Part 3 (2/2)

I call them _apologies_. They cannot be considered _reasons_. Almost every lover of the dirty weed, feels that he needs an apology. One will tell us he has a cold, watery stomach, and he thinks that tobacco, by promoting expectoration, relieves the difficulty. Another will tell us he is very much troubled with indigestion, and he thinks tobacco relieves the difficulty; though, in truth, tobacco is the very worst drug he could use to relieve that disease, and is among the primordial causes of inducing it. Another will tell us that he is afflicted with the rising of his food after eating, and he thinks tobacco gives immediate relief; not suspecting, perhaps, that this rising of the food is occasioned by over eating. Another will tell us he has a distressing difficulty in the head, and brain, and he thinks a little good Scotch snuff affords relief; as though the filling the pores, and cavities of the head, and clogging up the brain, with this dirty stuff, would remove a disease which in most cases it originates.

Others use tobacco to preserve the teeth; and this, though it is a solemn truth, that many a one loses his teeth by smoking and chewing the poisonous plant. Others, again, use tobacco to excite the mind to more vigorous intellectual effort. But when and where do we find great lovers of tobacco great students, and intellectual giants? Dr. Rush says, ”I suspect tobacco is oftener used for the _want_ of ideas, than to excite them.” There are some whose apology for using tobacco is, that it guards them against the power of contagious diseases. But Dr. Rees affirms that tobacco does not contain an antidote against contagion, and that, in general, it has no antiseptic power; and is therefore of no special use. There is another cla.s.s still, who use tobacco because it soothes the irksomeness of life. They fear solitude; and to prevent self-examination, and to while away their probation time, they fly to the _pipe_, _quid_, and _snuff-box_; and soon, by an easy transition, to the wine-gla.s.s and brandy-bottle.

These are the _usual apologies_ of the devotees to tobacco. And what do they amount to? In truth, the common opinion that tobacco is good for the head-ache,--weak eyes,--cold and watery stomachs,--the preservation of the teeth,--and the like, is sheer delusion. Let every man and woman, who would live long, and usefully, and happily, awake from this delusion; and let no one, as he values health, life, and salvation, _taste_, _touch_, or _handle_, the filthy poison.

I maintain my position,

VIII, AND LASTLY.--From a consideration of the _eternal ruin_ which tobacco occasions. On this point, a word or two only, will suffice. That tobacco carries many a soul down to the pit of eternal woe, is manifest from its connection with drunkenness, and from its inducing disease and death. Every man who dies a drunkard, and every man who, knowingly and recklessly, brings upon himself disease and death through the influence of tobacco, is a _suicide_. And drunkards and suicides cannot inherit the kingdom of G.o.d. How many will at last, ascribe their eternal ruin to alcohol and tobacco, cannot now be told.

That it will be a great mult.i.tude, (perhaps a great mult.i.tude which no man can number,) we have no reason to doubt.

What then, I ask, _ought_ to be _done_? What _can_ be done? What _must_ be done? If this poisonous narcotic be of _recent_ origin; if it be ruinous to the _health_ and _const.i.tution_, and _intellect_, and _public_ and _private morals_; if it occasions an amazing _waste of property_,--and a mult.i.tude of _deaths_,--and _eternal ruin_ to many precious souls; and if it do no good,--and there be no _apology_ for using it, which will bear examination; then _something ought to be done_, and it ought to be done _immediately_. And, _only one_ thing need be done. And that _can_ be done, and it ought to be done. It is this:--_tobacco can be abandoned_. And if moral influence enough can be enlisted, it _will_ be abandoned.

TOTAL ABSTINENCE is the only sure remedy. TOTAL ABSTINENCE will deliver us from all the evils which this weed has brought down upon individuals and families, and the nation.--Nothing else will do it. And total abstinence can be adopted and practiced. True; in some cases, it may cost an _effort_; but, in every instance, three weeks' perseverance will overcome the habit. Three weeks' _total abstinence_, will disenthrall every victim, and give him the prospect of _freedom_, _plenty_, _health_, and _happiness_. And shall this effort be made? A _mighty_ effort it must be, to liberate and save this whole nation--and especially our young men and maidens--from the curses of the _quid_, the _pipe_, and the _snuff-box_.

I appeal to my fellow citizens. I appeal to the _nation_, and the _whole nation_. _Shall_ the effort be made?

I appeal to _patriots_. Patriotism forbids the man who loves his country, to shrink from any personal sacrifice, if he can thereby arrest some great national evil. That the use of tobacco is a great national evil, appears from the considerations which have been laid before you.

It has been shown that tobacco is weakening the physical and mental energies of this nation,--that it is depraving our morals, and destroying the public conscience,--and that it is causing an amazing waste of property, and health and life. I ask every patriot to look at this portentous evil. Every true patriot, who will examine the length, breadth, and depth of this evil, cannot but feel that it claims his attention. And he will enquire what efforts, what sacrifices, can deliver us from the curses of this narcotic? The answer to this inquiry is an _easy_ answer,--the effort is an _easy_ effort,--the sacrifice is an _easy_ sacrifice. Let every true patriot in our country abstain from the poison, _immediately_, _entirely_, and _forever_; and let him use the whole weight of his influence and example to persuade others--and especially the young men and maidens of this republic--to practice entire abstinence; and the work will soon be done. We put the question to every true patriot: _will you do it_?

I appeal to _Christians_. Your religion requires you to abstain from the very appearance of evil. It requires you to deny yourselves, to take up your cross, and to follow Christ through evil, as well as through good report. Is there no appearance of evil, in the use of tobacco? Can the Christian deny himself and follow Christ, with the quid, or pipe in his mouth, or the contents of the snuff-box in his nose? If Christ himself, were here on earth, in this age of action, when six hundred millions of men, for whom he died, are peris.h.i.+ng for lack of vision--think you he would waste a single cent of _property_, or a single moment of _time_, or a single ounce of health and mental energy, in the habitual use of this narcotic? Would he _handle_, _touch_, or _taste_, the poison? And will _you_, whose names are written in his book,--_you_, who have been bought with his blood, and sanctified through his grace, and made heirs of all the riches of his kingdom,--_you_, whom he requires to be _examples_ in all things,--will you _handle_, or _touch_ or _taste_ it?

Let every Christian in our country, abstain from this poison, _immediately_, _entirely_, and _forever_; and let him use the whole weight of his influence and example, to persuade others to practice _entire abstinence_; and this work of reform will soon be done. We put the question to every true Christian: _will you do it_?

I appeal to the _youth_ of both s.e.xes. You are the flower and the hope not only of this nation, but of all nations struggling for freedom. The destinies of this republic are about being placed, under G.o.d, in your hands; and inasmuch as all the friends of freedom, everywhere, are looking up to our inst.i.tutions for light and aid, the destinies of the world will rest with a mightier weight of responsibility upon your shoulders, than upon any other generation that has come forth upon the stage of action, for twenty centuries. The importance of sound and enlightened principles--of pure and elevated examples, and independent and decided action in _you_, is above all estimation. You are placed in the moral Thermopylae of the world. The evils arising from _alcohol_ and _tobacco_, which you have it in your power to avert from your country, are more dreadful than the invasion of Xerxes with his millions. The cause of moral reform, in the use of the latter of these articles, which we urge upon you with deepest and sincerest solicitude, is far more urgent than that in which the Bruti and the Gracchi offered up their lives. Some of you have not yet handled or tasted the fatal drug. Let all such stand firm henceforward, and never yield to the power of custom, temptation and l.u.s.t. Some of you, on the other hand, have permitted yourselves to become the victims of this drug. Let all such be urged by the voice of patriotism, religion, self-respect, reason, conscience, and duty, to _abstain_ from this poison, _immediately_, _entirely_, and _forever_. And then every young man, and every young woman, in the republic, shall be free from all the calamities attending the use of this narcotic; and love, and peace, and joy, will run through the land, and flow over the world. We put the question to every youth: _will you do it_?

I appeal to the _friends of temperance_. You have enlisted your energies to expel intoxicating drinks from common use throughout the world. Go on, and prosper. But, as you go, remember, that complete success will not crown your exertions unless you are consistent,--unless you abandon all use of tobacco, the companion and sister of alcohol. As you go forth to the n.o.ble work you have undertaken, you will be met at every corner, with the declaration of A. B. and C., _I_ am ready to abstain from alcohol when _you_ do from tobacco; and how effectually will this declaration shut your mouth, and destroy your influence. Be _consistent_. Carry your principles into _all_ your evil habits, and a moral potency will be diffused through what you say and do, that nothing can resist. We put the question to every friend of temperance: _will you do it_?

I appeal to American _females_. As mothers, wives and daughters, you have it in your power (without turning aside from your appropriate duties) to put an end to the use of this disgusting weed. The children and youth of this nation, to say nothing of the young men and fathers, are almost exclusively under your control; and may be moulded at your pleasure. You know how _filthy_, _disgusting_, _ruinous_, is the practice against which we ask you to set your faces. Only practice ENTIRE ABSTINENCE yourselves, and urge this practice upon all within your reach; and in less than twenty years, this reformation will be completed. We put the question to every mother, wife, daughter: _will you do it_?

I appeal to the _medical_ profession. You are the guardians of the health of the republic. You are acquainted with the deadly properties of the drug in question. You can understand the necessity, and appreciate the importance of reform. You know that _entire abstinence_ is urged by paramount considerations. In the work of reform from spirit-drinking, you have acted in a manner that reflects honor upon your profession. In the work of reform now urged upon your notice, we calculate upon your active, hearty co-operation. If you put your hand to this work, by _precept_, and by _example_; if you abstain _entirely_, and _forever_, from all use of this plant, and inculcate entire abstinence, as you have opportunity; the work which now bespeaks your attention will soon be done. We put the question to every medical man: _will you do it_?

Finally--I appeal to _ministers_ of the Gospel. You are stationed on the watch-towers of Zion, as guardians of the public morals. Against every abomination your great Master requires you to cry aloud and spare not; to lift up your voice like a trumpet; to show the people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins. He requires you to be _examples_ to the flock, in all things, that, while

”You allure to brighter worlds,”

you ”may lead the way.” I ask you to look at the influence of tobacco upon the _health_, _wealth_, _morals_, and _lives_ of this republic; and then to decide, as in the fear of G.o.d, whether the blood of souls may not be found on your garments, if you do not _abstain_ yourselves from all common use of this drug, and warn every man around you to do likewise.[A] Suffer us to point you to Him who went about doing good, and pleased not himself, and set a pure and perfect example in everything; and also to that early servant of his, who would abstain from things good and lawful, rather than prejudice the interests of Zion. What reception would the Apostles have met, when they went about to enlighten and reform the world, if they had carried with them their _snuff-boxes_, _pipes_, _cigars_, and _pig-tail_ tobacco? But a word to the wise is sufficient. Let all who minister in holy things, abstain from this poison, immediately, entirely, and forever; and let them use the whole weight of their influence, and example, to persuade others--and especially our youth--to practice entire abstinence; and this good work will soon be done. We put the question to every minister of Christ: _will you do it_?

[A] Says a distinguished correspondent--the most efficient officer of one of our benevolent inst.i.tutions, ”Not long since a clergyman called on me as agent for one of the most popular Societies for spreading the knowledge of Christ crucified throughout the world: his breath was intolerable, and the tobacco juice had formed a current from each corner of his mouth downward. I need not describe to you my feelings at this exhibition.”

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