Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-08-27
Close Of the Volume.

and political affairs of our common wi
and in our good old North State Of
1t has been a time of prosperity and enter of
prise never before known in the history Of al
our Government. How many thousands of pr
miles of Railway have been planned and ex- W
ecuted-how many thousands of acres of A
land have been rescued from the wilderness il
and made to blossom as the rose-what an 81
expanse of territory has been added to our n
national domain-what al epoch has it been n
for thrift and public spirit throughout our d
vast confederacy, from the Atlantic to the S
Pacific t.
Seven years ago, when we first launched v
our timid barque upon the uncertain bosom v
of public favor, the great Temperance Re
form was but beginning to attract general
attention. We had some fifteen or twenty {
Divisions in North Carolina, with a mem
bership of about 500. Almost Immediately
upon the issue of,the Spirit of the Age, the
cause began to spread. The clarion voices
of gallant reformers were heard in every
portion of the State, and in five years
from that period, our banners gaily waved
on every hilltop and in every vale, and we
numbered some three hundred Divisions, and
tacetUe or thirteen thousand members!
Leaving Politicians to discuss the political
aspect Of affairs, we confne our remarks to
the physical, educational and moral condi-
ton of the country. And what a pleasing
retrospect is that in which we have INDUCED
above. And We have still to congratulate
ourselves upon the progress of the great
system of internal improvement tn It is ex-
tending from the sea-board to the mountains,
and that binds all portions together by the
iron links of communion and interest. The
Fire-horse that to-day dashes through the
dark tunnel of the Blue Ridge, tomorrow
plants his iron hoof upon Old Neptune's
name, and pours rich treasures at his feet
while he returns greeting, from the coral
caves of the sea, and from distant chimes,
their untold luxuries and wealth, as a fit
tribute to the highlands, for the great COM
mercial industry and enterprise they have
inspired.
And SO of the Educational interests of the
country. The sons and daughters of GU
land are enjoying the blessings Of a liberia
education. Schools, Academies, Semina
ries, Colleges and Universities are ever,
where to be found-from the free Commol
School, to the most thorough Institution
!, that the world can produce. Ignorance i
being dispelled, and an appreciation of th
blessings and institutions of our free an
) happy country becoming common to all class
es of the people. In this is our stay an
. hope. Educate the masses-open the door
of your Common Schools, Academies, &c
and make them accessible to all the childre
of the country, and a stronger bulwark i
raised in defence of our glorious Union, tina
can be erected by bullets and bayonets, G.
: mented by the blood of our brayest and bes
men. God speed the great Educational il
- ~terests of the co untry.
But the great Temperance Reform ha
- been subject to greater mutations, reverse
- and opposition, during the existence of 0,
, Paper, than has either of its great cotemp
- raries alluded to above. They are still on Il
high road of prosperity, but alas! Tempe
ance Associations have vastly receded fro
the high vantage ground they had once q
tanned. Unfortunately for them, while the
have been the warm advocates of intern
- improvements, and the foster-mothers of E
~ucation, too many of their friends have be
our bitter opponents, and prevented o
- maintaining the lofty position We had acq,
=. red by an exhibition of the benefcent effe,
of our labors. Had all the intelligent,
terprising, ~Virtuous citizens of the count
given US the countenance and support d
m. our praise-worthy operations, that we c.
tributed to theirs, we should not now have
:; mourn over the vast decline in our numb
bic throughout the country. But we have
satisfaction Of knowing that we have ind
trinated all classes with a temperance SCI
ment far in advance Of any thing ever Def
known and felt in the countryside germ,
Tue which will yet spring up to the product
eSi- Of the richest fruits for our great reform.
But we are not yet tired Juggling at the
the for advancement and reform. We trust
irse shall yet long be spared to labor for
Tue three great principles of which we have |
speaking and that we and the Spirit of
ene Age will live to see every portion of our S
and common country enjoying the ben
a"0 and conveniences of internal improvem
'n' so essential to the prosperity of our Agr
npei tural interests /: When Education. and I
HoA ature shall be as common to and as easy
q, tainment by the children of the hardy
- of toll as by those of the men of ease an
auence and when Temperance, like a |
80 belt of light and peace. shall %encircl,
bless our whole country.
y" Next week we shall enter upon our e
year with proud hopes and inspiring q
49, pations. By the aid of the compara'
80 few friends who remain true to our pure
9 49, dard, We hope, yea, we 6eliece, we
t;ono1 again see the principles of Love,
and Fidelity" led ON by the great da,
of Total Abstinence, occupying their Fl
exalted position and when the voice
NJ. form, like a bugle blast, will be
IT, throughout the whole country. Gil,
haro countenance and support, friends, al
will use our utmost exertions to furnis
80 with a weekly visitor that will meet
- appreciation.
ement HEAVY DAMAGEs.-Dr. r. L. Cow,
other Murfreesboro, N. c., has brought a
- VTsT