Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-29

10 The rescue.
Dear G. What has operated so
powerfully in this country to impede the pro-
gress of the cause Of Temperance, is a ques-
ton Of the greatest magnitude. No power
has been so influential, in our estimation, as
VIC have before said, as partyspirt. 1t has
been more potent than all other causes COM
bined. More deadly and active in its hostil-
ity, than the love of alcohol-than the love
Of liberty, Of the right to drink or the right
to sell.
The history Of the progress Of the reforma-
ton in all the States, proves this. Whenever
a party, conscious Of its strength, has taken
hold Of the Temperance cause and legalised
its measures, party-spirit has emboldened
the opposition to press its claims upon the
public mind, to the utter overthrow in almost
every instance, Of every yestige Of progress
which the cause had made; and the current
Of i-ntemperance has rolled back with redoub-
led energy upon community. So strong has
been the love of party-so ready has the
great heart Of the public beaten in unison
with the demands Of party, that whenever its
success has depended upon the sacrifice of
religion, Of Justice, Of sound morals, Of social
happiness, or any thing else, the sacrifice has
been readily made.
Perhaps, at this time, no one thing, so
greatly promotes intemperance in this State,
as the unlawful and demoralizing practice of
treating at elections. Never was this more
apparent, than during the recent political
campaign. In many portions Of the State,
all testify that "1ohiskey flowed like water"
Never before have fights, brawls, and muir
ders, been so frequent and numerous. Now
what originated and keeps up this nefarious
practice, but party-spirit? What, but the
determination Of the demagogues and party
leaders, to employ every possible means Of
success, regardless of the morals and true in
terest Of community
And yet, strange to say, public opinion in
the State, is decided in it's condemnation of
the practice of treating at e%letions. You
scarcely meet with a man, who does not ex-
press his disgust and opposition to it. Yet
it is evident, that public opinion is too weak,
too feeble to contend with the greater and
overpowering influence of party-spirit.-
Wherever this spirit pr~edominates, it over
rides every other influence. Social ties, moral
principle, pecuniary interest and even relig-
ious obligation, are but ropes of sand, COM
pared with the strength of~party-spirit. til
n cable Of steel that bears down and breaks
every force that comes in contact with it
Men Of all classes, church members, and men
ofhigh moral standing, succumb to its claims,
without a struggle.
Do you know Jed. Straitlace? He is a
steady, pious Methodist. A man Of strict,
temperance principles and habits. He IS a
party man, but he eschews party oaucuses
and private manouvering. He is so DISCUS
ted with demagogueism and party drilling,
that he leaves to the wire pullers and trick
sters Of his party, all the management Of the
machinery. Well, in eight cases out of ten,
men arc selected as candidates, whose entire
claim to support, is, that they are party men,
popular, and nave the means and the incllna-
ton to make "whiskey flow like water
When the nominations are made, Jed.is in a
huff He grumbles and growls about bring
ing out 'Ssuch men, He is out and out
against treating. Wishes his party almost
beaten, because they bring out 'such men,"
Threatening to leave if they don't do bet
ter. An opponent meets with him. Directs
his attention to the character ofhis candidates.
BerateS the practice of treating and such like,
and appeals to the known professions and
principles of jed, and wishes to knowi if such
a man as he is, can vote for ''such mem
jed. looks very Serious-joins in the condem'
nation of ~treating-is almost determined not
to 90 to the polls. Election day comes on
Jed. is on the ground at an early hour; has
n good deal Of business with sundry persons
is seen in close and earnest conversation with
many Of his ilk. lie does not go directly tc
the polls. Circles around, watching his
chance and when most of the crowd are ia
ken up with the attractions Of the liquor-stal
or a hurly-burly fight, Jed. steps up and puts
in his votes closely rolled up. He turns Off
l s~oliloquises "Well, this is a free coun
try and l am a free man. / don't like ''sucl
men," and / abomindte this treating, but
what can | do ? They all do it, and mus
support my party" And thus conscience il
searcd-rcligion and sound morals are igno
red, and Jed. throws the weight Of his inlu
onco in the scale Of immortality and intemper
ance.
As Jed. has done, so has Tim. Bodkin, tn
stiff Presbyterian, and Zach. Highhcel, tn
Episcopalian, and Joe Limberjaw, the rigi
Baptist. All, all, are men Of sobriety, de
cency and high integrity. They are all op
posed to the thing, bat party spirit o%verrule
thor sounder convictions, and in spite of al
their protestations Of devotion to the prime
pies Of temperance, morality and religion
they must vote when the pinch comes, 70
a0hisbey and Availability, in the persons o
their loose, tricky, swill-tub candidates, b
cause, forsooth, they represent their party
Thus it is all over this land, sound moral,
public virtue and religion airs sacrificed to tn
demi.pod D1rtU-sDiriI TO the ruin of con