Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-01-02
From " Porter's Spirit. y
From bPlFl6.
..,,,r, q, Position on the Temperance Question
BY RICHARD ROE.

r,osnInE n Position the Temperance question:
BY RICHARD ROE.
np,p SPIRIT Some three or four years since
was ouilty of the indscreon, to call IT by no harsh
~ name of running for the Legislature, IN the coun-
~ Of Persimmon, state of Hoosier. The party by
ySbich I was nominated and supported, had clear
majority of three hundred in the county, and OF
ooIrso NV election was fxeI fact At least
tbonoht So until about three weeks before the cleo
ton About that time the first wave Of the Maine
Law excitement reached the state, and ugly questions
began to be put to me by voters Of both parties.
To take position on eli her side was dangerous,
and lodging seemed the only safe policy. Fortu-
nately, had never belonged to any temperance So
ciety That satisfied most of the aH'ies' On Inc
other hand never drank anything stronger than
coffee, and the Temperance men look II lo granted
was one of them.
and Tand NV onnonen were to make our last speeches
in one Of the back townships on Inc SATURDAY pre-
ceding the election !,
II was hart place for temperance man. and
vyas most thoroughly cross-examined during my
sneech as 10 my anecedents in connection with tenn
perance societies, and, especially, whether mad
ever belonged TO the Sons of Temperance; this order
being the peculiar ahomnation in the neIghborhood.
Nv answers seemed to satisfy the sOverrigns, and
was congrauating myself that the last ordeal was
passed. ,
was slightly mistaken. Soma malicious political
adversary had whispered ii about IN the crowd, that
| could not bear the taste or smell of whskey. This
serious ana udulHSlhS anu my
without consulting me, determined that d convincing
proof of it's falls ehood should be given, before left
the ground. Tom W, about as hard case as
the neighbohood afforded, was selected as commit
tee Of one, to carry out their resolution
Just as had mount my horse 10 leave Tom APP
preached me with trimming tumblcr of new wills,
kew in his hand, and asked M to jine the boys
in a horn"
glanced at the crowd and that at least fifty
votes were hanging in the scale II was no time to
deliberate and couple Of swallows of as vilan0us
whiskey came from The still, found their way
down my throat.
grunt of approval from the crowd told their sat
isfacton bnl was determined to have my revenge
for the martyrdom had suffered, Leaning over to
wards Tom in confidential sort of way, said
g Tom carry better liquor than that
"The devil - said Ton, do yOr carry bOttle?'
Certainly | DO. But you must keep dark, and
not let the fellows in town know it,"
I his was degree of soundness on the temperance
question my frien had not dared TO hope for in me
1t was like marrying woman for beauty, and find
ing she had fortune besides
By the time Tic crowd bad gathered around US,
had extracted from my saddle bags bottle of ertrad
Of ginger, and handed IL to Tom, with an invitation
10 try it,
Tom did try it,"
4" Lord gemenlily,' gasped he, as the burning com
pound took possession Of his mouth and throat
&c What is that water-water-water! !"
| told him it tenth proof brandy and the
crowd unanimously swore that any mar who carried
liquor that would make Tom W ely for water
was sound enough for them the temperance ques
ton.
disanced my competitor at that precinct the sue
Ceeding Monday.