Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-04-21
to Temperance. Literature and News Of the Day.
Intemperance Increasing.

D6SpILe tile nODle 0HOTLS Ol beiupSId.lCe or
CARNATIONS and temperance papers, drunk !.
enness IS alarmingly on the increase in many !,
parts of the land. In defiance of all opposi- :
ton, the curse sweeps on to destroy. The
terrible tide rolls against the feeble bulwarks !,
that a few have reared, batters them down, :
and then sweeps on, making wreck and hav-
&C Of all before it. All over the land this
tide is rolling, and it is darkened with the
wrecks of homes and hopes it has broken as
it passed. Strong men bow the knee to the
rum dragon, and drink from the poisoned
cups with a full knowledge that they are seal
ing their damnation, to be cancelled only by
the endless sweep of eternity. With this
terrible truth written in their hearts, and
written everywhere before them, they still
press the cup to their burning lips and drink
and die. 1t makes the heart sad to contem-
plate the unbroken column of old men and
young men, beating down a pilgrim path from
the ~grogshop to a grave On which nc star of
hope can ever shed one lingering ray.
What shall be lone to stay the progress of
the great destroyer? Shall ~intemperance
still roll its black food through our favored
land and lay in waste our dearest interests,
while man shall find an abiding place here
Is it to be an undated scourge through all
time, and up to the hour when the Angel
trump shall sound, continue to doom and
damn those who dwell in the earth Is
there no year of promise away ahead, wher
earth's sons and daughters shall shout Ju6i
Iatee! JUBILANTEE! = freedom from the oppres
sive curse!
What shall be done? The agencies tina
have been employed against the evil hav
: been faithfully tried and found to be too fee
z bic to battle with a power so strong. 1t ha
t been done as was commanded land yet ther
e is ROOM" Where shall we look to for help
= To what tower of strength shall we apply IL
n aid in routing the monster from our midst
J" We look, first, to the public press of IL
l. country for aid. This great power has bee
It silent long enough upon this important S u
V iect; and if all the conductors of the same h;
a the fearless independence to write and pu
- lish Just what they really and truly belle
ne upon this subject, we should see an int1uen
ID exerted upon the public, the like of which /
re never been seen before. The Press does CT
of troll and shape public opinion to a very gr'
ng extent, and if every journal circulated amo
he the people would have a good word and
argument for the temperance cause, the nu
- 4o- r-1,fI hn o1,r1on
* multiplied. We venture the assertion t
,oe there are not three Editors in the State v
- do not believe that the country would be b
I'd pier and more prosperous, if there was nc
gallon of intoxicating liquor drank from
sell fourth of July till the next. And now if
emf is really their belief, and we are constrai
by to think so, for they are all men of int
the gence, why is that we see so little in tt
/ of journals in favor of temperance? If anyb
to knoweth a reason, let him answer. Yes,
t to look to the public press for aid, and shall
ea57 tinpe to to cry 97e nG i q6a Syffr sl ipt e a y fons tim
inc: coming.
Again, we look to the Pulpit for more
nch than we have ever yet received from
the quarter. Tipping and drunkenness mus
orr denounced as special sins, and men Il
faithfully warned Of their danger in thi
nse- spect than ever before. Too many minis
erer are disposed to speak of these things
ent- dainty manner, lest they give offence BIT
ued the whole counsel be declared. Let a W
lght ing be heard from every pulpit in the la
let men be assured upon the faithfulne
and the Bible that if they are found among DIR
heir ards their condemnation is sure. Let US
men help from the Press, from the Pulpit
wis from every source; for the work is great
:ucA the present laborers too feeble to perform
full great task before them. If the giant in
I'd if perance is ever slain, or even crippled, it
an be by the combined effort of every pow
rest, earth that has the good of mar at heart.