1880 



GLEANINGS IN r>EE CUJ/rUKE. 



47 



PROF. COOK ON THE PRESENT AS- 

 PECT OF TEMPERANCE. 



ALSO SOME VERY KIND AVOHDS IN UEOAKI) TO 

 GLEANINGS. 



a EAR FRIEND ROOT:— You already know that 

 I have always approved your course in niak- 

 iog Gleanings the medium of other thought 

 and suggestion than that which belonged 

 solely to the bee-keeping industry. I think 

 you have done no little good, perhaps as much in 

 helping people to happier and better lives, as in ad- 

 vancing bee - keeping. The firm hold and warm 

 place which Gleanings has in the hearts of its pa- 

 trons is proof enough that I am right. The peojjle 

 i-ecognize the great truth, that we do not live by 

 bread alone. In your calling the attention of so 

 many to the words, lite, and teachings of Him in 

 whom was no guile, and who " spake as never man 

 spake;" who gave to the world such inspiring words 

 as, "Let him that is without sin cast the first 

 stone," and, " Father, forgive them, they know not 

 what they do," you have builded, though perhaps 

 not better than you knew, but so well that the 

 structure reaches to hearts all over the land, and 

 bears hope, cheer, and encouragement. Then, again, 

 your good wholesome words on the tobacco habitl 

 Who can tell how many men are cleaner for your 

 timely exhortations? I have sometimes wondered, 

 if Shakespeare had lived in our day, Avhen tobacco 

 drags its horrid presence into so many homes, if he 

 would have said: "What a piece of work is man! 

 so noble in reason, .... in action xi> like an 

 angel! the beauty of the world!" for when we think 

 of it, what more Irrational than that men should 

 form and continue a habit that renders them filthy 

 and disagreeable to associates; robs — yes, worse 

 than robs the pockets, often injures, and even de- 

 stroys health, and, worst of all, blunts those finer 

 feelings of courtesy and good taste which it be- 

 hooves us all so studiously to cultivate? I am glad, 

 dear brother, that you have fired such telling shot 

 into the ranks of the armj' of tobacco-slaves. It 

 must have pleased you to see how very few at De- 

 troit used tobacco; and those who did, so far as I 

 saw, were those whose locks tell that they are be- 

 j'ond the years when advice finds ear, or good 

 counsel takes root. 



But thei'e is another habit whose wrongs, whose 

 evil tendencies, whose blasting work of sin and 

 ruination, so pales the tobacco habit that you and I, 

 and every patriot, not to say Christian, feels that to 

 stay its ghastly tread would be the glory of the age. 

 Slavery blasted the hopes and lives of only a por- 

 tion of one race: Intemperance reaches its horrid, 

 blasting hand into the homes of all races, and is 

 cursing homes in every land. So great an evil can 

 not long go unchecked. If. as I believe, the John 

 the Baptist in this glorious liberation is to be edu- 

 cation, then Gleanings, and every voice and press 

 in the country should make bold strokes toward 

 this desired enlightenment. 



Prohibition has always had my sympathy, and I 

 would gladly give it my heartiest support; but it 

 seems not to touch the key to the problem, and is 

 more helpful as an index to improved sentiment, I 

 fear, than as an active means in destroying the evil, 

 which all good men would see banished from the 

 world. It seems to me that at present, prohibition 

 is not practicable. So many of our best temper- 

 ance workers have no confidence in it, and so give 



it no aid, that our ranks in that line are fatally 

 weakened. Again, prohibition does not prohibit 

 where prohibition is most desired. True, if it work 

 only a partial stay of the curse, it Is good; but if it 

 holds back some stronger force that would wield a 

 far mightier power, then surely its presence as a 

 law or a scheme to be urged, is unwise and im- 

 politic. 



We all know that prohibition, in places where 

 there is not a moral force to sustain it, is inopera- 

 tive; and the fact that it fails where most needed is 

 made a strong argument against it. Again, while 

 many of us shrink from licensing any evil, least of 

 all so terrible an evil, yet if a license Avill stop in 

 any degree the sale and use of this demon alcohol 

 in places where prohibition is impotent to do good, 

 then surely on that axiomatic authoritj-, of two 

 evils choose the least, we should favor license un- 

 der a heavy fee. Now, why would not a law like 

 that already adopted in some of the States suit all, 

 do most good, and get the support of all temper- 

 ance people? That is a license with a heavy fee, in 

 conjunction with local option in every town and 

 village or city where it can be carried? That gives 

 us prohibition where it can do any good, and does 

 not remove license where only license can be effec- 

 tive. It seems to me this is where we can all unite, 

 and is worthy our best consideration. Why not all 

 of us urge it, and work the people up to its adop- 

 tion. Gleanings can do much in this line. I do 

 not see how this plan can fail of general support, 

 and I am glad to urge it in season and out of sea- 

 son. A. J. Cook. 



Agricultural College, Mich. 



Friend Cook, I am glad to know that yon 

 are deeply anxious in regard to this matter 

 that lies so heavily on the hearts of our best 

 people ; and the greatest cause for anxiety 

 now seems to me is. that people's convictions 

 differ so much on what is best to be done. 

 Many of our best Christians are positive that 

 a certain course is exactly the course, and 

 that no other can be right, while I find those 

 who seem to be equally honest and earnest 

 feel just as strongly that it is not the best 

 way nor the right way. Many of the read- 

 ers of Gleanings will feel hurt, no doubt, 

 at some things in your kind article above 

 (please turn to Our Homes for July 15th, 

 1883), while many others will rejoice to 

 know that you have decided just as they have 

 decided. Now, even if we can not think 

 alike, let us try to have charity and kind feel- 

 ing toward each other ; and let us always be 

 open to conviction. At one time during our 

 I civil war, when General Grant was pushing 

 ahead, even thougli disaster and loss of life 

 resulted, as it seemed, continually, many of 

 our best and wisest people thought he ought 

 to be stopped ; and even his friends began to 

 tremble for the consequences. Who "vvas 

 right aiul who was wrong? began to be the 

 teVrible question to meet. Who shall dare to 

 take such awful responsibilities in matters 

 where such terrible consequences are con- 

 stantly following V Wlio should decide when 

 none but (Jod C(udd know the outcome V 

 (fiant was allowed to go on. and it eventu- 

 ally transpired that he was wiser than all of 

 us. He knew exactly what he wanted to do, 

 and he did it. May God help us now in this 

 present crisis.— I am very, very thankful to 

 you for the encouraging words you have giv- 



