Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-03-26

midst of boon companions. an appeal is
made, guilefully made, to the kind instincts
and generous impulses of mans social ma
ture-an appeal, which few long subject t o
its seductive influences are able to withstand.
TO CLOSE THEM UP-A NOBLE TRIUMPH
Merely to shut up these moral Golgothas.
these shambes of the soul, would be a noble
triumph. Were this accomplished, other.
and further triumphs would by necessity
of nature continue to follow, till by change
in the social usages of society," change,
which, to the praise Of some of the most res
pectable families in this city, has already
commeneed-the decanter containing the
drunkard's drink, under whatever name,
would be banished from the side-board and
guest-table; and the product of the still and
the brewery confined to the supply of medi-
cine for the druggists and agents, to be
otherwise employed in the useful and orna-
mental arts of life. Then, when this shall
have been accomplished, and not till then,
will our labors be ended, and the victory
achieved.
TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY LAW
But how are these progressive triumphs
to obeaccomplshed, be this final victory achieved?
How :? BY the force of public opinion-and
such public opinion embodied, and expressed
in the form of authoritative public law
and thus embodied, and expressed as fast
and as far as it is formed
WE LHALL REAP IF WE FAINT NOT
Let not this partial want of success, how
ever, dishearten US. Ours is an agency of
mercy; it has accomplished much good in
theipast it isfull of promise for the future :;
and be it remembered for our encourage
ment and future guidance that no beneficial
! fho tha 81 e
pie is ever effected suddenly. In place of
being discouraged, or weary in well-doing,
let US betake ourselves with increased ener-
gy to our appointed task, always confident
| that we shall reap if we faint not
| And we shall reap if we faint not; even
though the law of Prohibition fail us, we
can fall back on the laws of kindness, and
resuming our former weapons of light and
love !; weapons of heavenly temper and of
heavenly origin, and in their use return
hereafter as heretofore to win new fields of
glory SO that should we be denied for sea-
son the honor of closing the bar-room by
force, we shall not be denied the happiness
of continuing our efforts to close it by pur-
suasion, the higher happiness of appealing
to It's keeper as a man and brother, and OF
assuring him that in our assault on his oc.
cupation we seek not his injury, his good
only; that there are othcr and better occu.
patlons, better for himself, better for hi,
family, better for the country; some o
which on his death-bed he will rejoice tt
! have chosen.
LET US BE TRUE TO OUR PRINCIPLES.
: In every such individual enterprise it will
be glorious to succeed, glorious even t
,, fail : and when by succession of such tri
umphs the public opinion shall have beer
sufficiently conciliated, and the public con
, science shall have been quickened, as l trus
1t ere long will be, to secure the execution o
the law in the city, it will be cheerfully anc
efectually executed. No matter how iurist,
may at present differ in their opinions o.
courts disagree in their decisions, whenever
the people shall will the abatement of thi
nuisance, it will in some way be abated.-
On that public will, it is the appropriate of
flee of this Society to operate and whethe
, in success or failure, let be true to ou
principles, and never lose sight of the fac
: |, that ours is philanthropic association, an,
not political party; that it embraces in it
d comprehensive grasp both words; that whic
q now is and that which is to come, and it j
intended not only to improve the moral char
acter and social condition of man in thi
9 life, but to bear benignly on his eternal des
n tiny.
1 TEMPERANCE AND POLITICAL PARTIES.
}, The concentration of all temperance infir
ence in any section Of community would /
o positive calamity. Better far that inf,
!, ence should be difused through the entil
u mass, so that whatever party may chance
) be In the ascendant, the interest Of a caus
st so benign and holy may remain secure.