The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-29

nOraIiZed by camp lie, ana the Nnoie
country was overrun by that element
of humanity, out of which bummers
and camp followers had been Matched.
intemperance got more than an even
start with the church, the Sunday
school, the home and society generally,
and, to those who may have had a de-
sire TO see prohibition established III
our State, our schools built up, the
church revived and society purified. the
outlook was indeed most gloomy. Look
in what direction soever they might.
difficulties stared them in the face.
Under the rule of carpet baggers ana
of the worst element of our own peo-
pie. most of whom were In sympathy
with the whiskey element ard SUR
rounded by great host of uneducated
negroes, just enfranchised all full OF
prejudice and suspicious of every
moral movement. there could be seen
no ray of light emanating from the
ballot box. The prospect was, indeed.
a gloomy one, and the only thing that
could be done. (though to many that
seemed of little importance). was to
revive the temperance societies. ana
start the work of temperance and pro-
hibition training among the children
and the young men and women. who
were just at that age to find pleasure.
as we'll as profit. in secret temperance
organizations.
Inc sons Oh Ildu uout IL
great work in this State before the
war; but, after the war, for the rea-
soon that, UP North, they admitted ne
groes into their Divisions, that order
was Objectionable to the South: and
hence, a new order was Instituted IN
Virginia called the Friends of Tenn
perance, confined to white people only
a State council of that order was or
ganized, in 1866, in North Carolina. or
which General Robert Il. Vance was
the first president. and for many wears
that order was the only one in the
State.
1t had two classes of members--the
active, composed of adults. males ana
females, and the associate. composed
and twelve years. Hundreds of coun-
ellis were organized in the State. and
thousands of people, old and young.
became members. 1t looked like
very small affair for men and women
to engage in; but. it was the best that
could be done just then; and. as | see
il now, it was the wisest. i went into
the organization in 1867. and for TWEEN
ty-five years was cognizant of and
participant in every movement. Men.
women and children took the pledge
of total abstinence; temperance lee
turers made public addresses. while III
the council rooms we sang Temperance
come when our State would be freed
from the curse of the liquor traffic.
Most of the preachers joined our
lodges and councils. as well as a large
per cent. of the members of the
church; but the politicians. as q gem
eral rule, patted us on the back.
figuratively speaking. and assured us
they were with US. but couldn't join
us just then. One very prominen,
politician, who used to attend our
meetings. took me aside one day, out
of the hearing of any one, and sale:
Il am with you all. heart and soul. III
this temperance business and Just so
soon as / discover that YOUR temper
ance crowd has one majority in the
State, you may count ON me certain.
He was a fair sample of the time
serving politicians, Who. instead of go
ing ahead when they know it would
be right to do so. wait until a measure
becomes popular before moving.
/ always did have "a contempt for
that man who sat upon the fence until
his wife had Killed the bear: and
when he saw the bears tail move for
the last time. dropped down, took the
axe from his wife's hands and said to
the neighbors coming in, Just see
what we've done"
/ am inclined to believe that the
politicians of this day and time are
not altogether SO scarey as they We're
i'll other days, on the temperance
question. But, conditions are very
much changed, in many ways. Twen-
ty-fOur years ago, when the state voted
on the question of prohibition, the
liquor men were absolutely certain of
a round hundred thousand black votes
and. with such backing. they felt.
and it was true, they were masters of
the political situation. and could do or
undo, make or unmake; the conSe-
quence of which was. politicians had
to take their orders from them: and.
so, political platforms had TO be writ
ten to read two ways, so as to be sat-
isfactory to both temperance and IL
quor men; but, when analysed. they
were found to be about ninety-five PEE
cent whiSkey. But. how different now:
The Liquor Dealers Association
(Which boastingly said to the people
of North Carolina, during the cam
paign of 1SS1-"the liquor traffic IS
furnishing the money to educate the
poor children of the State. and the
State cannot afford to put down that
traffic just to save a few drunken
sots') --is beginning TO awake to the
fact that the men OF this day are
willing to raise money III Il better way
TO educate the poor children in a way
that will not make any more drunk
Ell sots.''
L WAS amused dUl iUiileu UTMOST 10
the pitch of crying out "CIo it. HosS.
when I heard those strong young men
from Richmond, Scotland, Moore and
Robson making the same old temper
ance speeches before the committee n
the Hall OF the House of Representa-
tives. CT the Harriet al i!o'frGlI,
bill, THAT / used to hear and try 10
make, when they were boys. dor /
know whether it was egotsm u no. in
rae: BUT. as l sat in the lobby unu;l-
served. ard listened to the impassioN-
ed eloquence of those Scotch boys. J
could not help feeling that our tem-
perance work of twenty-five years ago,
NJ Rockingham, Laurel il:' i.a"..tn-
burg, Ashpole, Shoe Heel. Cala'iani;.
Spring Hill. Lumberton. Alma and
other places, where ] used to visit
councils and lodges, had something to
do in bringing about the great change
in the sentiment of those communities,
as similar work has affected other
communities in our good old State
| am inclined to think now tl.at.
perhaps. 1 did the young men in and
around Maxton, (then Shoe Heell. an
injustice, once. / had an appoint
ment to make speech there ono