Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-08-25
EDITORS CORRESPONDENCE.
LETTERS FROM BoAZ.
rIRsT sRRIEs.

UHgrdftiHg- muSf De mp mn dOtng-dchdL
is 10 be do"6P-Pdrty spirit-the great
promoter of iRtemperdnce.
DEAR G--Are you still sea.ed in that
old arm chair, doing battle against the legions
Of Alcoholy You are neither weary, it seems,
nor discouraged. It'll well that you are not.
Other warriors with less courage, have been
driven from the field or have been captured
by the enemy but you still mount your
charger and WELD a sharp blade. Your cry
is still, courage men to the ~fght-chargc,
charge"
Wen, what Is to come Of Il? The friends
Of Temperance have met with disappointments
enough, 10 cause their hands to hang down,
If not to make them give up the contest. At
one time, victory seemed to be certain on one
side. Wise men, strong men, bold men, came
to our help. Public sentiment seemed to raj
ly hosts to our banner. Men and women who
never drank wine nor strong drink--the oc-
c%asional todd~y-drinker--the regular, but So
Der dram drinker-the men who ever and
anon took a spree, and the gutter soaker, all,
all, were carried by storm and became the
pledged, the s,corB enemies Of Alcohol. The
clergy, the physicians, the judges, the law
ycrs, the farmers, the merchants, the mechan-
ice, the busy man, and the man Of leisure,
came 6" the rescue, and we thought VIC had
the HYDRA monster on his back and our feet
upon his neck. For a time we held him there,
hut alas! at All unexpected moment he sprang
to his feet and with giant strength scattered
his enemies and divided them.
That Was an unlucky moment for the cause.
Disheartcned and despairing, many a valiant
knight DOTTED his panoply and laid down his
arms. Then the floods returned upon us, and
few have been left to raise a blade or lift a
hand Thanks to your indonitable courage
your untiriug zeal, and the determined will
Of yourself and those who have co-operated
with you, the contest was not given up, and
much of the vantage ground secured has not
been surrendered. The strength Of the Tenn
perance principle is still firm in the hearts of
multitudes. Much has been gained. Many
n SOW, il is true, has returned to her wallow-
Ing in the mirc. Many a lover Of the fire.
water has returned t. his cups. Many a
~grog.scller has uulurled his banner, and many
n pledged man has sOiled his conscience. But
still the cause has gained strength Of late, in
the silent working of its Heaven-approvcd
principles. Few mothers now sweeten alco-
hol for their offspring, and thus fill the land
with embryo drunkards. Few sideboards are
decorated with decanters and glasses. 1t has
ceased almost to be mark Of civility and hos
pitality, TO put the bottle 10 a neighbours lips
and thousands not numbered on the role o
the sons touch not, taste not, and handl'
not, the unclean thing.
Now, have we learned experience from tn,
past-have we proGted by the things we hav,
sufFcrcdr Ifso, there is hope, encouragement
and assurance for the future. The Temper
dnce cause must triumph. As sure as ligh
is spreading; as certain as that truth vii
prevail, so sure il is, that North Carolina an,
the Union and the world shall be disenthrall
cd and redeemed from the bondage of Alec
hol. But to effect this, there must be n
blunder iug-thcre must be wise action-hard
continuous, energetic working, and ther
must be in all hearts, faith in God, faith il
our principles. and faith in our success.
Strongly and warmly as | advocated pro
AUTHORIZATIONS as | was to see the day ar
rive when all Intoxicating liquors should b
banished from the land, | then had my mis-
g,yings as to the policy, and doubted the wis
dom of the proposition. Least we might seen
to oppose the great cause, many yielded to tn
convictions Of the greater number, and W
pitched into it. 1t was Z Jlunder, if not il
principle, at least, as to time. The move
mcnt was in advance Of public conviction an
sentiment hence the failure and the crush
ing, wasting reaction.
But n truce to these preliminary reflections
which though Introductory, do not indicat
the gist and design Of these letters. Mil
spilled upon the ground cannot I've gathere
up. ard it is unwisc to waste our strength i
vain regrets at our losses. Breaches may b
mended-wounds may be cured, so can tn
losses and the injuries Of the past be repaired
by wise and energetic action.
You have nailed your banner to the mas
bead, aud with all sails hauled taut an
strctmers flying, you have encountered I'll
enemy on every sea, and doubtless are read
10 go down, rather than give up the ship
viii not your zeal provoke the thousands
our Israel to prepare for the fight, more cou
a~geously than ever? viii not the friends
Temperance bestir themselves? They are
and at IL in some sections, but the success
the cause demands, that VT should be 'at
all at it-and always at it,"
What is to be done? What plan Of opel
tons do you propose to adopt? The ca
paipnfor the entire war must be arranged, a
the necessary outfit and supply procured.
But these arrangements must greatly dope
upon the strength of the enemy-his nu
bers,-his position, the material of his e.
mv-the number and character Of his {
tiGcations-his resources-the chances Of
retreat, &C. With I~ntemperance there is
little sympathy in the public mind. Die