The Republican., 1893-07-13
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
DRINKING SOLDIERS.
Terrible Conditions Which Surround the
Union's Defenders.

bic paper on the subject of the post eX-
change in the United States army.
The system of recruiting for the army
has undergone a great change in the
last year or two, and, as result, bet
ter class of young men have, as rule,
been obtained. as evidenced not only
by personal observation, but by the re-
port of the adjutant-general of the
army.
Now, what do these young men find
when they join the various organiza-
tions to which they are assigned? Open
invitations to indulge in drinking, gam
bling, lewd and profane language. The
article in your paper to which have re-
ferred was mild in comparison with the
description that could be given of the
frightful state of affairs that does re-
ally exist The old post-trader system
is called everything that is bad by those
in authority, and there is no doubt that
it was vile one; but so is the present
one, in spite of the fatherly care be-
slowed upon it by the government, and
the frantic efforts made by the War de-
partment and Others connected with
them, to scatter false and misleading
statements as to its nature. Why was
the ''canteen" changed recently to the
'post-exchange?" If the truth be told,
because the people were getting to
know too much about the real state of
affairs, and it was hoped that under
the new name the matter would drop.
"After, every payday the men give
themselves up to drunken orgie, and
nothing is thought of but drinking and
gambling. And this is recognized by
the officers as an established fact, nor
is any effort made to check it. Why
should there be? Is not the canteen
distinctly sanctioned as a regular mill
tary institutions; is it not superintended
by an officer, who carefully estimates
the requirements of the men so there
shall be no fear of failure in the sup
ply; are not enlisted men detailed to
warned for, guard: and do not the
regulations state that all these details
are to be looked on as part of militia
ry duty? Further, do not the authori-
ties invite the men to drink, bribing
them with the statement that all the
profits" will be divided among the va
rious organizations to help better the
supply of food at their mess ia bles: and
what is this but saying, The more
you drink the better you shall eat?
do all the recruits who have lately
joined fall into these ha bits at once?
No. A large proportion do not. Great
care is taken, as the authorities state,
in the enlistment of these young men,
and large number of them come from
country districts, where home infiu-
ences have been strong, where they have
been taught to abhor the liquor traffic,
and where all the lettering influences
have had full sway.
Then why, it may be asked, all this
outcry? If the authorities are getting
better men into the army, these things
that are so much complained of will
shortly cease, and much improved
state of affairs come about as natural
consequence. Unfortunately, daily ex-
perience and personal contact with
these men prove the contrary.
The Army and Navy Register of Oc-
tober %, reports Gen. Merritt as say
ing: There is much complaint, how
ever among line officers, because of a
lack of good material for non-commis-
stoned officers. Many of the best men
leave the army after short service,
under recent regulations; and many
other officers have reported the same
thing in different phraseology. This is
actually the case. The better material,
on which the heads of the army are
congratulating themselves as joining
the same in large numbers, will not re-
main in it. Men are thoroughly sick
ened at the sight they see and the filthy
language they hear, and, as result,
purchase their discharge under recent
regulations, or take advantage of the
three years act to claim their dis
charge. And this is causing the author
ities alarm, as it well may. No more
friendly act can be done the govern
ment than the pointing ont the fact
that as long as they go down on their
knees to the old drunkards, and do all
in their power to propitiate that class
OF men. SO long will all the better and
more self-respecting element decline to
have anything to do with them.
1t is bad enough to see drunkenness,
but when it must be encountered as a
part of everyday association, when a
man must have daily intercourse with
it, sleep with it, dwell with it in bar
racks, then is he justified in asking the
public to judge whether the army
that sanctions and encourages such
thing is a fit place for respectable
young men?
Now, parents and guardians of
"bright boys" and boys of sixteen,
pause and consider well before you al
low any of your own kin, or any of
your young friends who come under
these headings to so much as think Of
entering the army. Do all you can to
discourage the idea. until the govern
ment is made to see the folly of its
course in willfully and systematically
catering to drunkards. If, with these
warnings. you neglect your duty you
will be held responsible for giving your
boy over, body and soul, to a life of sin.
Drunkenness, gambling and debauch-
erv, such are the leading features of
the American army as it exists to-day"
A L. ) Soldier, in Cn;on Signal
The VERClCT OF SCIENCE.