Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-05-07

NEW ION.
Clarksville, April 25th.
For the Spirit of the Age
Prohibition.
The question has been repeatedly asked,
why the necessity Of prohibition, in the use
and traffic of spurious liquors by an act of
the Legislature of North Carolina? And
many arguments have been adduced to an
swer that question, by the press and pub
lie lecturers; and it may be said they have
succeeded in doing so to the entire satisfac-
tion of the wise and intelligent. Notwith-
standing, however. there is still want of
confidence and moral courage on the part
of those who disapprove of the use and
traffic, in urging the question in more
earnest and impressive manner than SIM
ply memorializing the aw-making power
The subject of abolishing the liquor trade
in North Carolina has arrived to that point
in the history Of reform, when every phil
when all those who feel desire to establish
and perpetuate the blessings of man in all
his social relations as citizen, should pro
claim it from the house top. 1t is ques-
tion fraught with no less than the restora-
tion of the moral and social condition of
those of our race, who have spent their
substance in excessive indulgence, and re-
duced themselves and families 10 degrade
ton and want, and to prevent future Bach
inalian worship. To secure so important
an object (second only to the saving of the
soul) should be the earnest desire and con-
cern of every class and condition Of men in
North Carolina. 1t is suggestive therefore
that system, bordering upon the conven-
tional be adopted; and as a means more
etfectually to concentrate strength and
union, primary meetings be held in the va
rious counties in the State, and resolutions
entered into, relative to the support Of leg
islative candidates, as to whether they APP
prove or disapproye of prohibition. In
connection with this, and the services of
such men as Gen. Cary, (sorry to learn his
can't be obtained this year, let those of our
State, who stand as prominent speakers,
engage in the cause, and visit every point
accessible, failing on no occasion to discuss
the question with all their powers of mind
and when they have exhausted their orato
rial powers on the field of contest, let them
not cease then to visit the yeomanry Of the
State, and around their fre-side-aroust
them by their appeals in behalf of the
drunkard's wife and little one~, to a sense
Of the quiet necessity of abolishing th'
trade. Let them be called zealots or ia
natic or any thing-but drunkards. To-
| 60 \
used in the achievement of so great an oh
ject in the moral history of North Car
olina.
The evil we have been told, again AM
again, is great one and at this period Q
its history, we as wise men, are forced
admit, that the only successful conquero
is, legal enactment, approved by the ma
jority. Men are free agents, and are ca
pable of self government in every thin
except habit and desire; in those two prin
ciples, self-will becomes uncomfortable i
the majority Of ipebriates, and when mo
al restraint ceases to be a virtue, it is e,
pedient that legal be substituted. This
done to prevent theft, and many other v
ces, why notin this. Surely the drunkart
who tastes not, but endeavors to fit himse
for the duties of useful and honorable lif
Let no man hesitate then, to assist as far
, is in his power, to bring about this gre
moral end social reformation in our Stat
. The press may exert all its power al
energy in battling for the good of the pc
> pie in this matter, and prove fruitless; al
. why? because scarcely in any commuui
! in our State, is there to be found more th
a one to five men, who read or take an int
. est in the information imported throuy
the press With this view of the matte
S it is beyond the power of thepress to eft
t thorough understanding of the subject,
e mong those who disapproye of prohibitie
e on the ground of making and selling. N
can this be done in the Division room.
i There must be public physical demonst
t. ton, brought into requisition on the p
d of prohibitonists, or they may lie on t
o arm expecting peace when there is
( peace. War may be declared, but d
laration without an enlistment would
ii mount to surrender. To maintain IL
as declaration, there must be arms and n
:. nitions of war brought into action.
r declaration has been formally made agai
II I" Alcohol" but the bilIigereuts occu
= about the same position but little ALTAR
s. and no blood shed, save that by mutiny
a the camp of " Alcohol" The method
at publicly discussing the question, is the
DO ly one by which those who can't read, 1
es those who can don't, can be brought to
re on the right side of the subject and
yn must be followed up day by day Let
he accidents, crime and mortality result
to annually from the use of liquor be exh
M ted excite moral sympathy in favor
65 mitigation by legal enactment.
uld Tue good effected by our county co
de- and municipal prohibition, il TIE .lc,