Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-02-09
PRIOR

So much has been said relative to the
evils of Intemperance, that it would be al
most presumption in me to attempt an
original idea on the subject. The costs Of
ardent spirits throughout the different
countries of the world, have been calcula-
ted, and the public mind is thoroughly ac
quainted that vast amount is thus pro-
tusely SPENT from age to age the press
has tecmed with startling accounts Of
bloodshed, propagated through the inhu-
ence ofspirituous liquors., and acts of infa-
my and rapine, which has cast blot upon
our Nations history as black as mid, light
darkness; maladies have been created,
which has filled the charnel-house for cen
tuaies past, with the unfortunate victims of
incbriation; being wronged, deeply wong
ed, many an innocent wife and mother,
have offered up their lives as obations on
the altar of misery owing to the netarious
sway of alcohol. Yet we, in this intelli-
gent age, when man is wont to rise higher to-
wards his destination as the creature of God
find the drunkard still in the downward
road to hell, unretrieved from "the death
that never dies" Well then did the Bard
of Avon sing:
ooh that men should ppt an enemy in
Their mouths to steal away their brains
And Seneca, the great Logician of an
tiquity, exclaims "Ebrictas est yoluntari;
insana."
As early as the days of the Apostles, W.
find the pen of inspiration employed il
warning US against the use of wine or spir
tuous liquors. Line upon line, precep
upon precept" abounds, declaring its ruin
Gus consequences. At that time, man wa
nearer allied to the divine will OF Omnipo
tence, and RIGHTEOUSNESS was quite limited
yet the prophet Isaiah, looking doubtIes
through the mists of coming time, exclaim
ed ''But ye have erred through wine, an
through strong drink are out Of the way
i&c.-Ye err in vision, ye stumble IN Judg
mcnt" Intemperance was quite at a 10y
ebb then, in comparison to what it is 'oOu
1t is growing evil-it steals upon its pal
ticipants like the murderer on his defenct
less victim, and ere he is aware, the ruiz
Gus habit has environed him in its poisor
Gus folds, and is carrying him half forcing
i ~ onward anu uOWuMdIu W ucSIfuCIlOl
|, where mercy never wings her flight
We experience many injuries on accour
of Intemperance, but not one iota's wort
of good has it ever accomplished for OF
race. 1t is said that lawyer is more fl
, ent in speech when partially drunk but
he is more eloquent in words, he is wan
: ING in good sense. The world has new
: produced an orator to parallel with d
/ mosthenes, who drank nothing of an i
: toxicating nature. Intemperance, then,
: an evil: yet we, as if actuated by char
r have ever fondly embraced to our bosom
r the heinous serpent, seeming ly unconscio
Of the deadly wounds that he inficts
r our lives and on our souls. Man in
/, other way has SO clearly shown his ''pron
Y ness to evil" as in the excessive use Of +;
e dent spirits, having in all ages cherished
Ie DESPITE the effects of its frequent use.
n And now, as nation, blessed social
N morally and politically, it becomes US
d aGenate from our midst to drive from {
" land, this nuisance, this pest Of society
Id Shall we do this! The wailings Of a W
he owed mother, the mournings Of desola
M orphans, speak to US from their misera