Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-03-17
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
aHUMBUG AND CANT"

Having seen in a late number of the Will
mington Journal, an article with this ominous
heading, intended, no doubt, as an attack
although a covert one, on the Temperance
movement now so nobly progressing in our
much favored Town, l beg the privilege of
replying, through the columns Of your valua-
bic paper, to the small man of the paper from
whence the good cause has received such a
tremendous broadside. ! am we'll aware OF
the risk l run of being annihiiated, in dar-
ing TO enter the list with such a champion.
but "truth is mighty and must PREVAIL
The Editor Of the Journal is the last man
that should have aimed his deadly shaft al
"Humbug," for it is hi5 own peculiar element
Who, | ask, s~ustains the "Humbugs" Of the
dayl Are we not daily, or l should have
said nightly, invited to witness the perfor
nance Of some "Humbug" at this or tina
place. Perhaps the Editor has no share in
the "Humbugs," only in extending the in
-vitation, to the press he may however re-
ceive some Of the crumbs that fall from the
table.
Some people, he says, might be found il
this place, that would p~atronize that greet
OuIADuWs JHG HAdAAlG LAW GS MI OIrn1l,
and no small some either and so far from
their being "Humbugs," fanatics, or would
be-christians," they are second to none for
responsibility or standing in the comrunity,
as the list Of names presented to our Commits
%Sioners, testify numbering over three hundred,
for the suppression of Licenses to Retail the
accused beverage, that has filled our poor
hpttuaa NTH FNaYVnnro u - e.,rxnrta1 hU fho
sober industrious citizens. The Jail, too, is
no small item to be sustained as a beading
and lodging house, for hat worthless class
always found in every commercial commun
ity and not last nor least, our Court House
where from eight to twelve times in the year
are our peaceful citizens torn from their bust
ness, as talesman, TO supply jurors to sit OF
cases, seven out OF every ten of which arC
the result of Intemperance and some more
able fnaneier could give us the amount, il
dollars and cents, that the citizens of GU
Town pay annually, in support of this "Hum
bug" that would surprise even the friends o
the Maine law. Perhaps the Journal vii
be kind enough to furnish the desired infor
nation or will hesay to his fellow citizens
"be patient, gentlemen, it is "bigoted an
foolish to make the attempt to throw off tn
yoke you will only increase the curse
Moral suasion is the only sure remedy"
For seven years have we applied that re
medy, and with what result ! True, it il
we have crippled the monster, but it is
mere flesh wound, that the moment our el
ertion ceases will again be healed and tn
rising generation become q prey to this il
sidious foe. The Journal man well know
as he has candidly confessed, hat the use (
spirituous liquors is a "Humbug," and k
this truth, he has my sincere thanks.
So much for "Humbug"-aud o f
the "cant !" On this subject | can't So
much, for fear, first, the Editor can't fir
room for this article and in the next plac
there are 50 many ways Of cant-ing that
hardly know where first to take hold. b
/ do think, that if the muckle man had n
canted his little finger over his thumb, l
would not, nay, could not have thrown t
gether such a bundle Of contradictions f
what purpose, is best known to himself. Or
more cant, Mr.. Journal man, and | sha
cant no further, at present you can't stC
that Temperance Ball. TETOTALER.