Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-05-31
For the Tarboro', Southerper.

To Mr.. BILLY WHIFFLE: My dear Sir
Your miserable slangwanging stuff which
appeared in the last Southerner, as reply
to an article that appeared in the preced
ing No. over my signature, must certainly
have been penned upon the head of whis-
key cask. As to argument, it makes no
pretensions and the only point that can
be drawn from it is, that you have success
fully coopered yourself inside of the whis-
key casd, and with congeniality to my feel
ings have coopered me outside declaring
thereby, that while [ am follower of John
the Baptist, as a total abstinence man. YOU
are determined to follow Revd. G. B. Has
sci and his rum jugs. As to your poetry,
it would have been very good, if you had
given it to the public just as it was when
you stole it. Your attempt to embelish it,
shows clearly to my mind, that you will
not make poet. So do not fatter your
self with such belief; for assure you that
the character of your intellect in this par
ticular is (like mine) not calculated for
such literary gem.
Now few words to the readers of the
Southerner-I beg pardon for this obtru-
sion. My former article I had published
to defend our Order against the charges of
this fanatic. also stated my reason for
advocating prohibitory liquor law. a.
gain repeat, that believe it to be the on
ly shield for the youth of our country a.
gainst the injurious tendencies of grog
shops; and | shall persist in It's advocacy,
believing it to be of Divine origin; (for
prohibition could have originated only in
heaven-read St. Luke, 1stchap 18th verse,
and there we are told that it was borne
to earth by an Angel from heaven } and
for such course have no fear of condem-
Z nation from God. And should regiment
of Rich Necks' oppose this position, it
will not swerve me one iota and all the
efforts that they may contrive together, will
not cause me to believe that the total ab-
stinence principle of John the Baptist was
disapproved-an if it was not disap-
proved in him, it will not be in any
other person. Nor can those bablers con-
vince me that our Saviour drank himself,
or gave to his Apostles to drink, distilled
liquor mixed with grape juice, nor in any
other way. However, persons who heard
the sermon which Revd. G. B. Hassell de.
livered in this place on the 7th instant
may come to a different conclusion, for he
boldly declared in the sacred desk, that In
twelve months from that time there would
not be an honest man found that would
say he had been a member of the Sons O
Temperance; Cor in other words, a tota
abstinence man, as this is the pledge tht
Sons take.) Nor did this Revd. gentle
man stop here-he left his heavenly mis-
sion of preaching the gospel, and undertook
to hold Revd. N. A. Golden and Revd. III
H. Gibbons (of the Methodist Church) W
before his congregation for ridicule, by at
tempting to identify them with f. FL. Bar
Ing, an imposterl Can it be possible tina
this Revd. Gentleman, in this short spac
of time, has forgotten the Hyde count
tragedy? Certainly not. And how un
charitable it would be for the communit
to hold him responsible for that unfortu
nate circumstance. merely speak of thi
that the beam may be discovered and re
moved, before interfering with the mote.
In conclusion, I would say to this Revd
Gentleman and Billy Whifie alias Ric
Neck, break loose your moorings from you
still tubs, rum jugs and whiskey kegs, an
adhere to the Apostolic custom of using th
grape juice. And when water at a maj
riage feast is miraculously converted int
wine, drink of it, and abundantly; this al
thority you have from heaven. By adherin
to this advice you will succeed in disbandin
the Sons of Temperance, and in no otherwa..
[ hope I have now satisfied every lber
minded man that I am honest in my pu
pose. If have accomplished this, I fe
highly gratifed, and hope there will be I
necessity for me to appear before the rea
! ers of this journal again, in defining and d
Tending MY position in this great moral r
, form. F. L. BOND.