted ever
thing bad, and counteracted every thing good
And it was a marked and fearful feature, in til
y character of this evil, that it brought no cummr
ting benefits, no redeeming equivalents. In a
n its features, in all that it was capable of doing
in its influences and effects, it was evil, only evi
and that continually. That this was, and is, an
ever viii be the character of intemperance, a
a viii have the candor to admit, for all reaso
: proves it, and all experience confirms it.
ITs PnoGREss-Every new phase which ii
4 Temperance reformation has assumed, gives sti
stronger prospects ofthe redemption ofman fro
the evil of intemperanec. Each new organic
ms ton, improving by the defects and experien,
L. of its predecessor, has added new safeguards an
In facilities for the accomplishment of its object
The Order of the Sons of Temperance is the !
test organization of this benevolent and patric
ic cause, and with the rapid fight of a celesti
r. bird, it has winged its way into every city al
nd town, every village and hamlet, from the s
OIL Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico, from the shor
lis of the Atlantic to the Pacific. And it has CT
ce. ried ga healing in its wings" an admoniti
lte in its voice, that deserves the gratitude of
mt igion, and the applause Of virtue. For temp
eh ance has purified the channels Of the natio
re- prosperity of their corruption, exalted the sti
dard of morals, taught virtue TO lift up her hei
religion to assert her voice, and given to all W
nts receive her, the reward of peace and happinC
- Sophistry has been COMPOUNDED, prejudice di
the pated, habit andbigotry overcome, error enlig
TIL ened, honesty in unbelief redeemed, misery a
de- waited, abasement regenerated, property T
the served. The habitations of sorrow, have b.
,ers made to smile with hope and cheerfulness,
the hum of industry is heard in the places that "
the deserted, plenty has relieved penury and WI
parents and sons wandering in the insanit,
intemperance have been restored, vice has b
uprooted and crime arrested;-the whirlpool
con- folly has been robbed of halfits victims, and
ring angel of destruction has been cheated of his
10. vest
is And the blessings of the temperance refol
ton do not stop here. In the great moral r
luton that has taken place, new light has
thrown upon the conduct of life, upon the
Enlistment of the social system, and men
mo- been taught to contemplate the purposes
ted a which they were created, and the relation W
e the they should sustain, to each other, and to
Almighty Creator. They have been taught,
DR.. IN a community oil human beings a vast am
and of individual responsibility rests upon e
member; and that for the full discharge of
responsibility, will they be accountable to l
en-. They have been shown that intempel
any or its encouragement, is inconsistent with {
" mn tan practices and the profession of religi,
ialYe Temperance societies have therefore lent a
IN for I'll band 70 rol;o;or They have also en1
emile - uou1d nth tho ros,l+s IF so;or+it