Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-01-02
gJmmber 18,
The Past and the Future.

The Past and the Future. !.
Struggles and defeat have marked the pa -
ges Of the temperance reform in the paste,
It's future shall be Illustrations Of the most !;
brilliant triumphs. We love to look back r
and compare the past with the present and
the prospect Of the future. For the last
quarter of q century, the battle-strife has
been ccascless and unwavering, and its mark
is stamped deeply upon the public mind. :
The world was once in darkness. Ere the
Sun Of Temperance arose, there was a gloom I
entertaining tic earth without one beam to
cheer the darkcncd prospect. The wide
waste If ruin grasped the two shores Of our
continent. and no ! eacon light cast a warn
ing pathway across the dangerous food.Zl
Intemncrance held It's sway. The throne Of
the Demon set a pillarel fort on every hand,
and his sceptre ovcrshadowed all the people.
Great men and small drinkel and died, and
never asked If there was n way Of deliver
ancc from their bonds. The highway from
the groggcry to the grave was t~hronged with
nm idolatrous troup Of iibhering pilgrims,
and the sexton was busy with his spade, dig
cling cells in the red earth for the victims of
ruin. In that day the sexton gave himself
no thought that in the future the grave Of
the drunkard might be closed!
To travel back over the past history Of the
Reform aud remember its strug gles. causes
the heart to iuyoluntarily give thanks to the
God Of the sparrow, whose right hand has
always oyershadoved the armies in defeats,
and whose left hand has been a sword for
Right. Like a mighty ship, the Reform has
clcavcd It wide wake on the great sea Of
events. There has been light and happiness
following after it. Like the pencillings Of
gold and purple on the hem Of Il lovely day,
when stretched Oh the still lakelet's waters,
80 Is the shadowines Of the Ref1rm-a path
= way for angels and song. The veterans who
have done service in this glorious battle are
not ashamed Of It's trophies. They point to
them with pride. No wall Of mortal suffer
ing has risen from it, fields, nor cry Of an
guish from homes broken Of their stout hope.
It has not come as an invading foe to beggar
the citizen, burn homes, and scalp defence
less women and children. On the contrary,
its name is cherished in grateful remem-
brance, and prayers go up to God for its tri-
umph. 1t has clothed the naked, and given
food to lips feyerish with famine. 1t has
been n gilcad balm to the broken hearted,
and woyc smiles into a wreath to sit on the
s,rrowing brow. 1t has driven with an
Ithurial spear the skeleton IF want from the
its bcncfcent course to squat, tnadlike, to
the earth. IL has met the prodigal who had
fell ON the husks, and reioiced over his re
turn with thank-oTerings Of fatted calves
1t has rolled away the ponderous stone from
e the living sepulchre where humanity wa,
falling into loaths)me decay piecemeal, anC
with an Angel hand led manhood fortl
again in pristine strength and beauty
Wherever its golden sunlight has fallen tn,
darkness has become radiance, and thos,
healed and blessed by its coming have san,
songs Of praise. The rich man and the poo
have been made glad, and the lone woman
kneeling over the grave Of buried hopes ha
looked up to heaven with streaming eye
and thanked GDd that a better day wa
dawning.
Thaak Heaven for the brightness of tn
sky, to-day Beacon lights are flashing on
on the darkness throughout this great Re
public. High soulel men, with hearts G
oak, are shoulder to shoulder in this gloriou
cause. The war cry of Truth is heard rina
ing among the hills of every State. A dee
Indignation ut the wrongs of the traffic ha
gone down anil taken root in the great sou
Of the public. The red cross of the Dragon
smoking with the gore q butchered innC
ccuce, is being borne over the land by revcr
giug Knights, and from the great cities, han
let, aud the forest cabin, the stalwart clan,
men are ilocking to the rescue with trust
bow and n full culver!
The day hrightens as the world moves
God speed the hour of final triumph 1t wi
he II victory more cnnobling and sublim
than any that will ever immortalize til
plains Of Alma.
" o, such u day,
So fuueht. So follow'i. and 50 fairly won,
Comes not til Then. to dignity the times,
Since C.csur's fortunes =