Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-02-28

E - s<sss " 5dtory eenhg, ana Some- |
ttnnes beah, and these being presented to the
will, occasion It's decision, By faithfully por-
ltraying to the mind of an individual the |
duties which he owes TO himself and to 9TH
ers in connection with the scourge of in
temperance--you appeal to the strongest
principles of bis nature-sympathy, benev-
olence, philanthropy. selflove, his regard for
justice and sense of duty; and you thus
excite warm feelings of moral obligation.
This being true, it follows that by a faith
Ifnl exercise of moral suasion all can be |
brought to favor the Temperance Reform
except those whose wills are sadly enslaved |
TO the gfovelling appe;ites and propensities
| OF their meaner nature, and who have slight |
ed the promptings of moral feeling and
| yielded to their ungodly sensibties until
they may be pronounced almost, if not to-
tally, incapable of voluntary REFORM -
Upon this class moral suasion cannot sue
ceed. We know it by theory and have
often seen it confirmed by positive experience.
These are unsusceptible of any effectual
impressions from entreaty. persuasion Or
mere moral threatenings, and the strong
arm of the Law alone can subdue them
BY moral suasion we may gain sufficient
number to make US the naojoritv but
without prohbilory Law we cannot hope
to remove the monster entirely from our
midst. Let it be then the single and united
aim of all the friends of Temperance to so
operate on the feelings of those who have
not lost the power of free voIition by servile
submission to their natural desires-that
this much-to-be.desired majority may be
reached as soon as possible.
1t may not be improper to glance briefly
at the sources of impediment to our pro-
gress. These we will classify under five
general heads:
First Class-The avowed advocates of in
temperance.
Second Class--Moderate drinkers and
would be- Thought Temperance men.
!! ThiEth Class Hke who join the Order
and wls Of Tempo,&t
| Fifth Class-Negligent and lifeless Sons
of Temperance.
The first class are not greatly to be
feared in one sense, as their standing in
society is commonly very low, and the
brand of public disapprobation has been
f generally stamped upon their conduct
But Notwithstanding, they are ever busy
and are possessed of dangerous power to
e take captive the thoughtless and unsus-
pecting. Their insidious wiles and sleep
J. less energy are startlingly liable to delude
/. and seduce the young and inexperienced.
# They should be watched with vigilance and
4 the promising youth who are recklessly
q yielding to their baneful fascinations should
;. be rescued from their hands. Many OF
n this class are not hopelessly beyond the
a reach of our influence, and by proper at
. tention may themselves be saved anc
% changed to Temperance men.
a. The influence of the second class is es
:. Epecially fatal to the success of our princi
=. pies. They profess to be desirous of doin
\. right and this opens the heart to thei
,n words. They adduce very specious argu
in ments in defence of their position, whic
re are calculated to deceive the untutored an
as credulous. They call themselves discre
,;c disciples of Temperance and term US .fana
is ics. They contend that they occupy til
he golden mean between improper extreme
it so long as they do not transcend the limi
al which they profess to observe, they are r
no spected and almost justified for they argu
e1 that they only indulge their desire to Il
,p- extent that it is innocent. By such re
AN soning they deceive many. Their natur
,as tendency is to drunkenness and ninete,
Ne twentieths of the lost victims of fatal i
ao- temperance have once held the same groun
on They may be compared to fountain who
div waters seem clear, pure and inviting, al
ing yet contain a hidden poison which seldo
til,sl fails to infstuate and. destroy. We ha
,ers the consolation to know that these are &C
,,ad orally men who have some respect for WI
hat is honorable and right and can in sol
ncy measure appreciate the claims of just
Iun- and duty. They are blinded, deceived
hen may be undeceived and elevated to I
in worthier platform of whole-hearted TIE
/. is perauce men.
man The third class those who join ;
ility Enthusiastically are not very nun
Gus. But there are always deserters e
3 all from the most loyal armies and most rig
rage eous causes. By the act of withdraw
with man wounds his own character and per
their yates SANDER against the Order. HI
the afterwards considered destitute of stabi
seen and incapable of appreciating the excel
least truths and deep interests which are comes
d be with the great Temperance movement.
ex also causes the world to believe that Il
work is nothing in the nature of our Frater
ruths which is calculated to afford any enjoyn
hy Of Tor qualification and this leads off Il
M who would have joined, but for his "
large drawing Such should be sought q
, the and induced if possible, to return-f.
ntosi- is truly compliment to the merits OF
whis- Order for those who once have tastes
infiu. sweets to be desirous to enter again.
strong We now come to the fourth Glass
incite ocritical and traitorous members. w
,eaties to heaven there were none such, for
duty characters are abhorred alike by God
exis- man. HypOcri.es in the church 7