Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-09-17
Noble and True Words.

The following noble words for temperance
are taken from the Message Of Governor Met
calf of n. III.
The act for the suppression Of intemper-
ance is having salutary effect. 1t is more
fully regarded and practically sustained than
any license law we ever had in the state
In many towns the sale of intoxicating Ii
quors is wholly abandoned, and Ia others it is
sold only as other penal offences are COM
mitted in secret. / am not aware that there
is city or town in the state where spiritu-
Gus liquors are openly sold That there are
places where the law is secretly violated, is |
not doubted, and the same may be said of
every law, whether statu te or common, from
the highest to the lowest grades of ofense. |
But this is feeble reason why law may
not be salutary and effective or why 1t should
be repealed Our national revenue laws
are often violated with impunity if not with
boldness, but have never yet heard that
urged as a reason why all laws against SNUG
Cling should be repealed. The sale OF lottery
tickets is strictly prohibited in this state, yet
the law is constantly violated; but no one
for that reason suggests that the prohibition
should be taken off and the sale left open and
free, or g a we'll regulated license system"
established in its stead The sale of lottery
tickets is all but harmless when compared
with the ruin and desolation of mind, body
and estate, caused by the sale of intoxicating
drinks. The sale in either of the above cases
has ever been a matter of municipal regula-
/ ton, and if the prohibition of the former has
met with less opposition and less reluctant
acquiescence than that of the latter, it is be-
cause the sale is more limited, less profitable,
and pampersless to the appetites and passions
of men. Yet after years of experience, but
few saaould be wiling to inviteiato tho state
= TiIiibay i lottery tisEsts, whes6sr the Sale
1e prohibited or not. So many will be foan
IL who will have, if possible to be obtained
:, spirituous liquor, and others will be foun
p sufficiently sOrdid and reckless to furnish il
al yet when the good effects of prohibition
&C. law shall have been affirmed by time an
be experience, and when no selfish purposes al
al to be attained by misrepresenting its provi
:" ions its objects or its friends, there is reaso
g to believe the law will be as eficacous
ne suppressing intemperapce, and will me
ch with as much favor from virtuous comm
no nifty, as its most ardent friends could hope Fl
or anticipate.
ep That the sale of spirituous liquors h
is greatly diminished since the act took effe
an is plainly visible, and this fact is freely CO
bo ceded by most candid men, whether they a
~ prove Of its objects and provisions, or not.
nk 2 Those engaged in the illegal traffic dare +
the expose it openly, but sell it in the darknt
sti- of midnight. 1t is very evident to all, a
lis it is next to an impossibility to be otherwi
e. r. that sales must be extremely limited in nu
lor Der and quantity where the traffic must
is carried on in dark holes and loathsome del
are where men trembingly feel their way a
,;r where the light of day not admitted to W
. ness the transaction or countenance the
Use fense.