Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-04-11

in the article of intoxicating liquors, for the
sole purpose of making money regardless OF
the consequences that may ensue to the COM
nsunity. Neither can any Son Of Temper
once consistently cast his vote for any man |
who has so little respect either for himself or
the community in which be lives, as to treat
the people for whose votes be is seeking
The carse of Temperance, like the cause |
of Religion, may and doubtless has often |
been perverted and made TO subserve the vile |
and selfish purposes of wicked and design
ing men and IN this way has been brought |
INTO disrepute and even contempt; not be- |
cause ID was not the greatest boon ever be. |
slowed upon man, but because men are SO
depraved that they will resort to any means
however base, to accomplish their wicked
purposes. Temperance, as advocated by the
Sons, Is great cardinal and moral virtue,
and well adapted to promote the peace, hap
piness and general good OF society, and it
may be regarded as a Platform upon which
men Of all parties may unite.
Let It therefore stand upon the ground Of
its own merits--it needs no proppiDg up,
neither should it be used to prop up bad
cause OF bring it INTO bad odor with those
whoregard it with distyvst or who are ready
to Charge its real advocates with using it to
accomplish nefarious purposes. While we
regard the practice Of Temperance as indis-
peDsable il We would promote the best inter-
ests Of mankind we would not require as an
Indispensable condition that before we would
cast our vote for candidate for office he
must belong to the Order of the Sons. This
is pushing the matter, in my opinion, beyond
the legitimate limits of the cause-and when
.uf kad frnrfs
ginal and legitimate purpose, it is too apt to
be made an engine of evil-or like casting
pearl before swiner But must close. r
fThe above Communication is upon sub
ject of great importance to the Temperance
cause The practice of treating to ardent
spirits, by candidates for Office, has induced,
and will induce more Drunkenness and evil
than any other system Of el>ctioneering that
has ever been resorted to- And not only
has drunkenness been generated and encour-
agedby it, but corruption and fraud at the
ballot box, has been the natural result of this
demoralizing and degrading practice. It
therefore calls for the adherence and repre-
hension of every moral man, and of every
patriot who desires the elective franchise
kept pure and untarnished The welfare of
our beloved country, and the perpetuity Of
her Cherished institutions, would be greatly
advanced, if all men would take the manly
and noble stand, that they will not give their
votes TO- any candidate who resorts to the
low and vulgar practice of treating to liquor.
for the purpose of securing the votes of his
constituents
As Son of Temperance, no member can
consfstentlyvote for any candidate who stoops
to it-ifhe does, by so doing he gives ''aid
and comfort" to those who thus insult his
principles and act in defanceofthe enlighten.
ed moral sentiment of the age-and actually
violates the laws of the land under which he
is seeking to be made public officer. We
should set our faces against it-denounce it,
and by no means give countenance to it in
any MANNER.
But there is mo- law or pledge existing Ell
ther among Sons of Temperance or Masons
binding its members to vote for members Of
either fraternity, merely because they are
such. Each member is left entirely free te
exercise his religious and political opinions
without regard to such affliliation. And Will,
consistency demands that they vote not fol
thosewho are engaged in acts of open hostility
or opposition, to the welfare of either, we dc
not believe that member is guilty of vio
latiohi Of his vows, as understood when b,
was initiated, should he cast his vote for
treating candidate. 1t is certainly inconsis
tent, but every man is left to exercise his owl
discretion in the matter-for he is tod, By
the Sons, before initiation, that his vows .sx:l
not interfere with his religious or politica
opinions, be they what they may"
These are our views We are opposed t,
mixing up our Order with politics, b,
debating the course our members are t.
pursue Each man is left free to answe
to his conscience and his country; an,
while we hold that every Son of Temperanc
should discourage the practice of treating, b,
, bold and open denunciation, yet we know Q
no authority in our Order to denounce
member for any political course he ma,
choose to take. If he feels it his duty to vot
! against candidate because he treats to al
c dent spirits, he has a perfect right to do so
but if another does not feel thus impellet
we deny any right in the Order to call hir
S to account therefor. Sometimes all th
i candidates treat, anda a man must disfranchis
; himself or vote for one or the other W
# despise loathe, abhor the practice of Treating
/ and have our own course Of action with r
g gard to those who indulge in it; but have 7
9 right to set up our rule, as standard for a
q others to be governed by.-ED AGE.
a Correspondence of the Spirit Of the Age
ot BROOKLYN, n. Y, March %, 1860.