Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-03-23
The Temperance Reform.

for radiance from the blasting curse of the
Rum traffic that then hung over TIE nation n
like q deadly incubus. Struggle after strug- +
gle-throe after throe have been the yearly o
battles between truth and error ever since, .
increasing in might and vigor with each an /
nual revolution. 4 brilliant triumph then 5
seemed to be just ahead and within the i'm ,
mediate grasp Of the sanguine projectors of t
the noble work but hundreds of the old
warworn veterans of the early conflicts now
sleep mid the cold, dusty bones of Death,
and the triumphant victory over the Rum
Power is not yet achieved. Yet Il new light,
like the bright glare of a tropical sun at high
noon, is beaming around us to-day in mag
nifcent and brilliant splendor. The little
spark first struck from the great wheel Of
Philanthropy has fallen in goodly tinder-a
sheeted blaze has followed its silent kindlings,
and it is licking its lurid tongue around, and
enveloping the bloody Altar on which the
CORY hearts and sepulchral bones of the my
Rad victims have been crushed and immo-
lated, to appeasq the gluttony Of the blood
drinking Moloch TIL faint murmur ofright-
eous indignation that at first escaped the
sealed lips of the sleeping populace, and the
growing anathema that imperceptibly swelled
the great public soul, which had for years
slept like some stygian deep with the lower
ing clouds OF night and death looming and
bending over its drowsy bosom, has swelled
, and startled into a thunder peal which awakes
! and calls to action the dreaming world by
its deep voiced power and emphasis. The
great deep is rolling to and fro now in majes-
: tic grandeur, and its heavy pillows, bcat up
to surfy foam and carried onward and up
= ward on the heavings of the one heart of
u the Great American Temperance Army, be-
: gin to dash fearlessly and furiously against
: the shattered pilla1sof the Adversary light
: houses, holdingup false beacons of death and
: ruin to the misguided mariners on the Sea OF
: Life.
&C. The Rum Power is like the strong Leyia-
than Of the great waters. His energies seem
fearful in battle. We need not falter and
e. fear to meet him although his thrusts and
st throes are terrible as an army with banners,
let US remember that a fatal spear has been
h. plunged with giant force into the great deer
of his heart and these are the monsters DIV.
ing agonies. Let none among our radiant
air cavaliers shrink from the conflict face to face
~ eye to eye. Our own strength has, for years
IN been industriously gathering its elements
e. and IN a short time the day for decision vii
to come-the storm will begin to howl in its on
ward, resistless sweep, and, like the ~loosene,
: winds from their confines, will level this ad
& versarY of God and man, like the strong whirl
Fn wind among the great oaks Of the forest
he Let US review the Past -
r@9 Our progress has been all measured b
single steps. The great Pledge has bee
leo flled-not at once-but q a little here and
5ne little there" Memorials against the trafi
TIT have been signed by thousands and rolled i
to our Legislative Halls, praying the stron
on, arm of the Law to aid in this great NOR;
'' crusade against vice and crime. The mo.
that has been effected thus far is-our Pied,
lsa es have snatched thousands from the hungr
bus throat of the drunkard's hell, and our Mem,
tin rails have told our law-giycrs our will COZ
+ = corning them. But while Rum, and it's ki,
ing dred Spirits, is the swaying lever in all OF
: OF popular. elections-thc deadly Miasma til;
pollutes and corrupts the ballot box-tl
are freeman's glory and safeguard-such petition
as were laid before the last Legislature, a
as futile as a pigmy's wrath-as idle as
" idiots problems and syllogisms. Diditchan
any mans sentiments or his vote !? Nav, "
ep- lily for they dreamed they saw where {
+ of power rested.
r eiH In the same hour that Is, 1000 men and v
wri- men, citizens of our commonwealth, virtua
as walkedinto the Assembly Chambers andhu
X. bly, prayed redress" from this /" ~gricvanc
lical at the hands of their servants, there v,
ence seen among them those who claimed to
dignifed statesmen, and at the same thine co,
Her. slide through the lobbies-bloated wrecks
what was once created in the image and Ii
ious ness Of God-and there, among those of ii
.yful craft who hung by their skirts, belch up fl
Sy- their rum reeking lungs obscure billinsc
g as Jests upon woman's purity and Religions Il
and sanctlty! The very air exhaled from ii
ence. bosoms was hot and reeking with the ste
leave OF dissipation, and with sneers and cul
n the upon the men and women who dared to 5
ting reform, turned off to enter the drunke
! his about the Capitol, there to brutalize tn
ortu- selves and to scandalize their honorable
lidn't stltuency. What do such men care for
kelly. manity's interests and the downfall of mi
ess"- ty! What care they for the sacred trust
d I'M ided in them? Notone glass of bad whisl
'ublic Such characters-such servants would
"Sy- and sheer tho wounded humanity wer
and crawl up. draggingi in her path her man
S rem and crushed limbs, and kneel in her
But, smoking blood at the gates of the Capitol,
c.. plead for protection from the vampired 2
come sucking at hervery %vitals! Whiskey, no
with IN the bloated face, and swimming in the
r." blood through the viler heart of a vote
allu- ing, hquor-treating, drunkard making a
umed, gogus, would reply with a devils oath
he'll a demons sheer, tho the dusty bones q
mt IN tho dead dpV1nIa- 1z - 1870