Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-05-26
Faith IN the Cause.

Faith in the righteousness, the 3hStlce ana
the success Of the cause of the South. in this
her great struggle for independence and ma
tionality, is in the very highest degree essen
tial 70 its triumph. And when we hear any
one dealing out his dolorous lamentations,
such as Pm afraid we are whipped; or the
contest is a very doubtful one,' and such
like, we cannot help think ng that such per-
sons are either, tories, towards or FOOLS
The truth is such expressions are treason in
disguise, and the perpetrators ought to have
a gag in their mouths.
Every friend to the South ought to speak
Dat in the most hopeful, confident terms Of
oar success, or keep his mouth shut. We
have heard Of some men who ought to know
better, speaking out in such terms as were
calculated to do much harm. No good can
come Of such conversation, but it must 60
great injury. Besides, there is no good cause
for such fears and doubts; and the South
will conquer despite them all.
Faith in God and confidence that He will
give US the victory, will inspire all with en-
ergy, power and a determination to succeed {;
while if these are depressed by doubts or dis
mayed by the thought of possible evils and
dangers, the strength of the people is to that
extent deprecated. There is a spntagion
about faith that is a wonderful circulation in
d community, and even a few persons Of a
cheerful disposition may inspirit hundreds
and thousands. Fear is also contagious, anC
two or three timid, fearful, apprehensive PEG
pie, may rob a whole community Of energy
and courage. It behooves every one, for hi.
own sake, as we'll as for the sake Of his in
%iluence over others, to contribute nothing t
cnervate, but everything to invigorate ant
encourage men in d good cause. Dolorou
talking may picture one's depressed feelings
but will profit nobody. Why indulge in it
Gloomy fo7cbodings are weakening. The
Graw the very lfe-blood. If they are utter
I'd Or written, nobody is made wiser c
tronger thereby. A gloomy letter to a frien
in the army is horrible. Tell hin you al
miserable, anxious, afraid that you will nevt
see him any more 60 into long rigmarolt
about this horrid war, &c, &c-wiIl it he
him to stand watch by night? will it mai
him Drawer in battle ? Away with this COW
ardice at home, that goes far to vanquish OF
, Appropos to this subject, we quote the L
: lowing whitening rebuke from the Salisbul
Banner
We are sometimes made painfully sensib
Z of the defeat of our forces on the coast-t1
D.. loss ofNew Orleans, Newbern, the e~vacuati,
. of Yorktown, &c, &C., by the remarks of ds
bonding and fearful persons. 1t is no use
= offer any explanation TO them for havi1
= taken it into their heads that we are wbi
ped, they will not be comforted with an
nor encouraged by any hopes which t
unseen future may deyelope. Bhey 90 abo
" asking, in a sort Of confidential way w
" now, what do you really think will be the e
Il OF 1t? 1t matters not what your answer m
1t be, they Immediately shake thelr heads a
say, : I'm afraid we are whipped
- We have ordered a few leather medals
!" distribution to this class of persons, and
want them to call at our Office and get the
We have also prepared a little book in VIII
to enroll their names for the benefit of post
r lt5. 1t may, some day, become very impC
st tant to know who were not among the ST.
= born rascals determined to fight this war
the bitter end. 1t may render them INN,
e tai. They are second cousins to that ot
is class who always told you so after the tn
st happened, but never had the foresight to av
"a a calamity naturally Detailing a lool. Co
forward, despairers, and claim your met
/ and have your names enrolled. You will
i'd tainly feel better after it.