Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-04-13

not resolution to retrace his steps. Even /
those who are overcome by this vice are APP
~parently unconscious of the process by which
they were brought to their present situation.
They may perhaps have noticed ut an early
period " that every time they carried the in
toxicating poison to their lips the sensa-
ton grew more pleasing and the dcsire for it
waxed stronger. But whatobjection hadthey
to be bound with links of flowers which
were delightful while they lasted, and easily
broken when necessary. But here was their
mistake. They were adding link to link,
and weaving chain with chain; and they
who Onae boosted of their strength and abil-
ity to leave this bewitching vice when they
pleased, were at last made sensible of their
weakness and found themselves priso-
ners, captives, degraded slaves.
There is a three-fold operation in this
work. The sensation Of taste acquires an
enhanced degree of pleasantness /; the feel
ing Of uneasiness is increased in acorrespon-
ding measure when the sensation is not in
dulgod by drinking, and the desire, which is
necessarily attendant on the uneasy feeling,
becomes in like manner more and more i'm
peratIve. To alleviate this uneasy feeling
and this importunate desire, these unhappy
men go again to their cups and with trem-
bling hands pour dOwn tho deadly poison
What then I! They have added a new link to
thoir chain at every repetition it grows
heavier and heavier till that which at first
they bore lightly and cheerfully, now presses
them like coats Of iron, and gals them like
letters Of steel. There is q great and fearful
law OF their nature bearing them down to
destruction. Every indulgence is the addi-
ton Of q nav wcightto whatwas before placed
upon them thus lessening the probability
of escape, accclerating their gloomy, fearful
and interminablc ruin. We do not mean to
say that such men are the subjects Of an i'm
plaeable destiny, and cannot helpthemselyes,
but il would seem that they can help them
selves only in this way by a prompt, abso-
Lutte, and entire suspension of the practice in
all its forms, which has led them into this
extremity"
Those arc worthy considerations which
ought to influence all persons to abstain from
the use of intoxicating drinks, and to give
their influence in extending the cause of lem
perancc. 1t has been assertaincd by actual
calculation, that much of the paupcrism Of
our country has arisen either directly or in
directly from incompetence. The Aims hous
es ofour cities and country are often throng
ed with these unfortunate persons and eact
citizen, according to his taxable property,
must bear a share ofthe burden. Our pris
ons also groan beneath hetread of the assas
sin and incendiary, who have committed dep
relations on the persons and property o
their %neighbors while in a state Of intoxica
ton, and lodged there for safe keeping, un
til our courts of Justice shall decide their fate
Persons indicted for such offences are o
common occurrence among us; and frequent
/, the decision of single case will cost
community hundreds and even thousands o
dollars. Pecuniary interest should, there
fore, prompt every man subject to taxation
TO use his influence in tho promotion of Ten
perance.
There is, however, a different view to b
taken of this subject. There is 3 heavie
penalty to be attached to those who do NJ
give their influence to this cause, than mer
" temporal interest. Every man has an il
Huence in society, either for good or evil.
therefore, he opposes the extension of Ten
perance, his influence will tend to lead SON
other person or persons in the same way.
he advocates the occasional use of s~pirituol
liquors as q beverage, he will have a tende
cy to lead others to do the same and the
last in their turn would influence others, al
so on to an incalculable extent. The cour
which such men pursue would give to I'll
rising generation no alienation from the vi
of intemperance but if possible it might
worse than when their parents entered upC
the stage of active life. And thus it is. O
fathers formed the state of society that '
enjoyed, when we took the position of me
You who are fathers now, will give tone
the society which you will bequeath to yo1
children. If you still advocate the use of i
toxicatiug drinks if you still oppose the
huences which are excrted in behalf of Ter
porance, or stand neutral and take no part
lot in this benevolent work, your sons W
be quite sure to follow your footsteps.
however, you can drink spirituous liquor al
not become a confirmed drunkard if Y
have the power of controlling your appel
so as to pass for q sober man in society, V
have no guaranty that your sons will do
If sons are not what they should be, mu
blanc must be attached to their parents fro
whom they receive their first impressions,
Train up q child in the way he should
and when he is old he will not depart fro
it," If you would have them temperate a
happy, teach them, by precept and examp
to taste not, to handle not the demon of |
man destructin.
Many a youth Of great promise and no
talents has fallen a victim to the destroye
and before the sun of his natural life /
reached its meridian, he has filled q drur
ards grave The youth of our country
not so much to be blamed if they acquire
temperate habits, as the state of society
which they are nurtured. While even p
entS and citizens stand before them as it w,
pressing tHc lhbOAlCdIlAS cup W IhCll II
flattering them onward step by step in
downward course, if they do not follow in
foot steps Of their predecessors, there is
certainty in cause and effect. No one co,
have any confidence in good examples P
ducinc good effects, if bad examples did
in like manner produce evil effects. "A
tree cannot produce good fruits" The yor
cannot become familiar with any vice wi
ever and not be contaminated. They '
nssuredly drink in the spirit Of the examI
which surround them and if the rising g
Grafton are drunken, the sin is ours, their
rents, or their neighbors, whose examI
they will follow. These things should
carefully considered by every one who W
cs tho welfare Of society. man may div
his property to his children as he sees pr
or, giving to one one portion, to another
other but he cannot by his last will
testament change the state of society in WI
they are to live. It's tendency to mOralit,
vice, to honor or dishonor, to happiness
misery, cannot be affected by him in his
moments and he may then feel that he