The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-07-28
Random Thoughts.
BY THE EDITOR.

BY THE EDITOR.
Ipublish this week, on the fourth page OF the
STANDARD, an article written by Rev. DAVID
MANN, who is now, and has been during the
past three years, the Methodist preacher on Bcr-
lin Circuit, In this county. 1t will be seen that
the intention was, to have the article published
before the county convention; but did not
wish to have the STANDARD take sides either for
or against any candidates for nomination.
Mr.. MAINS intentions are good; but there
are great difficulties to encounter In this matter,
some ofwhieh I wish to notice And will say
In the commencement, that no man in jackson
county is more opposed to drunkenness and i'm
morality than am. will not even except the
ministers of the Gospel. What my course has
been during the past twenty pears my acts as
Journalist, as a citizen and as a man, must at
test Professions without practice are worth
less
We must take the world as we find it. Mr..
MANN sets up standard of morality that suits
him, and which would be excellent If men were
as they should be- But they are not so. What
If every good man should set up his own system
OF morality, and refuse to vote for any man who
failed to come up to that standard2 Then the
bad men would combine, and would eject only
bad men to office.
Let me illustrate this point, 1t is more offens-
i've to me to have public officer pour tobacco
smoke into my lungs, than it would be to know
that once q year he went out and got drunk.
Often and often have been prevented from
remaining in the public Offices and in the Court
House, where had business, and where had
a right to be, simply because, on account Of my
health, considered it dangerous to remain, and
because the foul smoke, and fouler effects of 1t
upon the officer, were more offensive to me than
If he were drunk and vomiting upon the floor.
Just take look at the spittoons in the Court
House, and then say III the contents Of drunk
ards stomach emptied there would be any mas
tier What If l, and all others who loathe this
filthy practice, should refuse to vote for any man
who smokes.
understand Mr.. MANN to mean that he is
pleased that the XVIII Amendment is the law
of the land. Last fall it was currently reported,
and has been reported ever SINCE that rNANN
opposed Dr. WILLIAMS for the Legislature, be-
cause he was not moral enough. The election
for Representative was exceedingly close. Sup
pose Mr.. MANN had succeeded in defeating DR..
WILLIAMS. Would a more moral man have
been elected? And that would have made tie
vote in the House of Representatives and Ohio
could not have been carried for the Amendment.
New York had rescinded her sanction of the
Amendment Without Ohio, 1t would very
likely have failed. In fact 1t IL yet little
doubtful whether the requisite number OF States,
left free to act, have ratified 1t.
When Mr.. MANN rcjoices at the success Of the
18th Amendment, am forcibly reminded of the
man who when bear attacked his family, hid
himself in the chimney, and after his wife had
killed the bear, he came down rejoicing and said:
"Betsey, didn't iVe kill that bear handsomely"
If 1t is all false about Mr.. MANN opposing DR..
WILLIAMS, then it only proves that the world
is full Of lies and that we ought not to act hasi
ly upon reports which we hear, until we are
fully convinced that they are true.
The greatest difficulty we have to encounter,
is to know whom to trust. Last fall there was
man in this place who could not vote for DR..
WILLIAMS or CHARLEY JAMES, for fear that
they had some time tasted liquor. He thought
was not good temperance man because would
not agree with DR.. GoTwALD, that 1t was sinful
to drink fresh cider. This man was high in the
order Of Good TemplaTs, was leading Sabbath
School, &c. He talked of being candidate for
this same office about which Mr.. MANN spoke.
But several months ago no fell-miserably fell.
No doggeTy was too vile for him to drink in it.
If he had held out few months longer, he
would have been just the sober man in which
my friend would have taken large stock.
This hue and cry about drunkenness, which is
raised about nearly every candidate for Office is
becoming a serious matter, Just think Of the
talk about Gen. Grant. And this howl is gener
ally raised by the men who drink most them
selves. Good men should be careful before they
join in this work Of defamation
had written much more, showing how sew
; eral men who were on the road to ruin had been
saved to usefulness by carrying out the follow.
ing principles.
"Teach me to feel another's voc;
To hide the fault I see.
Thatmercy Ito others show,
That mercy show to me-"
But thinking that the public might recognize
tho parties to whom alluded, ! concluded not
to publish the reference to those cases, at least
for the present.