Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1853-09-14
VICKsvILLE, NASH Co., Aug. 27, 1853

VICKsvILLE, NASH Co., Aug. 27, 1858.
Mr.. EDITOR 1t is always gratifying and
cheering to the friends Cf temperance, and to
the lovers of good order and moral Reform,
to hear of the prosperity and success of the
total abstinence principles among their fell
low-men and to know that the advocates of
the rum-bottle are daily growing fewer and
fewer in number. That the latter is the fact
the constant accessions to the Cold Water
Army prove beyond doubt, and the former,
no man, who is an observer of the signs of
the times, will deny.
Friday, the 12th instant, was day
long to be remembered by many in this vi
cinity On that day, the "Sons" of Vicks-
Vile Divisions, No 301, had public demon
stration, which was honored by an immense
crowd of ladies and gentlemen from this md
the adjoining counties, and although there
were many persons present, who see no beau
ty in the glorious principles we seek to incul-
cate, and who still cling to the 'aU perUading
destroyer" alcohol, yet they could but ac-
knowledge the force and power of the elo-
quent appeals made to them by the orator of
the occasion, Rev. James S. Cotton, who en-
tertained the audience with most impress
sive, and soul-searching address on the evils
of intemperance. The speaker, after ennu-
curse to our country, and showing most clear
ly and satisfactorily the real answer to the
! question-What is temperance ?-launched
! forth in strains of deepest pathos and feel
ing upon the effects and results of dram
drinking upon individuals, families and So
ciety; showing to a demonstration that it
has been and Is noW, the cause of more wretch
edness, misery, shame, cvime and poverty
than all things else in the universe of God !;
and that it ought to be uprooted and destroy
| ed from its very foundations. He proved
| that, the liquor traffic is an abomination
on the earth, and that it is the very lowest,
meanest. filthieSt occupation ID human being
can possibly be engaged in; and as such, is
shame and disgrace to the man who follows
/ it. He exhOrted all good Sons of Temper
ance, and all men, whether Sons of Temper
ance or not, who love the peace and happi-
ness of their neighhors, to cease giving their
support to persons who buy votes with liquor,
and who ride into Office by means so base
and unpatriotic. The Sons of Temperance,
and the friends of temperance alike, by vot-
ing liquor treating candidates into power, for
sake the very principles they desire to prop
agate in society, and give encouragement to
the accursed thing they profess to be striv'
ing to obliterate from the earth But il
would be impossible to give all the able
speakers address. Enough to say, it was
conclusive, unanswerable and convincing
After the speech, the whole audience were
invited by the Sons to dinner which they
had literally provided for the people; yes
and provided too, as we'll for the enemies a'
the friends of the Order, and we are happy
to say that, every man, woman and chll(
present partook thereof, except one or TIVE
persons who, because of their bitter animos
ity to the Sons, felt, suppose, that the.
could not, or ought not to eat with them, no
their food.
And would you believe it, Mr.. Editor, tha
one of those who refused to eat the Sons
dinner, las have been infnrmed) was wo
man! Yes, sir. a aconaGn! Good heavens
can it be possible there is woman on thi
earth so unfriendly to heeffbrts Of the Sons Q
Temperance, and so inimical to their cause
her cause, as to refuse to eat with them! r.
fuse to partake of the bounty and Rospital't
of those persons who advocate Temperance