Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-11-21
DDIumG I.
A noble Example poorly followed.

During the fearful reign of terror and dis
case that has just closed in our sister cities
of Norfolk and Portsmouth, the great pulse
of this mighty nation throbbed from one ex-
tremity to the other for their Inflated inhab-
itants. The voice of anguish and of mourn
ing awoke in every heart a sympathizing
chord, and the hand and purse Of every man
was open to relieve their wants and mitigate
their suferings. Money poured in by tens
of thousands-the good, the great, the noble
and the skillful rushed into the fetid atmos-
phere of those doomed cities and fell as mar
tyrs to a holy philanthropy. The world
looked on with wonder ard admiring awe.
and man looked upon his fellow with a prou-
der gaze that all of the God-like divinity was
not bOtted out from the human heart. 1t
was a noble, grand, sublime spectacle, upon
which the Angels smiled with wonder and
applause. Bless we for such manifestations
of mans goodness.
But there is another scourge sweeping
through our land, Staying its tens of thous-
ands annually. Its ravages are perennial
No king frost's glittering robes robs it Of its
power to flight, and blast, and Kill. No
spring times sweet perfume can lure it from
its work Of death-lo summers SUM-. or goT-
4 geous autumn's hues can vile it from its
o ravages. BY night and day-from dewy
X morn to twilight evc-in storm and sunshine
IF its pestilential breath is shed, and men fall
a. by thousands before its fearful march. Our
III dearest friends-the loved idols of our hearts,
are slain, and yet we stand and look on scarce
r. conscious of his presence. We hear no thrill
g. ling appeals to philanthropy for money to
no stay the desolation, though it is in every
20 house, in every heart-no emptying of ccFers
nd to erect a barrier to its dreaded march-no
do sacrifice of home, and ease, and life, to stay
on the all-pervading destroyer. A strange ap-
he athy seems to pervade society-an unobstruc-
ful ted progress marks its onward way, save here
and there a few who raise their voices, but
to be drowned in the bacchanalian revelry
around.
om- If men would contribute of their mean
for the advancement CT temperance princi
cps ples-if they would plant themselves in til
and breach ready to be sacrificed, if need be, il
this great work of noble philanthropy, thu
wal following the proud example set in the time
BON of the fearful pestilence above alluded tt
to how soon would the ravages of intemperanc
our cease, and peace and joy bless again GU
IS of stricken earth. But the politician, he VII
lace covets the proud name of statesman-patrio
eek stands afar off and fears the fiery tide an
ent, the influence of those who swell It's Lethea
the waves. The avaricious, the man Of appetit
'eral the voluptuous and the gay, dance around
th a fiery margin. and make no effort to arrest
wing burning waste. Alas! alas! verify,
OBJ march is one of unresisted triumph.
. the And are these things always thus to /,
con- Shall our great and good and noble ones I
raise their hands and voices in behalf ofdow
trodden humanity, and a bleeding country
hopes? 1t must yet be so. The time MI
yords, III Ill -
ing; "Non 0 Po0Pr0 ~" Up "
throttle this monster evil of the world. G
speed the day, rings out upon the heavy {
the soul prayer of many an anguishcd, bic
ing heart.