The New South., 1893-08-05
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
pRlNk IN TAE ARmr.



tnioasr Defenders
ssNy attention was called 4 short
time since 10 an article Ia your valna.
bic paper on the subject of the paSt ex-
change in the United States army
The system Of recruiting for the array
has undergone a great change in the
last year or two. and. As result. a bet.
ter class Of young men have, rs rule.
been obtained. as evidenced not only
hy personal observation, but by the re-
port oi tho adjntant-gcneral OF the
army.
Now. what do these young men hnd
when they join tho various orgsniza-
tions 10 which they are assigneag Open
invitations 70 indulge IN drinking, gam
bling, iewd and profane language The
article in your paper 10 which have re-
ferred was mild in comparison with Tho
description that could be given of the
frightful state Of affairs that does re
ally exist. The old post-trader system
i called everything thatis bad by those
In authority, and there Is no doubt that
Il was vile one; but 20 is the present
one, in spite Of the fatheriy care bc-
slowed upon IL by the government, aud
the frantic efforts made by the War do
partment and others connected with
them. 10 scatter false and misleading
statements rs to its nature. Why was
the ''eanteenr changed recently 10 the
'post-eNchangeg II the truth be told,
because the people were gattIng 10
know too much about the roai state of
affairs. and II waa hoped that under
the new name the matter would drop,
After every payday the men give
themselves up To a drunken urgie, and
nothing is thought of but drinking and
gambling. And this Is recognized by
tho officers as an established fact nor
Is any effort made TO check Ill Why
should there he? Is not the eanteen
distinctly sanctioned as regular miii-
tary institution; Ia II not superintended
by an officer, who carefully estimates
the requirements OF the men SO there
shall be no fear OF n failure in. the sup
ply; are not enlisted men detailed TO
attend 70 the bar, just Ms they are
warned for guard: and do not the
regulations state that all these details
aic TO be looked ON as q part of militia
ry duty2 Further, do not the nnthorl.
ties invite the men TO drink. hribing
them with the statement that all tho
profits" win be divided among the va.
riaus organizations 20 help better the
supply oi food az their mess tables; and
what Is this but saying, The more
you drink the better you shall eatn2
DO all the recruits who have lately
Joined fall into these habits at once2
No. A large proportion do not Great
care Is taken, as the authorities state.
in the enlistment OF these yonng men,
and large number OF them come from
country districts, where home inhu-
cnces have been strong. where they have
been taught 10 abhor the liquor traffic.
and where NIL the betterlng influences
have had full sway.
Then why, IL may DO asked, all this
outcry? II 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
THE Army and Navy Register spf oc
tol,er ~, reports Gen, Merritt nsi say
| ing: There is much complaint, how
ever among line officers, because OF q
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 tho heads of the army are
congratuIating themselves as joining
the same in large numbers, viii not re-
main in II. Men are thoroughly sick-
encd at the sight they see and the filthy
language they hear, and, As a 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
itics alarm. as il well may. No mere
friendly act can be done the govern
ment than the pointing out the fact
that as long as they 70 down ON their
knees to the old drunkards, and do all
in their power 10 propitiate that class
Of men, 20 long will ali the better and
more self-respecting element decline TO
have anything 70 do with them.
''lt is bad enough 10 see drunkenness,
but when 1t must be encountered rs a
part Of everyday association, when q
man must have daily intercourse with
it. sleep with II, dwell with II in bar
racks. then is he justified in asking the
public TO judge whether the army
that sanctions and encourages such a
thing is 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 70 50 much as think Of
entering the army. DO all you can 70
discourage the idea. until the govern
ment is made TO see the folly of IFS
course in willfuily and Systematically
catering 10 drunkards. II, with these
warnings, you neglect your duty you
win be held responsible for giving your
boy over. body and soul, TO a life Of sin.
Drunkenness, gambling and debauch-
cry, such arc the leading features 0.
the American army AZ II exists to-day.
"A u. s. Soldier. in Union Signal
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