Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-13
GnrrrspanhiiE y6itgr's Drpurtnrut.

R. G. ST syrsnoUrH. Va.

Wait M0sZ38k7 r.. G.. STAPLES.
A PLEA FOR PROHIBITION.
I" Tibi inconsumpta %juveEta?
Tu puer 8ternus, tn formosissimus alto
Conspiceris celo, tibi, cum sine cornibus adstas,
Virglneum caput est"
The description of Bacchus as quoted above,
agrees perfectly with our idea of his character.
Bright and beautiful is the appearance of the
wine when it sparkles in the cup, but woe to
that man who putteth it to his lips. Fair and
of Virgin face is he when uniformed, but in
his true character as described by Claudian.
clothed with the skin of a tiger, he is but the
representative of his works. Truly it is said
that " VINE makes even the meanest people
bold, insolent, and fierce, exercising their fury
and rage against others, as a mad OK cores
with his horus!" The Bachanalia, among the
Romans, celebrated in February, at midday
by women--and afterwards by men, women,
and boys-as in eur day dissipation and de-
b~auchery exists,-so then this feast was cele-
brated in a most scandalOus manner, until the
senate by an edict had TO abrogate it, as Dia-
gundus did at Thebes, and as we by a Prohib-
itory law in every State in this Glorious Confed-
eracy, should extirpate-eradieate, and put an
end to the traffic in mems souls. A thrill passes
over me, whenever | thiak of the past, and
call to mind those who enE d life's pilgrimage
with all the hopes of youf5 Mastering around
their brow but who, arougsssthe BachanaHan
board, fingered alas, too long. The clear and
lofty ~mind--bright prospects Of happiness and
a life of usefnlness--high ambition, and the
treasures of learning and talents, ~all--all,
blighted and withered in the bud by one life
act Of folly. Oh! what are not the disastrous
effects of intemperance. 1t dries up every
feeling in the soul, and turns the man into {
very fiend incarnate. AS the Simeon OF the
desert it withers and blasts the fairest flowers
of promise. Down, down to the grave and t.
hell it hurries its victim, without hope, a ours,
to himself, and n black spot upon the world
Health, strength, reputation and reason, on
by one are offered on his shrine, and yet tn
demon is memorable. Widows means, orphan
shrieks, and parents heart tears. Oh, when
in the lame of Humanity will virtue rise in he
strength and put an end to these horrors
Arouse friends of temperance, awake sentinel
on the watch towers of zion. For the sake {
Heaven-your own, and your family's sake
shake off your lethargy, buckle on your armo
and forward in the great work before YOU
Il Unsheath the sword Of Prohibition, and let
not be returned to the scabbard until the gre
work is accomplished, and a world redeeme
; Until these dens Of ~iniquity, sin and vice
these forts raised in our midst these gat
of He'll itself, shall be closed, and peace, j
and happiness shall reign once more aroul
the hearthstones of the once fallen victims.
and all the earth shall smile with beauty b
meath the sunlight of Temperance, Virtue, al
Truth. Then relax not your efforts, brothe
in the good cause, and the day will come VIII
the laurel wreath shall be exchanged for t
sword, and the day star of total abstinen
shall have reached its zenith.