Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-08-16
ea7ination.

The course of a portion of our fellow-citi- :
zens in regard to the temperance reform is r
to be deeply regretted by those who see the :
immortal interest involved in its triumph
The class alluded to have ever manifested an {
abiding concern for the success of the moral
enterprise, and at the sam time haye ever !,
assumed the Office of hair splitting diferen-
ces with h maw of temperance men. and a
continual cayiling and faultfnding with the
various measures proposed for the consumma
ton of the objects contemplated by the Re
form. They are free to admit that intemper-
ance is the most gigantic curse that ever visi-
ted and scourged a nation and that Temper
ance is q just and righteous cause appealing
directly to the ~sympathies and energies of
the human soul. They assume an indepen-
dent ground and glory in the correctness of
their own department. Here ends their tenn
p%erance principles, and W regret that their
influence, be it what it may, is directly an
tagonistic to the progress of the Reform. IF
he is d man of some character in his neigh
borhood; he forms the nucleus around whom
avowed enemies and bloated rum swillers
gather and point at with slavering praises as
a model temperance man Busy in their
c%avilling hairsplitting relations, they fOld their
hands in the great struggle, now rocking the
public mind like a restless sea, if indeed they
do not join hands with the Rum league and
give counsel to the clique gathered in the
e&anob bo1oc of tho Honor Oartv Az least
all their devotion to the Temperance Cause
amounts to an endless cavillation upon points
of minor considerations, doubtless fattering
themselves that their philosophy upon such
abstruse points demonstrates a far sighted
ness, caution and profound acumen. He
would guard against violent reaction among
the political elements of his Country
The sickening smoke of the hot blood Of
his brothers may so up from the grog affairs
Of butchery under his nose, and the half muir
dered wife and furnishing child of the drunk
ard may lift their dying wall to Heaven OF
his doorstep but with the acumen of
would be philosopher he looks wise and de
clares it will never do to act precipitately ii
the premises lest by rashness the political Oh
ganism be disturbed and a violent reaction
follow
If while he sleeps his chicken yard is inyf
ded and his poultry taken, he is clamorou
against the petty thief and inVokes the mos
prompt action of the law in bringing the 0
fender to justice, and feels a glow of homes
:. pride in doing his country a favor by inca
c~erating the hungry wretch in Jail, and lool
complacently on while the penal lash scor'
its livid mark in his bleeding back. Hope
property, character may be extorted or stole
, from those linked to him by the nearest tie
, and the wrecks Of helpless innocence turnt
out upon charity's bleak common to tread Il
path of wretched, sorrowing beggary t
, church and state may be robbed of its mo
glittering jewels and the souls of men, on
| moral and without blemish, hourly doom
I under the wrath of an Avenging God to Il
: tor5ures Of the dvutnress wUrrn, un9 yott
l plan proposed for the determination of tt
living, cancerous curse, does net suit his fa
l tidious philosophy, and therefore he says
, is better to be cautious lest the temperan
cause be inadvertently injured so he dc
worse than nothing-God forgive his sins
0 inactionl He acknowledges the evil but fea
the masses are not ready for its removal +!
t This ultra caution is suspicious-no more,
= less. He, whose +" souls desire and pray
/ to God is" to see this monster evil dethrone
: will not stop in the midst of the conflict
split hairs on minor points when questio
of eternal weight are hanging undecided
8 the scale of human events, but with the
9 thusiasm of a patriot his broad sword
truth will be seen cleaning, nerved WI
dauntless bravery, in the thickest of the fig
70 In the very commencement Of the refol
= this class of cavaliers was represented. 0
e they saw at once some deep laid design-sol
l. invisible scheme of the wise and crafty
l. The old pledge of the Teetota1grs was off
sive to their nice perceptions-they saw
10 ultraism in it that would ruin the world
t. When the Wa~shingtonian enthusiasm sw,
across the Union like the wizard flight o
storm, they turnedfro it in disgust becal
d they saw men on the platform who once rol
Y, III uI1Cu III Ol6 ueSFdOdGOn OI 1noDTlaLlt
\. they scorned the men struggling for rescue
rs refused to sign the pledge with those Of
" under the ban of popular denunciation, IL
IN in their Pharisaical purity concealing beh
a veil Of pride the honest confession that Il
= too needed a pledge. And now in the Il
Order of Sons, Cadets, Daughters, &c., Il
find an abundance of laws to pick, wi
surmise and nod at. They have excerci
ed their malignant ingenuity, and had the CO
,o. sci of the arch fend to aid them, in ordel
IL detect and point out some evil the Order
for wrought upon society. A signal failure
of been the result, but they will not, like ger
ed Gus men, try to satisfy themselves of the t
vie nature and design of the Order. The La
on already enacted upon the Liquor Traffic m
na- pass under their hairsplitting ordeal and
lst fer dissection from the critical butcher kr
they have ever secretly plunged at the Wit
of the Reform. This section is too vagu,
ion that too arbitrary-they wink their 81
on doubts, and nod their profound fears to
to toddymaking minions that crowd about the
IN that trouble to the States and politics !
ar grow out of this rash legislation. Some
the these wise-aeres stand at the helm Of the D
H. lie noIikiao1 N-ooooo ord 1u1--1.. IL