Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-03-17
A DISCLAIMER

A Disclaimer.
There is a remark in tht article from the Will
journal, disposea of by a cOrrespon- da
dent in another column, which if designed to VIZ
operate to the prejudice ofthe Sons of Temper tn,
ance, is as disengenuous AIT is unkind. The is
sentence we refer to is as follows: tn
Temperance is purely a natter of moral OBJ 81
legation and is no more within the legitimate te
province of legal compulsiOu than piety, yet n
this Maine law would convert the State into a
gigantic Division of the SOns pf temperance. =
not enforcing Temperance by @Sral suasiOn and n
voluntary pledges, but compelling it under the O
sp6in5 and penalties of the law" n
The impression evidently conveyytdb by this re- p
mark whether designedly or not We cannot v
say is, that the Sons of Temperance in their Di- 6
vision roome, are seeking, under the pains and
penalties of the law, to force men into the adop- c
ton of their principles. A more urnitigated |
SANDER was never perpetrated against our Or
der by its vilest enemies; and facts viii not
bear out the assumption in any State in the Union
The Sons of Temperance have ever mainhined,
and do not now depart from their Original and
marks, that moral and voluntary obligations are
the means relied on for the building up 81 the
Order, and no other sentiment is inculcated in
their associated capacity. The movement br
prohibitory enactments, in Maine, New YorE,
Massachusetts,, or any other State, did not orig
nate with the Sons of Temperament was the
work ofthe People, by whose sovereign power
many a foul stain has before been expunged
from the Statute-books of the country, and many
a pot-house demagogue been swept into the sea
of infamous oblivion.
But, to be explicit and definite: In the State
f of Maine, there are not &c, 200 Sons of Temper
= ance, all told, if every man were rallied through.
out her entire borders. And yet petitions were
sent into the Legislature signed by five times
that number of her citizens, asking the adoption
Of stringent legal cnactments for the suppression
e ofthe traffic. The voice of the people was obeyed,
$ and as good democratic republican legislators,
V the vile system was abolished. Look at Massa-
!, chusetts, where there are perhaps fewer Sons OF
Temperance than in Maine, and yet petitions,
containing the signatures of from 40, 900 to so.
n 900 citizens of the old Bay State, have asked the
= Maine Law at the hands of her Legislature. Sc
in New York. The most extravaganza calcula
ton cannot foot up 100, 900 Sons of Temperance
in that State; and nearly than half a million
of her people have petitioned for the Maine
Law. 1t is the people, Unfortunately, who
are moving in this matter, not simply the TEN
f. perance Societies.
But, say you, the Sons of Temperance. Rech
abites and other organizations, have been til
means OF Infringing about this revolution in pub
lie sentiment. All there you are right,-tbi
"a
: is our province. We believe in the good oil
democratic doctrine that maiorities of the pee
pie generally do right, and when they are brough
TO consider the illimitable evils attendant upol
the liquor laws as they exist in most of tn,
l" States, if they decree that the thing shall be pu
,e down, will our friend of the Journal pronounc
! them all fools and bigots," because they diffe
. in opinion with the wiser and better" minori
ty of his kidneys
Your real, genuine, no-mistake Tom-Thumbs
&c Are little people fed on great mems crumbs
lie The truth is, the masses Of the people, the dea
a. people, about whom the politicians will p4ate s.
in much between this and November next, have dis
&c covered that their homes and fresides, their live
and property, aye, the very Institutions of GU
he Government, are being endangered by the fou
n corruptions of the vile demon of Intemperance
T. and they have resolved to protect themselves, b
demanding of their servants the passage of sue
laws as will most efeetually do that thing. An
let not those who would ridicule and denounc
It's the movement, think that they are merely fghr
~ ing the avowed Temperance men in the commt
nity-nay, verify! There are hundreds of thor
sands whose names were never affixed to a Ten
hn perance pledge, that would hail with a lou
; =" Alleluia" the redemption of the nation fro
en the traffic in the poison. And let not tho
lei I" who lie on beds of ivory and drink wine
J, bowls, Those bar-room demagogues that wou
de- swim on the ruby wave though thousands ]
'rk buried in its depths, think to arrest the Nigh,
work, by crying out '~humbug, cant" DC. n
tide will roll on, despite the puny efforts
e croot l;.tlo moo 81
Ad- - So
~ P. S. Since our form was made up, we ha
received a later No. of the Journal, in which t
-; Editor disavows any opposition to the Sons
Temperance, but expresses his warm appreciate
of, and confidence in the Order. We will gi
'ne him the benefit of his disclai mer in our next.
ing -s .>,>-
- The impression seems to prevail W
oeS' certain interested opponents to the principles
ave the Maine Law" that no man is allowed
ONE keep for his own use, in his family, any of
ma good creature. If it will serve to quiet til
: :" nerves, we can state for their satisfaction, t
1lcH the law does not authorize tba aaizu,o 81