Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1853-10-05
Gbt Stanbarb*
RALEIGH. SATURDAY. OCT. 1. 1858.
THE ESPRIT OF THE AGE.

The Editor of this paper called upon us some
weeks since to copy some remarks of his in relation
to the Worlds Temperance Convention which We
did; and We followed this up with statement in our
issue of the 14th instant bottomed upon facts gath
cred from New York papers, of the character of this
Convention We distinctly stated, at the time, that
we had seen no account of the final proceedings; but
We showed that Snodgrass the Maryland Freesoiler,
and Wendell Phillips, the notorious Boston Aboli-
tonists had been ruling spirits in that body up to
the latest dates In paper of the 17th however,
we copied an article from the Washington Star stat
ing that the Convention had finally purged itself
of these disorderly spirits, and had proceeded to
the despatch of business Yet the Editor of the Age
in his issue of tn 21st imputes to disposition to
do injustice to the Convention, and charges "gross
Misrepresentation" and falsehoods upon us, and
this too with paper of the 18th before him,
tanning the final statement just referred to. He also
calls upon us, in the same article, to copy a state
ment on the subject from the New York Times,
which, matter of course, under the circumstan-
ces We declined to do Experience had taught us
that might crowd our paper with extracts at the
request of this Editor and that instead of doing
the justice to admit that disposed to repre-
sent the matter fairly he would make it the occasion
for renewed attacks upon our course and our mo-
tives.
The Age SAYS Eve arc not the apologists or de-
tenders of the proceedings of that Convention, and
vet in the next breath the Editor calls upon the
Greensborough Patriot and the Standard to do JUS
tice to the "patriotc gentlemen composing this Con-
vention"! The truth is, these "patriotic gentle
meh," with few honorable exceptions, were Eng
lish Aboitonists and Northern Freesoilers and no
one has had better opportunities to gather this fact
from the papers than the Editor of the Age.
The Spirit of the Age, if we are not much mis-
taken, opposed, twelve months ago, to the Maine
liquor law Or to any prohibitory law, and relied on
moral suasion for pushing forward the temperance
reform. Is not this sos We call, then,> upon the
Editor for few extracts from his own files for the
purpose of vindicating his own consistency in this
matter. But the Editor goes now for the strong arm
of the law, though he substantially admits in his
issue of the 21st that present laws on the sub
ject mild as they are, not enforced. Hear what
he says:
"Warrenton and Warren County, arc not the only
sufferers by this evil. Raleigh, Wake County, and
every Town and County in the State suffer the same
lawless proceedings It seems to be impossible to
reach these characters. We have them here who
have no licenses but their back rooms constant
ly filled with negroes drinking, and yet they pass
unmolested- Officers and people making no effort to
bring them to punishment! These things ought not
to exist; and if the Press of the State would take
the same bold stand the Warrenton News has done,
we would soon see the evil remedied AS faithful
guardians of the peace and safety of the State it is
their duty to expose these things and aid in their
suppression and removal. If the Sherifs, Consta-
bes and Policemen of our Towns and our Counties
were faithful to their oaths, should not such
fragrant violations of law, in broad day light well
as at night pass unnoticed The evil should be look
ed to at once, and not wait till insurrection and
bloodshed start US from insecure apathy"
Here is a precious confession for one occupying
the position which this Editor does. We have had,
for some time past, prohibitory law in this City
that is, the Commissioners German being one
of them-have refused licenses to retailers. The
result Of this policy is giten a6oee by Mr. German
hinse!f He admits that the law is violated that
"back rooms " of unlicensed houses are constant
Ay filled with negroes drinking "and that it seems
70 De impossible to reach these characters who
tnus corrupting our slave population and vending
hquor generally without license from. the town
thorities t"seems to be impossible y! Why, what
is Mr.. German doing2 Where is his temperance
Board of Commissioners? Is this the upshot of
their boasted rcformsf Why are the laws thus yio-
lated and trampled under foote Mr.. German talks
about Sherifs, Constables and Policemen and
their oaths of ofce-where is his oath of Office as
City Commissioner? Such men as John Kane are
refused icense-vengeance is wreaked upon them,
while Others who are less scrupuous than they con-
dnue to sell and make profits, in the face Of the
commissioners and in defiance Of the law. We have
mere miniature picture of what the State would be.
IN case the prohibitory law contended for by the
Age should be enacted.
Look, too, to the State Of Maine We have the tes-