Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-07-06


Temperance addreses-to enlighten the
minds of the people in reference to the
propriety of passing prohibitory law, and
thus dry up, as it were, the fountain from
which each bitter stream fiowsg Would
not such step commend itself to every
wise and thinking man, and in the end
prove to demonstration, that "an ounce
of preventive is better than TEN THoUs-
AND POUNDS OF CURE"
Will not those inebriates who MAY be
cured of drunkenness, relapse into inebrie.
ty again, if strong drink can be had as it
now can, in every village, town, city and
neighborhood throughout the country -
If a prohibitory law IS not passed viii
not these drunkards who have been put
under "medcal treatment" have to pledge
themselves as others do, or will they not
be liable to become victims again to Rum,
the fell destoyer Of human happiness?-
And if they must thus pledge themselves
after going through "course of medical
treatment" why not take the pledge before
men do become drunkards, and save the
shame and expense of being put under a
course of "medical treatmentY Had not
the Order of the Sons of Temperance ac-
complished more in the way. of preventing
drunkenness, as we'll as reclaiming inebri-
ates, than will ever be cured by a "course
of medical treatment?" Would it not be
more honorable to save men from becom-
ing drunkards, and be also much cheap
'er method, than to cure them of the small
ady" of drunkenness, when the disease
has once seized them? confess | was lit
tie surprised to see it stated in religious
newspaper, that drunkenness in some in
stances was disease, a constitutional dis
ease, and the inference to be drawn from
this fact is of course, paIliation of the
crime. A remarkable instance is given, a
very good mana good husband &c., &C.,
"But he would get drunk!w What pity
that this good Minister could exercise self
denial enough to keep him out of other
heinous sins-yet owing to his constitution
al malady, he had not the moral courage
to resist the temptation Of R0t-gut, Bald
face or Rnock'ens-stif, ETC., etc.! 1 may
be drawing 'bow at venture" but ]
have yet to learn from evidence, that
eyer any human being had a natural
taste for Rum or whiskey, or any other
kind Of highly stimulating drinks. The
custom in my schoolboy days was to dilute
and sweeten it before the child would swal
low it at all. But human nature may
have changed since then. I am not op
posed to this 'highly philanthropie institu
tiou,' bs.t oer'sheir tAi=.lti,.5 IT,. - l. IL
like prescribing the effect and not tht
cause of the "malady" Does not every
wise man regard our Quarantine laws O
regulations, as philanthropic and judicious
and if the same precautions were used i
reference to intemperance, this highly phi
lanthropic institution need scarcely hav
been made. If the caption of this com
munication throughout the U. S. A. wa
adopted, would not a thousand men b
saved from drunkenness, where one Wi
be radically saved or cured by placing hil
under "course of medical treatment? ?"-
Let all the inebriates in the country t
cured of drunkenness that can bean
there is lot of them-and when the
are cured, let me advise them to Join tt
, Sons, as they would not do it before, ar
; we will endeavor all we can to keep the
sober men, and should we succeed, I thir
the much hated Sons will afford eviden
conclusive and satisfactory, that they a
y engaged in "highly philanthropic" NOV
ment.
| have long thought the only way th
= intemperance can be radically and effe
tually suppressed, will be by removing t
,a causes which lead to it. Banish it by t
! concurrent voice of sovereign people,
ri by legal enactment-for just so long
n money can be made by making it and
W trafficking in it, men will engage in th'
W demoraizing occupations and thousan
i of men will drink it to their shame a
- injury. Let prohibitory law be enact
"a let honest men be appointed to maj
<, facture as much as will be needed for m
- icine and mechanical purposes-and le
4 be placed in the hands of honest men W
ST will sell it only for the purposes intenc
1r let all such regulations and restricti
of be made and carried ouL as will effect
or objects contemplated by such enactm'
~ and | will be greatly mistaken if gr
~ moral change will not be seen all over
- country. And who would not rejoice
ro see dreadful curse driven from the lal
be [ again repeat, that am not opposed
on the idea of reclaiming drunkards
,;o course of medical treatment" but
M think that "ar ounce of preventiv,
,o better than pound of cure"