The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-06-16
GIndependent.l
THE TOBACCO PROBLEM
MORAL VIEW.
BY META LANDER.


"But good men smoke and chew!
The more's the pity. There's n,
use in blinking the fact that goodl,
number of our best Christian men
and not few ministers among them
are not guiltless in this matter. Th
very utmost that can be made Of tn,
plea, however, is that some good mel
are not free from dominion of yer,
bad habits. This, unfortunately, il
no new thing. Many excellent Chris
tians, including ministers, have beer
in theory and practice upholders o.
slavery. Is that any justification o.
slavery?
Years ago the use of Intoxicating
liquors was praeticed and approved by
the majority of clergymen, one o.
more of them being now and ther
taken home drunk from some associa
ton or convention dinner, where
wines abounded; but precisely because
drinking was in such good repute was
there the more pressing need of bol6
leaders to raise the banner of reform
Let us not use the goodness of 6
man as garment to cover his sins
little or great. This very goodness
brings upon him a tenfold response
bility, when used as shield to protect
wrong-doing.
It can hardly be pleasant to a D. D.
and perhaps LII. D. to boot, to have il
bruited abroad: He is an extraordi-
nary man; but he is also an eXtraor-
binary smoker, his study being some
times perfectly black with smoke
Or, "He is a great and good man:
but he will smoke a pipe" Or, "He
is fine preacher; but then he goes
through the streets putting cigar.
Eloquence and tobacco flowing from
the same lips-the eloquence, per-
chance, born of the narcotic! To
many hearer the edge Of the sermon
is blunted by his knowledge that the
preacher has quid adroitly hidden in
his mouth. The more devout the man
the more deplorable the sad conjunc-
ton.
Think Of tobacco pastor minister
ing to the sick and suffering! Think
of him approaching the bedside of a
dying member of his flock, and being
feebly waved away because Of the sick
ening perfume that radiates from his
whole person! Think of him as stand
ing at the sacramental table, whereon
are spread the emblems of that self
sacrificing love which surpasses NOR
tai conception!
What must those fetters be that
such considerations cannot break
Earnestly implored to give up the
filthy weed, a clergyman made an
swer: mot [! | will use it if it shor-
tens my life seven years. [ will live
while | live"
But the case Of one who justifies
himself in this course is extremely
rare, while many and many a good
man groans under his self-imposed
bondage bondage not one whit less
degrading because Of the high stand
ing and excellent Christian character
Of the victim. The wonder is how
any one can torbear groaning and re-
penting and forsaking.
Exclaimed an eminent minister. 81
would gladly lay down a hundred
pounds if | could give up smoking
Writes George Trask: Il have
known men to dream and rage about
tobacco as madmen, when deprived o1
it. | have known a temperance lee
turer Of great distinction positively
refuse to lecture until he had beer
furnished with a pipe Of tobacco, t.
screw his nerves up to the point of ell
oquence. [ know an excellent clergy.
man who assured me that he haC
sometimes wept like a child wher
putting quid Of tobacco in his mouth
under sense Of his degradation anc
bondage [ know man who told mt
that tobacco was the dearest thing he
had on earth dearer than wife, child
church, or state
Pitiable thralldom. Bound hanG
and foot! "Oh!" exclaimed victim
Il need tobacco to give me resolution
to give up tobacco!
"You are wasting away under it,
pleaded one minister with another
''Alas! my brother, it is true; but
cannot help it" ''Would you taxi
that excuse from a sinner" Il can
| HUI dHSWCl yOu. L CdhIloo iN"'S 1
off 1t is out of the question. l can
not | feel what you say; but
The poor slave to this appalling ap
petite died not long after.
In contrast with this melancholy
instance, it is refreshing to read tn,
experience of the late Dr. Cox. "Fron
about fifteen to thirty" he writes, 81
am ashamed to say | smoked; my con
science often upbraiding me, as wei
as my best earthly friend. Still
made excuses. My physician, a smo
ker help me to some. So | continued
till once, on board steamer, drunk
en- gentleman staggered up to me, ex
claiming: Give me IA light, D1
Cox! I handed him my cigar HI
returned it. [ threw it overheard
and since have never ceased to than
my Keeper that [ have been enable
to keep myself from so foul and odi
Gus a sim"
A rich man, in acknowledging tn
receipt of one of George Trask's tc
boooo boolc 1vritaS. Is'Tbn hest DrOO1