Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1861-09-05
intoxicating Liquors in the Army.

The suppression Of the sale of intoxicating
liquors to the army. by the orders Of Gems.
Mcclellan and Butler, has already had an ex-
eelent effect. Even supposing the liberty 10
drink slchoholic liquors would not be abused,
s,jlI their moderate use would be an injury.
The belief that the temperate soldier needs an
alesholie stimulsnt to enable him TO endure
hardship, is without foundation.
The Westrninster RevieU publishes mum.
her Of statements in reference to the effect OF
ardent spirits upon the Brtish army OF India.
There, as here. it was long supposed that al.
eOhol impaired power Of resistance to the en-.
srvsling influences Of a hot climate. The SOL
der became enough of logician to infer that
che hotter the weather the harder sheuld he
drink, and the thermometer measured the de-
Sfsss Of inloxication. The consequences are
notorious; the drunkenness Of the Indian army
ffigh,fully increased the ratio OF its sickness
and mortality. The testimony to this effect is
emphatic. Colonel Dawes, of the Bengal Ar.
tlIIsry, writes:
NY experience is, that nearly all the crime
affecting our European troops in India has ori.
ginaied in the use of spirtuous liquors. / con.
alder abslinence from liquor the turning point
10 the life of many a soldier. The man becomes
quite an altered character when he dTops the
peraie,ous slimulent more Clearly In person,
respectful 10 his superlors, and respectable in
bis character; and, from the increased depend.
saes that may be placed 10 him, he becomes
Altogether a more valuable man, both in the
Asd and 10 the quarters. have seen many a
bad shaEaeter converted by abstinence from
svrls into steady, able bodied, hard. working
courageous soldier. On the other hand, have
remarked that the best men have become q
times neEI 70 useless from indulgence ia Ii
quOr"
AajorGen. Wyiie. o. the Bombay army
declared that" indulgence in spirtuous liquor
iua climate like that OF India. shortens life L
90 alarming extent." These are excellen
authorities. Jet testimony ia superauoUs to
lac: now almost universally admitted. OF nor
isisrsst to Us is the testimony to the benefit
sftstal abstinence in the army. proving 4hs
Rss only can the soldier do without liquor, bu
that the total deprivation is benefit. At Jel
lalhabad. during siege of five months, th
Thirteenth Light Infantry vas without arden
spirits entirely, and remained remarkabl
healthy, cheerful and wsll-behaved. After III
garrison was relieved, spirit Tatons weE
again served, and at once the condition Of th
regiment was very peresptibly injured. Gen
Wylis states. 10 reference TO the value of al
sohol as preparation for work, that: ~
VA 10 well kaOwn to those who have mad
inquiries among men engaged 10 very labor
Gus emPloymsnts at high temperatures, thai
whatever the men may driRk ia the interval
Of their week.. they cannot take alcoholic drink
while actually engaged in it, without such
decided ioss Of power as quite units them ia
Rs performances,
If such are tte evils Of the authorized Us
Of Intoxicating liquors 10 the regular army
Great Britain. what might we not expect fro
thsir unrestrsined abuse in our VolGnle feEc4
Ofa single New York regiment, waitinga fe
hours al jersey City on its way to Washing to,
tws hundred men were put into the cars iniox
gated. Few Of these weEe habitual driDker
Drunkenness in our army is not an evil deep
Tsoisd; it is an idle dissipation that lives
seonIinusl temptation. The only way to de-
Ellh such a vice is TO destroy the opPortnnii
and this Gen. Mcclellan has doas.