Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-08-17
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Notwithstanding the great advances that
have been made in the Temperance reform
within the last few months-notwithstanding
the partial removal Of many barriers that
hayo stood hitherto in the way of its progress,
and although a more congenial and healthy
tone Of public opinion is nominally and sem
timoataly engcndered and expressed, yet, ex-
perimcntally, practically, radically, there is
much yet to be performed before the pillars
of the monstrous edilice cf error and iniquity
will be undermined and expelled from respec-
table society. theoretically, all men, from
the ~wine-pimpled debauchee of the luxurious
palace, down to the wretched visitor Of the low
doggery, all admit that ~intemperance is an
eyil-all unite in condemning the course of
the inebriate, and in heartily desiring to see
the time when drunkenness will no more be
known in the land. But no sooner have they
finished their deprecations and denunciations,
than they turn to the vile Rum-god and pay
homage at his shrine
This is the spirit Of sympathy and abhor-
renee that we have To contend against. Is
there to be a meeting at the festive board p
the health of guests and friends must be
pledged in the iery dFaught which guilt pre-
~-ss~ssss ga SOCIAL nosPf-
tality and greetings Is changed to that of
Bacchanalian shouts, and confusion and dis
graceful rowdyism reign supreme, to the ex-
rulsion and disgust Of the orderly and dis
rect portion Of the company. In the con-
,,ial p~arty-around the social circle, the
r,ey wine cup must be introduced, to give
zcst to the entertainment, sharpen wit and
give eharms TO the scene which the entertain
rrs nor their guests are capable Of inspiring!
Illuminating, disrespectful admission!
The friends Of Temperance have too long
fattered themselves that because in most ca
SEES the decantcrs have been removed from
the side boards-because the custom Of lead.
ing visitors up to the bottle has grown obso-
lcte in q great measure-that because the
dwellings Of gentlemen are not now made
bar-rooms of, asi in days Of yore, when friends
and ~neighbors called to spend a social hour
that therefore the drinking customs ofrefined
respectable society were fast dying out, anC
would soon be extinct But, alas in too ma
ny instances the decanter has been removed
but to be succeeded by its more c~apaciou'
kinsman the demijOhn and although it is
somewhat rare to invite a visitor to join you
in n glass, unless his propensities are wei
known, yet many who profess great friend
ship and veneration for the Temperance cause
when in the presence of Temperance men
do, we fear, long and o~ft-repeated devotion'
to their jugs and demijohns. And Ladies
too, upon whose lip there is ever a word o
"God speed the Temperance cause" they, too
are often to be found presenting the enchant
ing cup and with smiles and Establishment
Turing the unfortunate victim to his ruin!
These are the Influences against which w
have to ~fight-secret, disguised, sinister, We
destructive in the extreme. If we could roo
out these practices-cause these customs t
Lc abandoned, then we might well exult owe
the destruction Of the great obstacle to sect
ring the aid and cooperation of the exalte'
the refined and influential Of the land, in b
half Of the great reform. Here, then,
room for the exercise of moral s%uasion, al
here let us exercise it until the demon is d
throned from his position Of excellence al
responsibility.