Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-07-27
Criminal papets.
AN ADDRESS

.. AN ADDRESS
Delivered By NJ. 7. MOVE, before PAiIam-
thropie Division, and published by re-
guest of The Division.
w. p, BRoTHERs AND SISTERS In the
few desutory remarks which | shall at
tempt to offer this evening, it will not be
my purpose TO delineate the destructive
ravsges Of intemperance, to portray the
beauties or extol the virtues Of temperance.
| design not to trace the deleterious ef-
fects of the former upon the mind, the
body, and the spirit of man, or its demo-
ralizing tendency upon the political, social,
and moral institutions of our country; nor
do design to present the latter, as dispen-
sing the blessings Of sobriety, peace, and
happiness, or, as purifying, refining, and
elevating the community in which its prin-
ciples are well understood and daily prac-
ticed. But it will be my object to excite
a deeper interest, and to urge more uni
ted effort on the part of those who have
associated themselves together to wage
war of determination against King Alco-
hol, and his myriads of well-disciplined SOL
diers and co-adjutors, who are disfguring
the fair proportions Of our beautiful earth,
invading the sanctity of home, and alluring
from virtues lovely path, "the future hope
and stay" Of Columbia's free institutions.
We should not let the security which
we feel, induce us to become less energetic
in behalf Of those, who are daily exposed to
the l-polluting and Notwithstanding vice
of intemperance. For fron the golden
pages of Inspiration we are impressively
taught, that we are not to live for self alone
that our influence and our lives should
be exerted to produce the greatest amount
of good to the greatest number Of our fel
Low araaturesS=to pour balm into the woun-
ded heart, and dispense su1stfuO is-sr
piness wherever we go-that the flowers Of
gratitude and fond remembrance may
spring up beside the pathways over which
our earth.f tered feet may have passed.
Why is the noble cause of temperance
languishngl Is it not principally attribu
table to the supineness and timidhy of its
advocates and detenders9 My friends, are
we not, in a measure responsible? ? Have
we put forth every exertion and are we
still striving with earnest zeal to propagate
the glorious principles inscribed upon that
banner, whose tri-colored folds have been
unfurled to the breeze? Where is that
vast army Of brave defenders who once
sheltered themselves beneath its ample
folds Alas ! thousands, who once rallied
around the standard of Temperance, have
either deserted their posts, or have become
mere nominal defenders.
The bright luminary of Temperance
which once shed its radiant beams upon
our green, sin-cursed earth, has become
partially obscured and a gloom of sable
hue is overspreading the broad area of oul
own fair land. No more do we behold il
blazing in midday splendor over deluded
world, Dispensing the genial influences o
prosperity, temperance, and virtue, to the
toiling mortals who dwell upon the "earth' I
sad face" Appetite and interest, those i'm
pregnable Notifications, reared by man tt
impede its progress, have greatly obscurec
its brilliancy /; but we still indulge the pleas
ing hope, that ere long, we may be made
to rejoice in its more effulgent BEAMS
And we would ask, shall the gentle beams
of temperance, no moro, cheer the comfort
less home where the um fend holds hi
bacchanalian reves Shall the low wall
ing cry of distress, which arises from 81
many dilapidated homes in our heaven
protected land, strike no chord of sympa
thy in the hearts Of those who have she
tered themselves beneath the tri-colore
banner OF Love, Purity and Fidelity p
Shall tlose brave soldiers, who have enli
ted for the service and armed for the col
test, ingloriously quit the field, whilst tt
cry of murdered innocence and blasted a
lection is waited upon every breeze whiC
sweeps over our land Shall that miser
bic being who has yielded to the seducti'
influence of intemperance, until his natu
has become so debased, that he seeks cor
panionship with the brutes, be left to ft
low his ruinous- course, till he finally sin
into drunkard's grave and more awf
drunkard's hell Shall we prove Fecrear
to the trust which kind Providence b
intrusted to our keeping and leave tho
wretched beings, our fellow creatures,
perish miserably in the degradation in
which they have fallen2 Friends, fello
laborcrs in the great cause of humanl
will you relax your efforts, and complaceI
ly view the lava-tide OF ofintemperance whi
is sweeping over our boasted countl
bearing upon its seething bosom thousar
of human beings, who have been allur
into its fiery billows, and make no eff
to stay its maddening tide, or to resc
those deluded victims who are being BOZ
to irretrievable woe and ruin
Have you incased your vigorous lin
in the armor Of temperance warfare, to
tie nobly only for few days, whilst
sconrge Of our land is still desolating