The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-12-14
From "A, N,nb.,vpo,, g,,alt.

DRUNKENNESS in the British army OF the
Crimea has become so common and so bad
as not only TO scandalize the Saxon soldiers
with all others, but 10 call for reform from
the English press. War is an unnatural
state Tor man, and II requires a resort TO
such means as shall keep the individual in
an unnatural condition TO carry II on. Rum
and tobacco, for instance, are considered as
essential for war as salipetre. and all Eu-
rope cannot supply the demand for those
articles for the allied armies. The planta
ton OF the South aud the manufactures OF
New England supply tobacco and drink,
aud ship load anvr ss.P Load haa left our
shores To work a more bitter work OF death
in the English army, than the Russians
ever thought OF inyeniing. This Il not
faul, Of that army In particular, though Il u
Of the Saxon race, for they of oil civilized
man furnish the most and the greatest
drunklrds. In the contests between The
Normans and SaSous, centuries ago. 1t is
rema ksd that before battle, the Normans
watched and prayed. while the Slxons
feas,ed and drank. II has been so ever
since With English soldiers eating and
drinking is preparatory TO fighting, and we
have followed that example. Our revolu-
,ionary war filled this country with drunk
enness and our second war gave like re.
suits. Generally in England or this coun-
try, the loss OF men is one OF the least evils
Of war; and so II may prove in the present
Eastern struggle. The writers from the
Crimea represent the English army as a
host of diunkards. The London Times in
an article upon the representation OF one Of
their correspondents, who went among the
soldiers on Sunday, says
"On that day, early and late, in oil d..
rec,ions, wherever he went. he found the
whole army drunk. The sights he saw, he
tells US, were enough to make an Englsh-
man despair Of his countIymen. All along
the road were men, not only privales, but
non-commissioned officers, in every stage
OF drunkenness. SobriSiy ieds really The
exception, iniorieaiion the rule. He was
constantly coming on groups OF our respect
able coun'ymen figuring dsgracefully for
the amusement Of our more sober bu, not
less mirthful, allies. The roadside was full
Of them. The iayem-boo,hs Of Old Kadi.
koi were crowded with drinkers, and rang
with oaihs, obscenity, and brawls. Little
Kadikoi, hard BY the Guards camp, is quiet
enough upon week days; but in the eve
ming. when the working parties come oil,
and on Sundays. when they have nothing TO
do, B, Is as much ,hropged as the booths on
n race course or q, fair, or as the back
slums OF a seaport town when hall dozen
men-oi-war have Just been paid of Drink,
Of course, is nearly the sole object oil It's
frequeniers and drink, not in moderation,
but TO the most beaslly excess. The
drunkenness and naturalization OF this
army the writer proceeds TO say, are
here matter OF common conversation and
lament. The oldest offioors declare that
in all their experiences they never saw any
thing to equal il. There appears 10 be no
means OF stopping il. The cat, stone.ga'h.
ering, and drill are alike Intellectual"
The Times endeayors 10 account Tor this
state Of things, by the grea, supply OF mo-
ney in the army, and the lin,ed use there.
for, or the means Of expanding il otherwise
than for drink. Rum is to be had every
where. bu, liule else and they suggest
" charitable funds, money-oIder offices, aud
savings banks" to be established there, that
some Ct the soldiers pay may be- saved and
me army heIt lIOUl uI-gIdCc. lHc Coiouei
oi one regimen, lately peiilioned that plum
buildings might be made for sale, that the
soldiers might "eat some OF their money"
The Times gives the following as the fatal
results liable to follow excessive drinking
"when Winter sets in, these men will
Se the first to sink under its sudden chills
md catch the lurking epidemic. Should
the retreat Of the Russians compel move
men, into the interior, with tagging sup
plies. the first days forced abstinence from
the now neediul stimulus will be followed
by prostration, collapse, and their inyaria-
bic consequences The least irrsgularity Of
diet. the first nights bivouac, the marsh and
the trench work, which in a war of earth.
works and game Of positions must always
BE- expected will tell ia ally on the shaken
nerves, weakened digestions, irregular cir
culation, and variable surface OF habitual
drunkards The horrors Of last Winter will
DO repeated over the Crimea, with the la
mentable diHsrance between the noble self.
sacrifice Of Thermopylae and the ingloriOus
penalty OF CLpua."