The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1888-02-01
st. John on Blame,

A great deal Of interests has been
aroused b" Gov. ST. j ,lin's remarks on
Mr.. Blainc's tobacco Views, at the recent
Cooper institute meeting. After quoting
Mr. Blau-'s remarks to th. pal is re.
potter. Guv. st John said:
"lu one breath Mr.. Blaine saws that a
repeal of the tobacco tax would bring
great relief to growers of tobacco all over
the country and in the next he de-
clares the man VIII , Use tobacto mot only
pay the millions of tobacco tax, but put
on every lug and every cigar an en-.
HANGED prize which the tax enables the
manufacturer and retailer to imposev
IF the consumers pay all the tax, how
would its removal relieve the growers
and manufacturers In that same in
terview Mr.. blaine opposes the repeal of
the liquor tax, because, he says, 1t
would destroy high license at once in all
the states,' and increase the consump-
tion enormously.' Now, if the removal
of the tax from whiskey would increase
the consumption enormously would
not removal of the tax on tobacco, ac.
cnrding to the same logic, also increase
the consumption of tobacco enormous
ly? But, then, Mr.. Blaine puts the cap.
sheaf on his blunder by solemrly declar-
ing, in this day and aye of free schnols,
and churches that tobacco is a necessity. ;
and to prove il AYERS that ninety five
men ont of every hundred in any calling
chew and smoke the wee'l.
IF ninety five men of every one hun
dred are drlm-drinkcrs, rult gar, prof,ine,
or filth, does that make lram.dr,nk ing,
vnlgarity, profanity and filth 'neces-
sity" We appeal to the boy 10 throw
away the poisonous cigarette. With a
look of triumph, he replies, cigarettes are
necessity With the thermometer
twenty degrees below zero, a mother and
her little ones stand shiverng over a
scanty fire. 1t is bedtime, and that
mothers greatest want is more blankets
to keep her children warm. Cheaper
blankets-blankets so cheap that they
will be within the reach of all, and thus
the use of blankets be increased 'enor-
mously.' But Mr.. Blaine says: No
The tax on blankets must remain; wait
patiently, my dear woman; it may be a
little hard on yourself and children just
now, but it will be warmer weather bv
an by. The great question, madam, be.
fore the American people to-day is the
repeal of the tobacco tax, 50 that we can
have tobacco so cheap that the 'neces
sity' will be within the reach of ALL
''The African NJ. +. Conference of Mis-.
souri,. in session in st. Louis last fall
passed unanimously, the following re-
solution:
Resolved, That we regard the com
mon use of tobacc, in any form as in.
furious to health, filthy in practice, and
debasing in morals, and potent means
of separating us from God, as cleanliness
is next to godiness.
But, of course they were only 'niggers,
and not expected to know much. Not
one of them had been in Congress TWEEN.
ty years or written book. Nor had the
poor souls heard that tobacco was a
necessity
81 chewed tobacco for twenty years
but, thank the Lord, about twenty two
years ag, | quit it, l know from per-
sonal experience and observation that
the Use of tobacco is degrading, filthy
habit. destructive of good manners and
injurious to the health. And l affirm
that there is not an habitual tobacco
user in all our land unless devoid of SELF
respect and common decency, who will
claim that the use of tobacco is a neces-
sity."
II know OF no living thing to which
such is necessity excapt tobacc, worm,
and it does seem too bad that the Plum
ed knight should at least become the
champion of the tobacco worm. Serious
ly, my friend, Mr.. Blaine. utterances
t,uchng this qles.ion are greatly to be
regretted, They stand as a mighty
stumbling block in the path tina. leads to
highe", pnrcr, and cleaner life. May
God hasten The day when our great men
shall cease to mislead the youth of the
land by such pernicious doctrines"
Yesterday, at Oil City, Penn, little
George liovee, aged thirteen years, had
both legs cut II bv the ears. He ,leclin-
cd to take whisky when the doctor held
it to his lips. He was told they would
then have to give him chloroform. All
right, said the boy family, give me any :
thing but whisky What conrast. On
the one hand n great politician bidding
for the votes of a particular class by hold
up tobacco to the world as a necessity. ,
On the other haad little boy who
would rather die than to do that which
might lead others astray. May the Lord
bless that child. Though he viii die
the influence of that boys moral cour-
age and example will live forever