Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-07-05
b CaroIna.-a G%eupuantt anb famg daeeklp yens paper.
DEGENERATION OF INDEPENDENTS.

| CaH 1nUeDSHQ6uCCTd pCAlO0 ChCA 0OoA ~ VIZ
heart of every son of our God-blest land. 1t I.
is a time meet for rejoicings, bonfres, illumi- !
nations and jubilees-let the people then, re-
joice, for it's the anniversary Of the birthday {
of the greatest Nation under Heaven. And :
this day, the deep toned cannon will rever-
berate from Atlantic to Pacifc's shore, in
proud exultation over our free and mighty
land.
In ten thousand times ten thousand halls
and groves will be read this day the immor-
tai instrument which proclaimed a Nation
free and independent, and that spoke terror
and dismay to the heart of every tyrant on
the earth. 1t is the Alphabet of Civil and
Religious Liberty from which all have learn
ed the dialect of a Frceman's idiom. Let it
be lisped by infant tongues, be made melo-
dious in the song Of beauty and virtue, while
the young and gallant warrior drinks in the
genius of its inspiring theme as it is recited
to us by the hoary veteran of the stars and
stripes who has battled m~anfully under the
proud insignia of our Country's glory.
But while we exult in our National Free
dom, how many a noble soul is bound down
by tie heartless tyranny of a despot's power,
how many q freside made desolate by the
absence of loved ones snatched away to fill
the ranks of the bloody Hayna1 who is
s%courging and decorating the hearts of Amer
ica's mothers and daughters.
On this blessed day, then, of American
pride and glory, We proclaim our Indepen-
dence of this vile Despot, and swear eternal
enmity to the tyrant Alcohol, by paraphras-
ing the burning Declaration of our forefath-
ers, when they proclaimed Independence and
Freedom from the expressions and usurpa-
tons of the tyrant King George:
Here is oar
Temperance Declaration Of Irdependence
Z When in the course of human events, il
:, becomes necessary for a people to dissolve
n the connection which has linked them to
a king or ruler, and to assume a station t.
which the laws of nature and of natures Go,
entitle them, a decent respect for the opir
1T ions of mankind requires that they shout
Of declare the causes which impcl them to tn
N separation.
We hold these truths to be selfevident :
that all men are created equal; that they ar
endowed by their Creator with certain inal
enable rights: that among these are life, |
: berty and the pursuit of happiness. Tost
10 cure these rights governments are institute
n among men, deriving their just powers fror
BIS the consent of the governed that wheneve
IN any laws, or the necessity for any laws, b.
come destructive of these ends, it is the rigt
. of the people to alter or abolish them, or
as institute new ones, basing them on sue
principles as shall be most likely to secul
their safety and happiness. Prudence, i
0n deed, will dictate that laws and customs lor
IL established shall not be changed for light al
by transient causes: and accordingly all expel
"a ence hath shown, that mankind are mo
disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferabl
!" than to right themselves by abolishing t
lth forms to which they are accustomed. B,
SO when a long train Of abuses and usurpatiol
The pursuing invariably the same object, evint
III a design to reduce them under absolute d
= pot!sms II is s1elF pr e9sS q iss sRr guards 9n s tUr Il 4
of future safety. Such has been the patti,
: a. suferance of all civilized nations for az
,o+S and such the necessity which constrains
to dethrone the tyrant that has reigned O
US. and to enact new laws for the protect
iful Of our rights, our liberties and our happint
i The history of King ALCOHOL is a history
usurpation, crime and blood, all having
direct object the establishment of a crush
despotism over US. To prove this, let fs
be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his assent to laws the N
wholesome and nece ,sary for the public @
and has refused to pass laws for the acc
word mediation of large classes of people, and
demanded that the opposers of his gov,
ment should relinquish the right ofrepre
tation in the legislatures right inesti
! BILE to them, and formidable to tyrants o
He has made judges subserTient to
'noe will, and has Influenced their decisions tt
Oons alarming extent.
with He has INSTRUCTED the administration
It'll justice by opposing the laws of the land
were not subservient to his interests, and
authorized his agents and friends to re
IN to threats, brides, perjury and even o
her violence to accomplish his object.
r;tb He has created multitudes of Offices ca
: ~Grogshops,' in all parts Of the land,
tuen has sent hither swarms of his agents to
thou ass our people, and eat out their substal
What lie has fOstered a gambling spirit, and
hole encouraged all vices and crimes known
the broad surface of our globe.
N"n He has called together numerous bo
ap- of men at places secluded, often at the d
ugh hours of night, away from their families
into homes, for the purpose of fatiguing them
a compliance with his measures. apC
i0S' bringing them to early ruin and premat
pori- graves.
that He has endeavored to prevent the non
IIiftb VIZ pup
eide, u ~. 0oeCeS " cutting snort tne !
give up multitudes besides in nrisons wod1ho
and hospitals, to suffer penaltiesiu Justly cha
had able to the tyrant whom they have sci
rds, with a devotion not less sanguine than
of the martyr at the stake.
pas lie has poisoned the happiness of our
mote pie destroyed health engendered idlen
rhich closed up the avenues Of wealth paral,
Lord the arm of industry and has cast a wit
ing blight over the spirit of enterprise.
He has corrupted the ballot box by b
well ing his influence to bear against the free
le- of elections.
: He has entered the legislatures of the
. O raj states, creating broils, distracting
et up ness, protracting sessions, squandering
public treasure, and causing the represt
idOw yves OF tne people 20 become both triflng
e she bonsae ronoo.ad1v 49, LePresel1
me of proving his inyasions ON the riohts of
people.
an of He has entered the congress of these Vi
ms as d;s1rooafnI 70 Tho 9ot;on. "a oolrup
resentatives there assembled, who have
I that as his mere mouth pieces on numerous O
-. ions, and whose brains were fired w;
'uAhs mad zeal for their leader and king hn
it. sent out innumerable speeches and has
IS a tered them broadcast through every neig
hood in the land, aiming to blind and nj
,cdcu~ tbo naoula ooporao.I-