Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-10-26

afraid / would have to leave "meditating"
at the road side.
For the Spirit of the Age
The Drunkard.
DO not be alarmed, kind reader; am
not going to abuse the poor drunkard /: he
rather needs our pity and commiseratien.
lie may once have been very clever, hu-
name, industrious, worthy man. He may
at one time have stood high among his fei-
lows. He may have been led into the
"paths of the destroyer" by some one
secretly intended to ruin him, and Before
percciving their design, he discovered his
impotency and weakness, and thought it
would be easier to advance than retreat
Many very kind hearted man has thus
been ruined. 1t might in the outset of his
career have been more his misfortune than
his fault Would it not be cruel in such
case to add insult to injury" He is a
fellow immortal, travelling on to the same
eternity, destined to stand before the same
Judge of "quick and dead," and if he
dies in his present condition, he must be
doomed to dwell forever in devouring
flames" Will not this be punishment
enough, without treating him cruelty and
unkindly here? Yes. ! would rather SYM
pathize with him, take him by the hand,
and like good Samaritan, endeavor to do
something for him to better his condition.
In this way | may, by Gods blessing, per-
suade the poor unfortunate man to change
his course, become sober, reformed man,
and not only become useful and respecta-
BILE here, but by the blessing and grace of God
he may be brought to accept Of mercy and
salvation as they are offered in the gospel,
and finally benunbered among the Saints
in light
Who knows the power of kindness when
exercised upon man who has soul to
appreciate it? Some of the best men who
ever lived, and were ornaments to society
and useful to their fellow men, were re-
claimed drunkards. And why should we
treat with contempt and scorn, human
being, because he has degraded himself by
indulgence in course in which perhaps
his own father or mother may have started
him. No, rather cast the blame and the
disgrace upon those who put stumbling
blocks and temptations in his way. And
although he is not excusable, yet there
may be many palliating circumstances con-
nected with his history. He may have a
lovely and amiable wife, already heart bro
ken; and poor, squallid children, who will
rise up and call you blessed. If ynn vpi,, l.i.r
back TO the paths of sobriety and virtue
Then let us go to work and reclaim and
reform him, if possible. By doing SO, yoJ
add another valuable member to the com
munity, you heal broken hearted wife
you clothe and educate his children-yot
will probably add another member to the
church-and perhaps save another immor
tai soul from going down to the pit"
If every man who comes in contact will
the unfortunate class Of human being
called drunkards, would talk kindly t
them-reason with them and promise t
aid them, if they are in destitute circum
stances, provided they will abandon stron
drink, and 90 to work and do all in thei
power to provide for those dependent OF
them, might not thousands of drunkard
be saved from that fearful doom that await
them, should they persist in their inebriet
! But it is difficult to persuade the inebr
ate to give up tie bottle SO long as intox
eating beverages can be had all over til
country. Let us then, as the first step
love for the drunkard, and as means
his reformation, endeavor to remove by lie
islation, and a healthy public sentiment, Il
temptation to drink it. Let the manufa
turer pay heavy tax on all he sells-al
the vender's fee be SO high that he will n
pay it, and in this way the fountain fro
which this terrible evil flows will be dri
+ up. Let US elect such men to legislate
+ as as have more sympathy for the drum
ard and his family-more respect for hil
q self and those he represents, than to CO
a nive at and help to perpetuate an evil th
4 has ruined millions of our race, and W
y continue to do it, while things remain
, they are. Let US choose from our mi
? men to make and execute our laws W
o are decent, sober men-men who v
: scorn to stoop SO low as to buy votes W
I liquor-men who have the " fear of G
" before their eyes"-men who feel their
spousibility to God. Then we may b.
n- to see the evil of intemperance put do
~ and drunkenness banished from the Is
&c and not before. K