Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-06-07
JUNE z.
Rowan County.

At the Wing Convention for rou.A
Legislative candidates, Hon. N. Boyden ad.
dressed the meeting, and among other suh.
jects' alluded to the temperance question tbs
substance OF which we find in the Sal;sb,rr
Waterman, which We give below, together
with some truthful and patriotic remarks bv
the Editor ofthat journal. We commend tho
latter to the careful Consideration of all tom,
pefance men' Of whatever party and would
simply add, by making the inquiry-Has mot
me hmc July come, aohen temperance men
should ACT OUT their principles? Shall we
always be hewers Of wood and drawers Of
water to politicians who curse and abuse tbe
very principles for which we profess sucb
holy voneraticnH Ponder we'll on this sub-
Ject, we beseech you. But to the extrac.
from the Waterman:
In conclusion, Mr.. Boyden spoke of the
olmc9lties which exist among a portion of
the wings OF Rowan on the subject of a law
against the liquor traffic. He declared that
ne mated q drunkard as much as any man
living but appealed to isparty friends that
whateyer course they might see fit hereafter
70 pursue on this subject, for the present, at
least, to yield the point and unite on the can.
didates selected by the Committee.
Whether or not Mr.. Boyden's anneaI to
those Of the Wing ranks who have committed
themselves in reference to the liquor traffic,
will be attended with any material effect, we
suppose tne future must reveal. 1t is-difH.
cult to overcome the convictions of mon on
any subject, just in proportion as those con.
victlons affect their sense of duty to the State
to society, and to themselves and families
The opponents of the liquor traffic believe
that legaiized drunkenness is wrong-that i
IS the most prolific source of crime, misery
and degradation known in our country tina
1t entails upon the sober andindustrious por
ton OF the community heavy taxes for til,
prosecution Of criminals and the support 0
paupers and that is their duty, as good cit
liens, desiring the best interest OF the Who'll,
community, to exert themselves for the re
moval Of that wrong. They believe that mos
men are obliged, by facts, to admit the trut
of the propositions on which they base thei
opposition to the traffic, and satisfied of tn
rectitude of their views and motives as res
ing upon truth and right, their conscience
are affected and however anxious they ma,
feel to crafty friends, are at n loss how the
can do so, and yet at the same time, NEE
the plain demands Of duty. To say that the
have heretofore repeatedly sacrificed their cor
victions il is contended, argues nothing, an
only proves that they have manifested a spi
it Of concession for the sake of achievein
political objects. But that a day would u
timately come, when such men would resolv
to stand upon their principles, has been Ion
expected, and if it has now arrived, it ca
reasonably surprise no one.
This, then, is the difficulty in Rowan at tn
present time. 1t has not the slightest refel
ence, personally, to the gentlemen who hay
been nominated by either political party
since it existed previous to the announcemer
of their names. 1t has reference entirely
n question of State government, and or
upon which gentlemen claim the right
appeal to the ballot box.
This much we deem it necessary to say
a public journalist, in order to present to til
public n view of the present position of thi
community in regard to this subject.
a word as to our own position. We cal
not say, with Mr.. Boyden, that we hate I'll
drunkard. We join him, however, in pa
for the deluded man, because we think he
q slave to bad habits against his own bette
judgement that he is bound with a chat
which requires almost super.human effort
break-such an effort as often battles I'll
strength Of intellectual giants. And we pr
test against the law which authorizes il
Flint to make that man drunk every day
the year. We do think it is wrong to ser
him reeling home to be nursed by his hear
broken wife, until he shall have strength
go back to the bar. We do think it wror
that the laW should authorize this process
be kept up until the children are beggared.
and he sent prematurely, to a drunkarc
grave. There is wrong in all this, most u
q~uestiouably and such a wrong that it
impossible Tor men to exclude from view.
may be shared by the unfortunate drunkar
perhaps he ought to be hated. But oug
we, as citizens, to sustain such a law
And here, may we not add, that not OF
Mr.. Boyden, but nine-tenths of our bet
informed citizens admit that our liquor la
ought to be changed-so modified as to les;
or remove, so far as the law can do it,
evils of the traffic. The only differen
amongst us then, is as to time, and the MI
of proceeding and these, oe believe mis-
be easily arranged by a generous effort.