Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-02-14

your will, save it from the fearful plunge
over the cataract-oh remember those who
are weaker and more sorely tempted. If
you need not act for yourself, act for others.
ln the spirit of large benevolence, deny
yourself the tempting cup that others may be
strengthened BY your example, to resist also.
Ii custom bids you drink, break in upon the
custom. lffashion orders it, defy her power.
Ii it CLEANS from the crystal bottles upon
your fathers dining table, resist its fascina
ton. If the drinking usages of society con-
Etsnue to be, as they now are, the young mans
greatest tempters, cast off their trammels,
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brother, from that which at the last, biteth
like a'serpent, and stingeth like an adder
You will not, we hope, consider it as out
of place, if we add, in conclusion, that in ad-
dition to personal abstinence, there does seem
to be call upon every good man to stand
in his place, and endeavor to stem the food
of intemperance which threatens to sweep
over the land, and to sweep away from us
the brightest and best of its sons. | would
that this call mig ring clearly aud loudly
upon the ear of every young man. For
do most firmly believe, that if those who in
the course of the next ten years shall pass
from the age of twenty to the age of thirty,
would only bind themselves together in a
solemn league and covenant against the
mighty evil. the crisis which now impends
would be past, and victory be with the cause
of temperance and goodness. | care not
about the form in which the war might be
carried on. You may employ your Maine
laws or your Carson leagues if you please,
or better weapons you can devise them
But what we mainly want is effort the ef-
fort Of many banded hearts and hands-the
euergy supplied by the hopefulness, the ac-
tivity, the irrepressible ardour Of the young
man.
Nor do we suppose that when you have
done all. this vice will no more be seen, and
The druDkards die altogether out Of the land
We look forno such result until the milenium
begins to dawu upon the earth. But your
determined energy, and wise, we'll tempered
zeal may Danish the temptation from oul
whares and public places, back 10 the obs
cutily in which it ought 10 dwell You may
force it from the daylight. into corners where
the drunkard will find il hard to get anG
still the constable, we hope, find it easy tc
seize. You may drive it out into secret
places, where its faunling signs, will be hid
from the sight of the young and the unwary,
and where none who values reputation O.
respects himself will 60 to hunt il. At the
very least, you may place what has now the
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Our own possible dangers-the positive, ac
Iual dangers Of others-cali loudly and ur
gently. The mothe calls us, beseeching US
that her child may not be cast away upor
these frightful reefs and quicksands. Th,
fair bride calls us, lest, in our inactivity, sh
may become the sorrowiog widow. Ou
country calls us, trembling for the fate G
many Of her sons. Yea Heaven above US
bids us be up, and be brave, and active, i
this great contest between the Right and th
Wrong.
For deeper than thunder ofsummers loud shower
On the dome of the sky, God is striking the hour
Shall we falter before what we've prayed for
long
When the Wrong is so weak, and the Right is
strong?