Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-01-06
For the spirit Of the .Ape.
"THE SIGNS OF THE TTMzs.,

VI the age.
"THE SIGNS OF THE TIMEs.
There has been drop of poison poured
into our cup of peace. And liberty, the
bright goddess of freedom, that has inspi-
red so many noble hearts to Yield their
life-blood on ensanguined plains is begin-
ming to shrink, in the wild gloom of hel
despair, as she views the affecting prospects
before her. She fell not amid the gloom
OF war, nor clash of arms. But now, wheR
no sanguinary contest is rocking her polit-
ical and religious public, and hammering
its proud battlements, she is about to totter
and give way beneath her own weight;
like the oak that falls amid the stiffness Of
the forest.
Change after change, and storm after
storm, has swept across our cerulean sky
of peace, and the star of liberty is now
gliding the darkness of gloomer storm,
which threatens us in the horizon wonder.
We are about to launch our ship Of
State" from all appearances, into the sluices
Of Charybdis, to be rocked by the engnlf-
ing vortex of projecting Scila. OH IS it
not enough to awaken the mighty, the ven
erable dead, in consequence Of seeing the
noblest boon bequeathed to man, permit
ted disgracefully to trail in the dust Does
not a voice, louder than ten thousanl
trumpets filled with will and deyasting
whirlwinds, come, borne on the wings of
J, the wind, from every part Of the inhabi-
tant world-''to awake, arise, or b. forever
fallen :"
The barbarous, unmercifnl god of In
temperance" has, like a lurkin. thist, ia
yadG.la aas,s-- l.z--.h n u 49, 'fo'oAi Jun
ture Of affairs We could at one time
point with feeling Of pride to many bold
e and fearless champions OF Temperance;
and say in the language OF the mother OF
. the Grachi, /" these are my jewels. bit
! alas "mirabile dictu," they have deserted
) our ranks and dog-lile, returned . tier
! vomit have taken up their abode IN and
q about some contemplate little groggery.-
/ Yes, reader, you will find, We are PANIED
to animadvert, the most OF those who have
l. forsaken the good cause OF temperance,
n waIlowing around these sinks OF death, III
= the habiliment of heggars dirty, slouchy
Il and mean; with bottle in one hand and
ns their last shilling in the other. Ahject
10 poverty-stricken, sinking and depressed
T. the very pictures of wo, andthe remnant o
ne what they once were; stepping from tht
Nn cry.
,as With this view, this sad picture Of things
in how dare we ground our arms in the inids
of battle! How can we disband witt
for shame in the enemies face ! an enem.
ont maddened by the recollection of our fol
so mer triumphs; and emboldened 10y on
18th want of energy to carry on and advane
and the millennium of Temperance.
his We are not ignorant of the prognostic;
ler- tions of our foes and the yagaFles OF the
and whimsical imaginations in regard to Ii
the Sons of Temperance. Yet their incohereT
be- dogmas sink into pitiable insignhcanc
lsed when brought into juxtaposltion with Il
i'm Goht reflected from this noble Order. Iht
de- that have forfeited their pledge (at lee
unk- some) are our sworn and most unscrup
! ra- lous enemies because OF their weaknc
and little integrity, they are vexeJ, II
and Vulcan. who having behaved i'll, was XIX
vour cd out of heaven He was no less, we
t our told. than nine days and nights in tdmbli
rnest down to earth; it is no wonder then, Il
esent he broke his leg III falling upon tlle isia
,rvey of Lemnos. He was lame ever after.
Of IN Webeseech all then, who are the frie
bev- and advocates of sobriety, to forsake
least, their principles; for ike the heathen g
i'll as they will not only be kicked out of dec
earful and respectable society down TO degri
ton, but hurled at last, in linked thun
lerate bolts, to the dismal regions, peopled by
been souls of departed men. Go forth then
of IL Heroes and Heroines of Temperance
e bad the great field of battles armed and eg
this ed in the power paraphernalia of
f total ous Truth. Proclaim from mountain
But TO sea-board and at the Threshold OF e
. per- door in the country, that you are Sons
: place Daughters Of Temperance, STRIVING Tor
nth all bright and unfading crown OF laurei
ou are which TO wreathe your brow. Hefaid
octrine tropic plains TO snow-ciad hills ana ca
q say. most distant parts, that YOU are rearing
~, he h,;c which ike Mt Atlas, when ocean ST
d7unL- oro Iasbinp pillows around, viii stauc
70 have moved and glory in its strength. be
ere will ded by every sacred and haltowed
eat evil ence: and when this "barbarons and
merciful god of intemperance sIaI
tempt to break up your platform,
rsons = oronnd that proud ensign floating in
aPPn fablc brightness-the banner of Love
loI coh oho hammer Of Purity, and the banner Of Z
;Ihg IN .ns ~ Their names will be inscribed j
u .nu den letters on the last pages of the "
i'ooi ,av history-their banners will float nPo
'oIf dan- last sinking breeze, and the sweetest
sba, So will be the last they sing. y. Z.
: Clay Hill, s. c