Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-07-26
ICALDwELI P. O.. July 5th, 1854.


CALDWELL P. o., July 5th, 1854.
Ms. ED1ToR: Although unaccustomed to
writing for the press, must say something
to you about the progress of Temperance in
this sicinity, as no one else will. I think
can Say without fear of contradiction, that
Litth River Division has accomplished as
much as any other in the State. Truly she
has many rich trophies Of victory, and more
than that, she is not idle, not standing still,
but sdvancing to entire victory. Have we
not encouragement enough from these facts
to labor more assiduously for the final exter-
min3tion of the liquor trafic2 We have!
and We will never relax our efforts until one
loudshout Of Redeemed from the Liquor
Traffic be heard from Currituck to
Cherokee. But Mr.. Editor, though we can
leee that our. enemies are, growing smaller
] degrees andsbeautifully less, yetwe have
TO regret that some are yet taking decisive'
ground against the demolition Of the Crit
ter for the obvious reason that their inter-
ests and tastes are involved, though they
call themselves temperance men-are willing
for great legislation upon the tra6ic-but
you must not have Prohibition you must
allow every man to make it and drink it if
he chooses, but don't care much if the Ii
cense law is abolished.
Temperance men understand such chat
very we'll You won't deceive us by de-
ceitful declaration of your principles, when
your words, actions and conduct, under 9TH
er circumstances, plainly contradict them
Among the objectors, Mr.. Editor, is an old
gentleman whom we will denominate Capt.
Joe,' a keeper of Jug Tavern. The Capt.
claims to be Temperance man with good
face but certainly with a guilty conscience,
if he has any; processes great sympathy for
women who have to suffer from the liquor
scourge, &c. Bat there is one circumstance
-4-alaAe zz5eside the absurditv of grogseller
and drinker being good Temperance man)
which forever sileuces his mouth-confess
ions of Temperance and sympathies for the
unfortunate drunkard's relatives. This cir
cumstance is as follows: In this neighbor
hood lives a poor man who has suffered him
self to be overcome by the habit Of drinking
so much so as to become a slave to it. HI
is faithful adherent to Capt. Joe and a
s he is a poor man, he must work part of hi
time in order to get means to furnish him
self with drink. This man has a wife VIII
has TO support herself and children withou
any assistance from her drunken husband
he giving all his wages to the Captain,
good Temperance man Not long sine
lis money run out aud asked the Capt
for some liquor on credit, but which he YER
generously refused to let him have. Til
IS faya rhg s5qrrp;naa, ,te Iesae, itsaeEs h""'' l'
some cloth with which she was going to max
herself and children clothes. bat if he wouI
let him have liquor he would bring him th
cloth to pay for it; which the Captain yer
sympatheticaIIy agreed to! And he actl
ally did take this, the only thing that tn
poor suffering woman had to shield her Chi
dren from the incIement blasts of winter
storms.
You are very we'll understood, Captain
when you praise temperance, &c. And al
other thing which gives the broad black
to an assertion Of temperance principles
such men is, that they are busily engaged
trying to prejudice the minds of all vote
they can against such candidates as they su
pose to favor the temperance Reform. Al
as the people of old Orange will vote R
form, or No Reform in August, this san
Captain, alias Good Temperance man. &
tended by certain Esquire of his ik, a
busily engaged, on Sunday especially,
canvassing this region to stir up those
their friends whom they fear will be owe
come by these foolish temperance men. /
the way the Squire knows all about t
laws, Constitution &C., and is ready to gi
counsel, advice or opinions about temperan
! mems intentions, what sort of laws tn
/. want, their wishes in every point, ard
E what sort of liquor law is constitution
| and what is unconstitutional. He is We
; prominent man, gives opinions gratis, and
! course is always right.
e Mr.. Editor, we have no doubt that at
o election the Reform Ticket will have the n
jority by many votes, and we will have r
: resentatives from old Orange who will reg;
n this majority. Temperance men everywht
let US labor with more fixed determinati
l. If we will only do our duty, we will certai
), achieve glorious victory which will res
!. in the downfall Of King Alcohol.
&c LITTLE RIVER