Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-06-15
FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE.
The Question stated-the great evil-its
Causes.

ed warrior, otter. attacked, wounded, betray-
ed and ~beseiged, we return to the conflict
Though chagrined and disappointed at the
ll-success of the cause of truth. of humani-
ty, of mans best interests and hopes for
time and eternity, we nevertheless can never
yield to the foe, while we have a sword to
unsheath, or a battle-axe, to hew our way
through the thronged Regions who fight un-
der the banner Of Alcohol.
The great and most important question to
be settled by the American people, is this:
Shall this nation be a nation of drunken. i'm
beetle, debauched, ruined immortals, or shall
it be a race of noble, honest, intellectual, in
dustrious, moral, sober men and women.
who shall fulfil the end Of their being, and
the high moral destiny, designed by their
Maker. There are questions of economy,
, enterprise, and prosperity-there are moral,
/ social, political and religious questions, Of
great moment we admit, but the question of
4 sobrety, of temperance, lies at the founda-
ton of them all since nothing permanently
e good can be effected, in the hearts, minds,
t bodies. manners, habits, prosperity and NOR
S ais Of men, who are slaves to Alcohol or La
e BILE to be so. And who are not liable. who
d IS touch, taste or handle the unclean thingg'
We shall be thought and called an enthu-
siast, for saying, that the GREAT EVIL of this
age and nation, is intemperance. Yet we be-
III lieve it. We do not believe, that il is the
y. most criminal of all vices-the most base of
all crimes. Nor do we hold that it is the
ny mother or the source Of all wickedness. The
m, universal, inherent d~epravity and corruption
4; of mankind, born and bred in US, is the true
led source of all vice, all evil, all crime. But in
temperance is the most convenient, fscina-.
ral ting, and well-adapted agent for the develop
is ment, increase and perfection of this corrup-
nal ton in human society, with which the world
zen has been cursed. Hence we call it the qreat
be eUil, because it is the most prolific of all 9TH
act er agencies, in the invention and promotion
ore of crime. When, since the world was crea-
rds ted, were human intellect and wit, more rack
the ed and tortured, to invent crime, than now
we When were mems reason more under the
captivity of the evil one-men's passions
lade more fierce and devilish, than now When
lade did men ever gloat over and delight in the
on practice of the worst crimes more, than now ,
tops And when were drinLs of tbo uou
ong. kind. INDUCED in to a greater excess than
u now? We do not affirm, that the number of
cen old, openly debauched and confirmed drunk
l II ards, is greater than at some former periods.
can There are perhaps fewer drunkards of this
81 class, than there were ten years ago. But
VINO the cause is patent. Many were reclaimed
nded -
naUe' er returned to their Uomit. Many more were
Ma killed off by the newly invented poisonous
ohs' liquors, which like a torrent, have flooded
Sh II the land in late years. Many others of the
younger race of drunkards, have been swept
po' off by this food, ere they attained the repu
Thor tot;on If ho;no conf g1oa5 drrrLords D,
~ 10 where is the man so blind as not to see, tina
there never were SO many going men in thi
: me nation at any one time as now, who tippl
u anu and swing and wallow in the cutters of in
= was Temperament Our Colleges and Schools an
Iepen- c;tias and towns and VILLAGES .re full Of ,be,
iberty wbot : Tho oouso9 Il. :. lo;on
In the multiplicity of causes, it is difficult
fix upon one, at whose door the charge ma
~ be laid, most appropriately. We fix howe
er upon the pOaer Of bad influence and ia
S clos .
of the -. 1891 nn~.w.-r- ,.aa E
" it is acquired, Though many are apt scholar
Nor is it chargeable simply to the variety al
VI "e tempting character of the liquors now We
~ ai' ded, or to the fascinating temptations offer
by the vendors; though much is due to t
{ heA' poaoer of Alcohol itself, when the habit
. ee' d drinking is formed.
xtracts Notbino ;o more notent for evil than int
'IIer.- ence. Not the influence of debased, bad MT
but of gentlemen, decent wine or toddy
d, was julep drinkers. TO a great extent, fam
% Rep discipline is broken down in this country.
| have Boys learn very soon nowadays, to va
.rtions, and feel the influence of what they cOnsid
Provin- the intelligent, amiable, popular gentlem
nonious the leaders of public opinion in a commu
nd, or a ty, more than the influence of father
was mother. Parents must secure a power
!; and hold upon the sons and daughters of
concord age, if they break the power of the respe
ne chief BILE, free-living, popular gentlemen and lad
insure a the leaders Of fashion and sentiment, in
ry community, over them. But unless
history. done, their ruin is inevitable.
nted by Now it is to this influence, exerted by
u. w. and women of the better class, not alw
James those who drink wine or liquors themsel
servant, but who countenance and apologize for
use, who ridicule the efforts Of temper
be held men, and discountenance the enterprise,
the first more than any other cause, leads the u
to tamper with Alcohol. They are mac
| had in feel there is no harm in it, that they ma
morning as respectable and as honorable, indeed
ty ofour more so, than by stunning it altOgeth'
then has Hence, they easily learn to associate
rly next those who indulge, and are thus draw
stealthily into the habit of drinking.
y a word Such persons fail to sec the force an,
Ell of this evil of their influence. They are eith'
1t is GER norant or Indifferent to the dangers '
md every light in the path of a young man, who
n ~ aoo Al .4.-:+;,- Io,-or pa opd Ting Oftau'