Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-12-24

The tribe Of Ephraim is not yet extinct
We still have'them scattered here and there
over the earth. Among the Sons Of Tenn
perance and among temperance men, chill
dren of the same valor are found. A few
years ago, Sons Of Temperance we're brave,
courageous, and did not fear the power of
the rum-chief. They were combined togeth-
er for a noble purpose, and from the fact of
their perfect organization they felt strong
and feared not. They were EARNED" and
"carried bows" but the Kisses from pot
houses, and the defiant shouts of the rum
devil, frightened them, and they turned
back in the day of battle" Aye when the
battle was at the fercest-when the enemy
was almost ready to throw down their wea-
pons and cry for quarter-when a victory
greater than Caesars was almost ours, the
rum pigmies suddenly became to the eyes of
the children Of Ephriam grenadiers and gil
ants, and although armed with the sharp
swords Of Truth and Justice, and carrying
bows, they turned back in the day Of battle,
and now alas a new crusade must be opened
to regain our lost places and enjoy our for
MGR achievements.
1t really would seem, from the present
apathy in regard to the drinking habits of
the nation, that the temperance reform was
in its infancy, though preached from every
christian church, proclaimed in the lecture
rooms, and shouted from the house tops and
public places for more than a quarter Of a
century. Temperance reading has fallen
around every home like leaves from the
bouutiful forest, until universal knowledge
upon the subject ought to have been diffused.
But are the principles Of temperance so gen.
orally adopted and practiced as in former
years? The turning back Of the children of
Ephraip1, and the rum maddened pilgrim
host rushing down a swift road to a mecca
Of fire and woe, tells us in dole full numbers
f that they are not.
Lo! there is not a highway unmarked by
the devious tracks of the inebriate; there is
not a breeze that glides over our land that
does not bear on it's ETHEREAL wings throbs
from burning brains, and signs from sorrow
stabbed hearts. Upon every shore, in every
vale, on every hill the plague spot burns
4, and deepens in livid coIors. There is not a
sun glowing out from a nightly shade that
, does not look down upon a great throng of
. Americans in bonds and letters worse than
~thoyocEkindiy rule; and not a sun sets that
does not set to hundreds OF ,sese never to
! rise again. Men, who, yesterday w"re
strong and uttered drunken curses against
their God, are to-day stiff in a grog ~grimness
and their souls have heard the terrible and
: thrilling doom of the damned! In thousands
: Of homes there were JOY and g~ladness when
the vesper bells rang, but the matin call
comes to mourners with broken hearts strug-
Cling with woer Angels in tears and hell
!, iubilant with Internal shouts
The seed of moral corruption takes root
to day among the bodies of the Wondering
dead of yesterday, and tomorrow bears the
red bloom of carnage, flames and blood. The
budof social drinking, poisons homes, hearts
and the fountains Of domestic joy; the full
blown flower brushes with an iron hoof af-
lection, sympathy, religion and hope, and
, the ripened fruit is terror, death and eternal
despair. Awful scenes are displayed at eve
ry throb of human pulse. The rafting gasp.
=, the mangled limbs, the broken heads, the
crimson tide Of life gushing from the broad
- chests of men, are scenes that are daily wit
messed in this our favored land. Americans
boast of their freedom and their glorious
- heritage, and yet more than fell before tn
VI leaden hail of Britian's host in q seven year
VI war, do every rolling year bow the head anC
'" place this iniquitoGs manacle upon them
a selves and give their lives, their souls, thei
." all-tAeir HeaceH, an inglorious sacrifice t
rum!
~ Look at it! 1t is like a carcerous sore
&C, extending and deepening. When it (asten
az upon a home it never stops until it has cor
81 tnminated and corrupted all that is vulnel
IN able to its rank infection. The once we
beloved wife becomes the victim of neglect
the son is lurked into evil and dangerou
paths; the daughter is associated with dang'
rous companions, and the babe, like a tende
~ flower torn from its stalk, droops and die
OF grows up with the germs Of disease Ell
grated upon its constitution that blasts til
hopes Of friends, and proves a curse create
than death. The demon has slimed its wa
through every avenue of society; through tt
filth and rags Of the beggar's hut-throug
INV the gaudy richness of the palace-throue
the brightness Of the love lit cottage, throug
Senate chambers, through Christian church
and but fog the power Of a God, it wou
-. scale tho walls Of Heaven and clash sWor
We with Gabriel.
will American frecmen, think of these thing
tho We have hbore& long and hard to convin
you of the Importance of the temporan
VIC theme. They are worthy of your though
liz Sons of Tempsrance-children of Ep
riam 4! Why have you turned back! You we
! 3 once armed and carried bows for the confli
- and, ike towards, you threw your weapo
down and "turned back" For shame, @
.on,. tribe Of Ephriam! With brave. hearts a
valiant arms confront the foe again and nev
more turn back, while the pulse beats a
the heart throbs. Every thing in good SO
gla- ety-everything in morals-everything
and the christian religion urges you to grid
sand the armor again and wage a brave warf;
10 9enall % uo""