Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-10-13
For the Spirit of the Age.

Mr.. EDITOR Il heartily sympathise with
you in Your feelings of regret and disap-
pointment at the want of success, and of a
more general effort in behalf of the me-
mortal that we have mutually endeavored
to bring before the public preparatory to
laying the subject before our approaching |
Legislature. | claim not to have Originn-
ted the plan suggested in that memorial,
for the same plan has heen suggested, and
to some extent adopted, in other States
and in various corporations, but | NAV,
without egotism, Mr. Editor, claim that
am deeply interested and concerned i'll
the success of this plan las no other, nor
no better has been proposed.) | have sus-
tanned it as your Correspondent in the very
best manner was able. have been ex-
cecdingIy gratitied with the encouragement
YOU have given me, and the cordiality with
which Won endorsed my views and wheI
the Grand Division laid hold of the meas
IRE as they did, | of course expected the
Subordinate Divisions to carry out then
recommendation in this matter, and a bright
and auspicous day seemed dawning before
us. Judge then of my disappointment
when even up to this time the whole
scheme is not only being neglected, but
seems well nigh forgotten.
Encouraging reports, to be sure, come
up now and then from various parts of the
State, and so far as that particular locality
is concerned, our cause is progressing fine
lv; good speeches, good dinners, large au-
diences, DC, are gotten up and pass off,
leaving fine influence behind them, and
for the time our cause is triumphant.
| Mr.. Editor, am going to hazard the re-
mark, that one of the most dangerous aud
radical errors OF our present Temperance
effort in this State is Seifshness; large tenn
pcrance meetings are gotten up; speakers
secured, extensive preparations are made,
great enthusiasm prevails probably, AMI
hope there often is great good done, but is
it genvdl-what is the great leading object
of all this extraordinary effort! is it the
benefit of the whole State, is it to throw
up and strengthen the LeUee Ito speak fg
uratiyely) with which we are endeavorins
to stay and control the tlood-tide of Intem
perance, asits burning current rolls through
our beloved State? All no. They onI,
have the welfare of that particular localit
: in view. 1--WE are trying to take care Q
! ourselves. You must do likewise our fam
lies, friends and neighb"rs demand all {
D our sympathies and attention, outside c
4 this-we pity, We bewail and deplore, bu
: ah we cannot help. The stream of II
!. temperance is breaking over the levee j
. other parts of our State, sweeping ava
t upon its fiery bosom the brightest and for
c lest of our people, desolating and subme
e ging their homes We are sorry for then
e but our levee is safe, we must direct all OF
o energies and efforts to keep it so" Is n
Is this, Mr.. Editor, true picture of the po
lie cy of our present day? While we are bull
D ing up and fortifying the levee around o
S! own homes and hearth-stoncs-the strea
is bresking loose elsewhere, thousands
I'd tributaries are pouring into it, it is deepe
re ing and widening, and ere we may be ava