Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-08-25
For the Spirit of the Age.


Bro. GoRMAN: You have recently seen a
certain Grog Shop, located in the town of
Lincolnton, with its sign, bearing this inscrip-
ton Temperance Retreat; ; intended no
doubt as a burleSque on the temperance cause.
| was forcibly struck with the colors used
upon this sign-hlack and red-which seems
to me a fit representation Of the dark and
bloody business III which the proprietors are
engaged.
I propose to give you a brief account of
some of the effects of this establishment on
the day of our election There was a large
crowd Of men gathered around this so called
" temperance retreat p the last part of this
inscription upol. the sign seemed to be fully
carried out, for many did "retreat" from the
surface of the earth down into this hole of
destruction and death, and in it were fully
prepared, as they issued from this sink of
iniquity, to engage in anything that an evil
heart might dictate. The result was, that in
the afternoon Of that day, most of the men
composing that crowd being more or less I'M
der the influence of ardent spirits, the inte-
rior being too small to contain all the evil
spirit, a scene presented itself to public gaze
Men, boasting of their liberties, and at the
same time were deprived of the liberty OF
going to their respective homes others belch-
ing forth horrid oaths against each other and
blasphemingt the name of the God of Heav.
en-; others trying To- light their best friends
while others of1ds drunken companions were
trying to prevent it all so much under the
influence ofthe monster that they could scarce
ly stand upon their. feet. Taking it all to
gether, q scene was presented over which, i
it were possible, angels might weep.
You may have a more correct idea of thi
scene, when men who have never been favor
ably disposed to any temperance movement
were constrained to say, Ito use their owl
language it ought to be blown up"
large portion of this confusion was the nat
ural fruits growing out of treating by candi
dates, showing most conclusively the evil {
this abominable practice. 1t is due to tw
of the candidates for the office for Sheriff t
say, that they positively refused to treat on
of them was the, successful candidate, no
withstanding whiskey was the principal il
strumentality used to defeat him. We ha
but one candidate for the Commons in Lii
coin county he resolved not to treat durin
the electioneering campaign, but [ am sorr
to say that after men of all parties, mon
the rest AMY temperance men, gave hi
their support, that on the second day of Il
Election he had, in connection with other
to treat his friends. 1t shows very plain
that the principle was there all the time b
having no opposition there was therefore !
necessity to use this instrumentality hen
this second day was a scene of debauche
n and drunkenness around this same ill nam
temperance retreat"
# The more | look at this thing the me
e fully | am convinced, that no temperan
n man, or any other man in favor of good
l. der and sobriety, should support any m
(; who will not come out and take firm a
decided stand against this pernlcious pr
d tlce. 80 long as We support men of this CHI
i: acter, so long will this practice prevail /
let the sober, thinking part of the commu
IS ty set their faces firmly against it, and
n. may confidently hope that the day is not
y, distant when the ballot-box of the good
- North State will not be controlled by wi
re key. May eGodspeed the day.
ne Some will say this article is useless,
Ks present, as tiek4@sion is over z but we II
ut learn a lesson III this matter from past ex
i'd rience, which if strictly adhered to, may
he profitable to US ia the future.
mt ~ v2 AN OBSERVER
- Iiucolnfon No Arc IN 1890