Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-08-09
What has been Accomplished?

By the agitation of the question of legis-
lation on the liquor traffic, a ball has been
set in motion that will not cease to roll till
North Carolina shall be redeemed from the
evils which now afaict and distract commu-
mites, and which eat like a very cancer upon
the body polite itself. Though entire sac
cess has crowned our efforts at but few points
in the election of members who will advocate
and vote for legislative reform, yet the fact
that we have elected some such, has carried
dismay and terror into the hearts of the en-
envy, while at most points where the matter
has been thoroughly agitated, a spirit has
been aroused that, two years hence, will en-
sure certain and permanent success.
said-If we were to follow the advice and ex-
ample Of certain individuals, we should never
have any whirlwind or tempest neither
thunder's roar nor lightning's fash, to stir
up and purify the corrupt atmosphere of
~earth-nothing but the calm summers day
zephyr breeze, and pleasant shower, and life
would pass like the days of the weary travel
er on the boundless plain. For such, man
is not fitted, and by such society is not bless
ed. We need agitation; the storm and the
tempest, to diversity our course, and put
health into the system. Quietude supposes
what never can be found on earth-perfec-
ton. IF everything around is still, be sure
we may, there is corruption there which will
work death. Agitation may and will result
from the discovery of evil, but agitation too
will bring all that is wrong to light, and pre-
pare for a higher and better state of things.
It may not procure the best and most desira-
BILE condition at once, but it ultimately will.
: The Liquor Law agitation, whether we shall
? ever attain to it or not, has resulted already
in much that we never should otherwise have
e gained. A large class of good men, who
e may yet revolt at it, are made sensibly bet
o ter for it. They acknowledge the evils of in.
temperance as they did not before the ne
cessity of some legislation; the right of stop
ping it by some means the restriction
of license and those at a high price; and TIL
prosecution of illegal vendors. Any on,
who looks around him can see a wonderful
difference in the community wherever tn
subject has been discussed. Aye, thousands
s. who were but a short time since in favor O
the license system, now see and feel tina
u there is the same propriety in licensing
I" gambling house or a house of infamy, as i
!" licensing the sale of Intoxicating drinks. !
. great change has come over them. Ne,
81 principles have risen to their view. Cues
Il tions of right and wrong have new aspects
II And if we gain not all we have expected 0
OF desired, we have brought many up soa stand
re and from which they will never fall. To tn
Liquor Law agitation may now be traced
u vast amount of moderate, where there wa
Notwithstanding; total abstinence, wher
o there was boosted temperance a ~rejectio
of the license law, as having any connectio
with Gods law; a legislative action il tie
kof our sovereign States and finally, an in
mense d~iminution of drunkenness, paupe
81 ism, and crime ; a tide Of joy into many
once miserable family, and the salvation
multitndes from a drunkard's eternity. WI
:, then, will be afraid of agitation, agitation
Ply bH We have received a Note enquiring
to whether We can furnish a D. G.. w. P,
OF Regalia, and at what cost but it has
Us name signed to it, and we are unable to d
1u- cover from what Division it comes. We thel
ar fore take this means of saying we have the
for sale at SIS so, with the postage prepa
10 thereon.
ore KILLED.-We learn that a young m
named Philips, a workman on the Ralei
r o-I Go.ko- Dos1.ood ToaG roolx Gil r.,