Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-03-23
en,n,r ar rur AGF

AhN Il
Mr. Enron. there is a certain class OF
men in our section, who profess to be strong
men, and yet hesitate not to an
alternative the Sons of Temperance. Now,
this is inconsistency, IN the ~strictest sense OF
the term. With as much proprlety might
they proclaim to the world the beauties and
blessings of religion, and at the same tune
denounce the source whence it springs with
the same propriety might they advocate the
superiority ofliberty over bondage, and curse
that proud and independent spirit which led
us to the defence of that liberty, and the
means through which it is obtained. 10
these mem let us offer afew practical remarks:
Now, my good friends, If temperance Is the
I" GLORIOUS cause" you admit 1t IS, what are
you doing to promote it? IF you are opposed
to the Sons, and allow your prejudices SO to
blind you as to render you incapable OF see
ing the good works of the order If you be-
%Iievein the doctrine of temperance and would
be pleased to see it flourish; if you feel any
interest in the moral, physical and mteliectu-
al condition of the mass OF the people still
further, if you would be gratifed to see the
evils Of intemperance eradlcated from the
present generation, so as to shield posterity
from it's damning influences, both hereditary
and acquired, do, for the sake of the present
and the rising generations, come out like good
men, and advise US of a more honorable, ex-
pedient and e~ffectual means of doing the
work, and if YOU can prove satisfactorily thai
yours is the best plan, my word for 1t, oul
! Order will be deserted and we will flock by
thousands into yours, and march under you
Banner, until the temperance reform shat
extend to the utermost limits Of the earth.
Experience, which has been bought at tn
cost ofthousands of souls, tells in terms mos
emphatic, that total abstinence is indlspen
sable to the temperance reformation; that
large number of our fellow beings are desti
| tute of that moral courage which would cor
fine them to tbs moderate use of alcoholic pc
|tations; that the reformation Of habitua
drunkards can be accomplished by no othe
means than total abstinence while sclentlh
Investigations of the modus operandi OF alec
hol upon the human system afford US satl
factory evidence that the moderate use OF oil
titled liquors, so far from being OF any valu
r to the physical constitution, tends posltlVel
d to the impairment of those conditions upo
which health depend. Judging the future /
/ the past, we are forced to the conclusion tn;
! ! nothing but total abstinence can bring abo'
the desired reform, and that this princlp
ID can be carried out to the proper extent, on
by a prohibition ofthe manufacture and ira
fc in liquor.
I'd Moral suasion has done much, and is st
capable of doing much for the cause. III
~ is the means by which we are e~ndeavoring
re ascend the summit; but without more pc
ed mament support, public sentiment may pc
be sibly in the course of time give way, al
n, down, down again we must inevitably go
to having all our efforts to renew-our steps
Of rctrace. Legislation, then, is our only pe
,,ooo-L c,,-,oot o71J ira ar.H uu3,p 1T X
in alas for " our liberties 7" Wish those |
to erty-loving souls could hear P. S. White
mt ter that phrase. The love Of liberty is a /
,se BE trait in a mans character. 1t is II
nc which buoys him up and enables him to M
~ ~ with yalor the assaults of an opposing enem
i'll that which causes him to leave his peace
to freside and all that is dear to him, and mar
le- to the battle field where victory is to be wo
er, that which exposes him to hardships and S
'Se ferings the most intense to which human
III heir. This is the love of liberty indeed
But what must be the nature Of that spirit
liberty, which would allow q robber of
vilest kind to commit with %impunity, murd
depredations, and all kinds Of crimes VI
. the community in which he lives? w
kind of a spirit must actuate that man "
would willingly see the whole human fami
writhingunder the oppression of any evil, 9
simply for the sake ofsome little pleasure,
u self-interest, he might desire from that e
In. would not lend his aid in exterminating
The same spirit would not hesitate to S;
ion turn the lion out Of his cage-give him lii
led ty to wander, to rove, and to gain booty
his pleasure and althoughth h damages S
inS tanned by his ravages may injure many, S
It if | can continue to protect myself andm |
to sessions, and if it will contribute to my pc
ew, mary interest, [ care not for other consequ
ces.
'lu- These are just such liberties as some n
'I m are pleading for, while others, who do
tI be speculate in the article, dislike for the Law
interfere with theirliberties Of taking a dr.
of getting drunk, and that most pleasant O.
ace, their liberties, of wallowing in the mire v
ime theswine with whom they have found quit
intimate acquaintance. Dur laws are in
ded for our protection, and if there is one
Up which more imperatively calls for that pro
res ton than another, it is Rum. If the pri
sent Piles of the Sons of Temperance do not st
the the fancy of all, we would be pleased to
those individuals who object to US, to lea'
T. in the way we should go. FRATEl
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE