Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-03-02
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
Sons of Temperance should be true to their
nrincin1oc

Mr.. EDITOR On reading q communica-
ton in your excellent "Spirit'' a short time
since, and written | believe by " Luincible,"
| was forcibly reminded of the Importance Of
the above proposition. The writer of the ar
ticle alluded to seemed to think, and correct
ly too, as l believe, that it is the duty of
every Son of Temperance, a duty which
we owe to the cause we have espoused, and
the high principles we profess, to abstain
from every act which might appear an encour-
agement Of the great evil we are striving, as
Sons, to obEterate from our land, viz intem-
perGnce ; and in order the more effectually to
de this, no Son of Temperance, no matter
what may be his political creed, or however
strong his partiality for particular indiyidu-
ais, should, henceforth, cast his vote for any
tlquoT-SeHlng, hquor-dr1nklng, or liQuor-treat-
ing candidate. And is he not right, Mr.. Edi-
tor Is not this precisely the position that
all true friends of the cause should occupy ?
BY voting such men into Office, do we not vir-
tually abandon the spirit of the principles we
seek to inculcate ? Do we not in fact prove
to the world by so doing, that our practice
and our profession are not consistent, do not
agree with each other ?
What cares the llquor-treating candidate
Tor the Son OF Temperance as such, or what
for the cause he advocates +? If elected to the
Legislature, will he vote a bill for the suppress
sion of the " traffic - Listen, and I'll tell
you, oh ye Sons of Temperance who voted to
place such men in power.
AT the last August elections I heard one of
these very honorable gentlemen (?) declare
to a group of whiskey-swillers who were en-
circled about him, that ifa bill to abolish the
retailing of spirits were to come before the
legislature, and he was a member ofthat BODY,
he should certainly vote against it. That
man was elected to the Senate of N. G.. and
he did lift his puny, run impregnated voice,
mot in a speach, for that he is incapable of
but in a vote against-what ? against-the
united petition of thousands of the freemen
of n. C.-thousands of h mothers and daugh-
ters of his state, praying the honorable, the
benevolent, the humanity-loving members
of on: General Assembly to frame some bill,
some law, some act. that should stay this
mighty demon, this great curse, this blight
ing and disgraceful stain upon our state char
acter-Intemperance. But in vain! This
man, with many others, said no. / have mar
ked him, Mr.. Editor, and l have others also
of the same stamp. Another election day
when Sons of Temperance may have an op.
portunity, perhaps, of casting their votes
again, ifthey will, as they did last August vote
for men who scorn their principles, despist
their memorials, and secretly laugh at anC
mock their efforts but so help me heaven, TIL
right arm shall wither before | give nv vote
to any such men, be they friend or foe, Wing
or Democrat. | did not vote for them at the
last elections, nor will | at the next, provided
life is spared, nor eUer scAile 1T lasts.
Oh, that every true Son might say the sam,
and act accordingly. Oh, that every one
from this time, would resolve to be true t,
his principles, his cause and himself in thi
matter. consider this question, Mr.. Editor
infinitely superior to the common politica
ties and creeds of the two great parties name,
above, and | cannot, for the life of me, undar
stand how a real friend oftemperance, oran.
man who loves to see the peace and Happiness
Of his fellows promoted, can aid in the cleo
ton of men to stations of honor or proftwh
are known TO treat with ridicule and cor
tempt'the principles he holds SO dear to hi
heart.
1t is time, high time that Sons of Temper
ance and all the friends of good order an
good morals should wake up to a sense
their rights, and act as their principles di'
tate, Your good Spirit" is doing mucl