The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-01-08
Random Thoughts.

Like conscience, what is regarded by
one as very immoral, is regarded by
another as strictly moral. | gave as
one instance the fact that every man
who is born in a foreign country, and
who desires to become citizen of the
United States, by two witnesses, that
he is man Of good moral character.
There are men in our own community,
who will sell their votes to the men
who furnish them with the last drink
of whisky, and then they will lie
about the streets drunk the balance of
election day; yet such men never fail
to procure two men who are ready to
make oath to the good moral charac-
ter of such voter.
Every man who is admitted to the
bar as a lawyer, must produce to the
Supreme or District Court, a certif-
cate that he possesses a good moral
character. It is not necessary to refer
to the morals of lawyers.
| will now refer to other cases.
once knew preacher who was proven
to be liar, forger, and scoundrel
generally. He admitted this before
the ecclesiastical tribunal which had
to pass upon the case, and, although
that was nearly ten years ago, yet he
has been preaching ever since, and his
moral character has not been i'm
paired
The records of the Court in jack
son show that men who are in good
standing in the churches, have been
fined for gambling.
A preacher was arraigned last year
because he did not pay his debts, and
a school teacher in Lawrence county
had charges filed against him before
the Examiners ibecause he refused to
pay for the suit of fine clothes which
he wore. Both plead that they were
not able to pay, and the moral charac-
ter Of each was established upon this
plea. If their poverty was the result
of misfortune, and not the result of
laziness and extravaganza, | accept the
plea as valid; but if they made no
effort to economize- they spent
enough at circusses and saloons
they expended enough for beer and
tobacco each year to pay their debts,
then / ask of the Court leave to demur
to that plea, as not stating facts suf-
fcient to constitute defense.
/ regard all dishonesty and lying as
being immoral. Gambling is dishon-
est, as it is desire to get the property
Of another without fair compensation.
Gambling is gambling, whether it
takes the shape of betting upon the
speed of horses, the result of an cleo
ton, or the turning of card.
Years ago | cautioned people not to
risk money in lotteries, or other swim
dies, but it did no good. Men like to
be swindled, or at least to swindle
others, and now if man desires to
get the property of another without
paying for it, and in his effoas to skin
his fellow man, gets skinned himself,
| have no tears to shed for him. [ do
not care whether the gambler be the
armed rufian, or the noisy gambler,
or the pious sneak, I regard them all
as links of the same sausage, ground
out of the same dog.
Now, may be asked, what is my
standard of morality? My rule, as
suggested at the Institute, is kind Of
application of the Golden Rule, or the
rule of Put Yourself in His Place. y
Never do anything that you would not
advise your own son to do. If you
were going to buy your little boy g
Christmas present, would you buy him
a cigar, and advise him to smoke? Il
not, then do not smoke yourself, es-
pecially in the presence Of your OWL
buy, or in the presence of other mems
boys. Would you advise your boy tC
visit billiard rooms, or saloons" i" or tt
drink beer, swear, lie, cheat or gam
BILE? lie not, then do none of these
things yourself.
The necessity of calling attention tt
this matter is urgent. There is very
rapid increase in dishonesty, lying
intemperence, and nearly every othe1
kind Of immortality. This is dangerous
even as private matter between MAJ
and man; but the great decline il
virtue, integrity, morality, religion
in every thing that is pure and good
has reached public affairs, and, unless
checked at once, we have dark futur'
before us.
The Mexican plan of government
anarchy, is fully inaugurated in ou
country; hence we hear of nothing
but trickery, rascality, returning
boards, counting out votes, etc. Thi
is not confined to one party, but is tn
direct result of the abandonment O.
all moral principle by the people a
individuals, and it pervades all polit
) ical action.
| predict that this will be the las
year of popular government in thi
country, unless the dormant mora
sentiment of the people can be aroused