Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-09-15
What are we struggling for q

To Sons of Temperance, Rechabltes, knd
all others engaged in the great Temperance
Reformation, would we put this imporfnt
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS are We strugglingfl"
Is it for mere associational organization-tsel-
fish afinity-personal security Or is eur
great design the emancipation OF our race
from the evils Of Intemperance? II the latter
noble impulse is our rule of action, another
most important inquiry arises-How shall
we best accomplish this design? 10 an ex-
animation of this important interrogatory,
let us devote a few moments thought:
The first thought that arises is-What is
it against which we have to contend? At
one time fashion" or "habit," was thought
to be the great barrier in the way OF the sue
cess of temperance principles. This great
giant has been pretty well throttled-we have
almost entirely driven the decanter from the
side-board, the wine-glass 7cir=
Gle, and the labelled bottle from domestic
! pharmacy-and few men who have any re-
gard for public opinion openly visit the grog-
shopf for their bitters but still the evil OF
intemperance Notwithstanding, blasting
destroying by its ~ruinous influence. Public
+ sympathy, legal justice, religious sanctity
| social endearments have ali been invoked t.
n stay the mighty curse, but still the torrent Q
death dashes It's dark waves over the land q
if with redoubled fury on account Of th
slight impediments with which it has met
L Moral s~uasion, the thunders Of Gods law, re
" tributive Justice, and the vengeance Of injure
innocence, have alike proved impotent i
20 staying the hand of the fell destroyer. Hop
as for a moment, droops her golden pinions, an
!; asks-"C Can ~nothingmore be done?-ls Run
"a Che fffAh aagg89 ~46ffnfRA4 his efafaRRfffG SOD f fprf Fgssbd 5a d
d heard-migAty EFFEcTIvE !-Interdict the pc
a. son-outlaw it on the statute books of me
as it is cursed and denounced by the law
~ God!
liz Yes, fellow-citizens of North Carolina, "
. this complexion must we come at last par
in it should be our duty to arouse ourselves
lis the Importance and necessity of the measur
he Other States have adopted and tested it a
ed mirably. It is true, the traffic and use
all not entirely prevented, but it is greatly l
stricted and time and a faithful executit
on Of the law will drive it farther and farth
81 from the pale Of civilization.
~ But because it has not already brok
~, down and destroyed the traffic, some co
lid tend it is futile to legislate against 1T
rs; thing cannot be put down, and therefore,
nd is as we'll to let it run riot and do is ~
the leaving moral session and appeals to t
lth judgement and consciences CT men to coml
nd 1T alone! Sage conclusion. Have we /
oe- laws against theft, arson, murder-and q
~ not our criminal dockets crowded with
- dictments for the commission of these offenc
" Because they continue despite of law. sh
III all enactments against them be repealed
We. No one is foolish enough to contend for 81
our a course. Then, let us place the traffic unC
the ban of law; denouace instead of license
nds and with faithful public officers, fthe evil
me not entirely stayed, it will b~emightily checI
I've IN its ravages. THE TRAFFIC is the point
tex attack-let all good men bring their artiIl,
val to bear upon it.