Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1855-07-18
WAKE COUNTY.

We learn that Mr.. Branch achieved proud tri
umph in the discussion at Rolesvle, Wake, on
Wednesday. Mr.. Shepard had evidently prepared
himself for the occasion with much care, and he
spoke with more than his usual ability butinstcad
of gaining, he lost ground. The Democracy in that
quarter of that County were never more aroused
than they are now, and they will poll their full
strength on the second of August
Those gallant and able champions of the cause,
G. H. Wilder and A. NJ Lewis, Esquires, enter
ing the field, and their blows must be felt by the
dark lanterns. Maj. Wilder addressed the people at
Dunsville yesterday, Friday, and will speak to-day
at Laws Store. On next Saturday, the 21st, he
will address the people at Barney Jones' precinct.
We call attention to the notice for Mass Meet
ing in this City on the 31st There will no doubt
be a large attendance, and good speaking may be
expected, as distinguished champions of the cause
have been invited and will no doubt be here.
The dark-Ianterns are making large calculations
as to Wake County-they even count on carrying
it by from one to two hundrd majority! Brother
Democrats do you bear that? Let as organize, and
get ont ecery COTE By proper efforts we can give
Mr.. Branch at least four hundred majority.
~ Rev. @. f. Deems, President National Club
patriotic Americans" through the Goldsborough
Telegraph and the Spirit of the Age-the object of
the movement being practically Maine liquor law
in North Carolina. The "candor of the political
press is appealed to, and political Editors are re-
ouested to publish this address of Mr. Deems. Mr..
Deems says, among other things, that "rum has the
control of the ballot-boX-rum appoints our Legis-
latures and inaugurates our Governors" Mr. Deems
is mistaken He also speaks of the lash of the po-
itical ox-drver" This shows the estimate he places
on the virtue and intelligence of the people. We
do not concur with Mr. Deems in his views, and can
not publish his address-not that we would refuse
him hearing to which he might be fairly entitled
but if we published it should consider it du-
ty to discuss the points he has made and do not
feel disposed to do that just now. We are in favor
of Temperance and deprecate immoderate drinking,
immoderate eating, immoderate dressing, and "much
speaking" about exciting and impracticable isms.
We have no idea that the people OF North Carolina
will instruct their Legislature to enact the Maine
law nor do we believe that if enacted, it would be
of any benefit to the cause of temperance. On the
contrary, we believe it would njure that cause just
as it has done in some of the Northern and Eastern
States. No free people can be forced by law to re-
fran from drinking if they choose to drink; the evil
can be mtgated and arrested only by faithful en-
forceent of the present laws on the subject and by
appeals to the feelings and judgments of the people,
and especially of those who are in danger of falling
into the condition of confirmed inebriates. Why,
look at the present state of public sentiment on the
subject of prohibitory law. So strong was the
feeling against it among members of both parties in
the last Legislature that it was found impossible
even to make provision in the acts incorporating
schools and academies, to guard those schools and
academies against the sale of ardent spirits in their
immediate vicinity. Let the existing laws relating
to the sale of ardent spirits be rigdly and faithful
y enforced, before we are called upon to sanction
an enactment prohibiting all sales of the article and
which would inevitably be generally disregarded
and set at naught. If the laws we have cannot be
or are not fully enforced, would more stringent ones
be respected and carried out?
ew Col. John Fl. Wheeler, the American Min
lister to Nicaragua hasarrived at Washington City,