Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-03-14
FOR THE sPIRIF' OF THE AGE
.,,.y.-,-. 4.

The friends of Prohibition, ia this State,
are without any general plan of future ac-
ton, by which their patriotic objects are
to be consummated They may be fifty
by troubled sea. Some are
for one plan, some for another; but ALL
for the determination of the liquor traffic
Now, in this state of affairs, what shall
be done? How shall we harmonic! To
these interrogatories there can be but one
response-by aPRoHIBITORY CONVENTION!
Let us, then, gather ourselves together IN
Raleigh, from the sea-washed shore of the
Atlantic to the blue hills of the distant
West, to adopt some PLAN by which our
beloved State shall be redeemed from the
evils of the rum traffic. Let every county
in the State be represented in this Con-
vention, so that a full expression of opinion
may be had and general concurrence OBJ
tanned.
The people are ready to sound the tocsin
of glorious rebellion, over hill and dale,
mountain and glen and to consign to the
tomb of the Capulets the whole tribe of
jesse and their coadjutors in the blessed
cause of rum Friends of reform, it IS
plain to us all, that the people must do the
work. Politicians, as such, cannot be
trusted with an enactment that infringes
upon the hellish privileges of unprincipled,
inhuman wretches. They weigh each vote
and the power of each voter. What can
we accomplish by petitioning such men as
these? We may petition from now until
, doomsday, and the black tide of intemper-
, ance will roll back its ebou waves ofliquid
t rum, until we all are engulphed in one
8 common ruin.
S We may as we'll use moral suasiou upon
: the rumseller as the politician. We will
j. accomplish our object just as soon. The
e one counts on votes, the other dollars
Let US, then, change orr tactics. Let ou1
= motto be henceforth legal suasion for the
I rum seller and politician, and moral suasior
+! for all that quaf the poison of the flowing
n bowl. Let us, hereafter, have legal suaslor
IF for legal suason, because we plainly SCI
n that moral suasion won't do. We ma,
: as we'll attempt, by moral suasion, to IN
o duce tae Priest of Darkness to 60 for
d law Of reform, as to get political dema
~ pOpuC W duVbCdLS tIC oetiiiS3 "hSA "
- ity Of his constituents are opposed to 1t.
is did Mt expect the Legislature to pass pre-
h hibitory law when | signed the memoir;
10 asking for it; nevertheless, | knew ths
= all reforms must have a beginning w
K have been rcpulsed; but what of that =
IN 1t will increase our number and magnlt
ne our strength. We now have the vantag
in ground, and it only remains for US to maE
w good use Of it. How shall we do this +! d
be remaining inactive? By no means L
,st action ACTION !! /! be our watchword al
ey Prohibition our aim Let the fires of
or, glorious rebellion be kindled on the watc
. towers of Temperance, and the cry of wa
,od WAR! be shouted over every hill al
- dale that beautify the fair face of our love
the State.
er- Let us organize in every county IN
ais State and be ready to fight the great bat
md of 1856, AT THE BALLOT BOX 1t
,tb political candidates for Governor are
no posed to our measure, let us have can
zee date of our own to defend our principl
and If either candidate favors our measu
Uses then let us take solemn pledge to SUPP
pub that candidate, be he who he may.