Spirit of the age., 1853-06-22
Difference of Opinion.


beth City, dissenting from those published il
in our last, adopted by the Gatesyille Dlvis-
ion, in which the Gatesville brethren pledged
themselves to vote for no man who is opposed '
to legislating against the liquor traffic in this
State. Every Division and every Son OF
Temperance, both in their associated and in t
dividual capacity, have a right to act in this
capacity as he or they may think proper,
without involving a violation of any express
rule or law known to our Order; but it does
to occur to us that the views embodied in the
Resolutions of Gatesville Division are much
more in consonance with its principles and
true spirit, than are those adopted by the
Pasquotank Division. The obligation of
Son of Temperance should cause him to
feel bound to promote the advancement OF
the cause, and aid in the suppression of in
temperance by all lawful and proper means.
The traffic in ardent spirits is admitted on
all hands, as we'll out of as in our Order, to
be the great progenitor of drunkenness in the
land, and hundreds and thousands are con-
vinced that this evil can be removed in no
way so effectually as by legislation. So,
doubtless think our Gatesville brethren. and
as true men contending for principle they re-
solve to support no man for Office, particular
ly for the Legislature, we suppose, who is op-
posed to granting relief in this particular
This is simply fair assertion of principle
and declaration of right which every freeman
has the authority to proclaim.
AS to the /" incalculable injury that is to
t be inflicted upon the Order by such a course,
: we have never yet been able to discover how
!. it can be brought about. Every where in
t North Carolina the Sons of Temperance are
regarded as the guardians Of the Temperance
e cause, and whatever movement is set on foot
e for its advancement and the suppression OF
IS intemperance if it meets with their concur
renee, upon them will rest the blessings OF
odium attached to it, So with this. Every
Son of Temperance must individually desire
the extirpation of the liquor traffic and We
II cannot, if we would, prevent the Order being
lc recognized by the community as being en-
u gagged in the means employed for bringing i
: about-it is therefore futile to talk of decli
70 Mfg to do any thing in our Divisional ca
3 pacity," which as individuals we desire t
10 see brought about.
ne As to the matter of "plunging the Orde
40 into the dirty pool of party politics." W
ne have no idea our brethren of Gatesville an
m. other Divisions which have passed simila
ed resolutions, entertain any such destructiv
up design. They are freeing it from the slavery
ro- base party minions and raising it high aboy
the mere party squabbes Of the day. It is
~ high principle of moral reform and polite;
b;s jurisprudence, that they seek to advance
od one that is dear to the heart of every freeman
tbo and addresses itself to every patriot and phi
anthropist in the land-and they therefor
,oo resolve and hope to get others to resolve Wi
them, that they will take such steps as a
best calculated to effect the end.
the BsA The remarks of the Old North Stat
pr although we halinrA- avail :4--I-l,
Der, fceive to be not altogether fair statement
uld the case. 1t says:
nks Gas we should think members of \,
and Christian Church were in error who sbou
;.h determine to support no man for Office. W
did not belong to his particular Church
nds adhere strictly to his creed, SO we think, t
true interests of Temperance would be bett
subserved by the Sons of Temperance, kee
W. ing strictly within the sphere of their labo
Jar the great and noble work of prevention a
:, cure.
Vely NO one would be more opposed to such
the stand by denomination of Christians tn
cws would we, but if they were to declare til
orth would vote for no avowed infidel and decid
lace scoffer of our Holy Religion to make laws
sub them, then we should sustain and appla
by such move. So of Sons of Temperance
earn they were to declare they would vote for
re one but member of the Order, we would
We nounce such position-but they require
ain, such thing-they do not exact any thing ]
oun- similarity of views, with them on this ou
ton, regardless of his connection individu
ly with the reform. This we think thew h,
1nu- as clear right to do, as any citizen has to
orth quire that candidate must concur with /
abs in his opinions of free suffrage, the tariff
mot any thing else.
nY-I x