The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-11-12
TEMPERANCE.
TEMPERANCE IN INDIA.
Marvellous Results Obtained Among the
British Soldiers stationed There.

The mistaken theory that men will get
liquor, drinking places are kept open in
every military station, from which men
reel nightly to their cheerless barracks,
or sally forth to deeds of mischief,
which end in the guardroom. Outside
cantonment Limits" Hindu, Parsee, or
Christian (?) liquor sellers display
various brands of English WHISTLES and
other intoXicants, Turing the soldier to
drink. Idleness tempts to indulgence.
The army has nothing to do. There are
no duties save parade and attention to
accoutrements. Hours each day must
be put in by men who, for the most
part, have no taste for reading or study,
and who find it too hot to make outdoor
recreations enjoyable. Consequently
these men lie about the "canteen," or
stroll out evenings to the shops of pub
lie poison vendors, to go back to 1.-The
lines" in all stages of intoXication.
Several years ago Rev. Geloon Greg
son took pity on his countrymen thus
exposed to temptation and organized
the Army Temaerapce- society. 1t sooG.
became very popular in the army. Lord
Roberts, of Kandahar, the commander
in chief in India, gave it his personal
and official support for the help it prom
ised to give in the reduction of crime
He ordered that all blanks of the re-
port of military trials be ruled with
column headed "Abstainers," so that
the effect of total abstinence upon the
onn1npt Of Sn1Iinpc 6, L.
estimated
Results have gratifed the friends of
temperance, and COMPOUNDED its one
mics. Year by year the number of alb
staners has risen. Year by year there
has been a corresponding decrease in
the number of arrests and trials for
violation of military regulations. The
temperance society has become the
criminal barometer of the British forces
in India. Whole regiments have
changed character after the Danish
ment of the bottle. Christian work in
the army has never been so fruitful as
it is to-day. Men are sober and thus
ready to hear and heed the messages of
faithful chaplains and earnest Young
Mems Christian association workers.
And now comes the surprise of all
surprises in connection with this great
movement. The Times of India, the
most ably edited Indian daily paper,
the champion of sport" of beer for the
poor soldier, and all kinds of archaic
and goddess rubbish, comes out in the
subjoined editorial on"The Fruits of
Temperatures:
The Army Temperance society in India
may very well glory in the results of their
good work. The figures before US for
1S94-95 embody a picture of success which
the promoters of this benefiCent scheme
could scarcely have anticipated, even I'M
der the inspiration of their original en-
thusasm. The statistics are set forth un-
der the definite headings, with clearness
which a glance can take in. In trials by
court-martial the convictions of abstain
ers numbered "a: of non-abstainers, 2131.
There are POSTS abstainers and 1873 non
abstainers, so that nearly every third man
In the British army in India refrains from
drink. The convictions, therefore, work
out per 1000 as follows: Abstainers, Asa:
mona bStainers, 1922, thus evincing that
serious crime in the army as represented
by court-martial is nearly ten times great
er among the men who drink than among
their comrades who do not. Among the
summary punishments for insubordna-
ton, only half the relative number were
awarded to abstainers as compared with
non-abstainers. Taking the convictions
for minor offenses for the first three
months of this year, there were % 2 en-
tries per 1000 among abStainerS as COM
pared with 997 per 1000 among non-ab-
staners. To show the trouble given to
the authorities by drink, and even the
pecuniary losses entailed on the men them
selves, Gen. cambridge speaks of a regi-
ment he inspected al Umballa, in 1850
which had 175 Court-martials in a single
year-the officers must have spent half
their time in court-while the fines for
drunkenness reached $500. In the fol-
lowing year, when 400 of the men had
Joined the temperance ranks, there were
only 81 court-martials and similar dmi-
mutton of the fines With regard to the
general effect of temperance on the health
of the men, the following statement car
ries its OWE emphasis: During the six
months ending March 81. 1895, the per cent
of admissions into hospital among 26
corps was: Abstainers, Sc; non-abstain-
ers. ~. II would be difficult to beat such
a lesson as these figures give in showing
the general merits of temperan nee Their
value is chiefly derived from the circum-
stance mat such statistics, culled from
Ferifiable records, are less liable to i'm
perfection than If taken from outside So
cieties among the civil population There
is no difficulty in a regiment about know
ing who drinks and who does not so the
figures may fairly be considered unassail-
able. If the government were to add up
the losses caused by ill-health and inef-
hciency produced by drink within recent
memory, they would spare nothing in
contributing all they can to make tenn
perance attractive. 1t would pay the coun-
try over and over again by polite OUTLAWS
{" extend and beautify and make thor
oughly comfortable the regimental in
stitutes, in other words the regimental
palaces" where the men can find plenty
of varied enjoyment without being expect
ed to call for drink.
The next step will be the abolition of
the regimental 'canteen," which by its
presence in the midst of the men, tempts
many a poor fellow to drink who would
not go out of his way to get it. Then the
figures given above will change places.
Abstainers will claim two out of every
three of the army. Crime will be
further reduced. Christ will appeal to
a larger number of clear brains, and
His appeal will be heard.-N. w. Chris
tian Advocate.