The evening times., 1899-04-15
The CSnteea.

Although there are plenty of reasons why
! Secretary Aiger should be removed from
his present position. the one alleged by a
clergyman in Boston the other day is really
not good. Not that IL would not be well to
have Aleer disappear from public view by
any possible means, but this particular
reason has nothing to do with the case.
The clergyman called upon the President
to remove Ager for not abolishing the
army canteen.
The canteen has been the object of con-
siderable vituperation for many years. both
here and in England: and now and then the
pressure brought TO bear on the authori-
ties has resulted in its local restriction or
adjustment. But a majority of the sensi-
BILE and experienced officers of the army are
in favor of this institution. and ii is safe
10 believe that they have good reasons for
their advocacy. There is no one who knows
human nature and soldier nature much
more thoroughly than an old army colonel
Opinions may differ as to the proba BILE
condition of the world if mankind had never
known anything about the fermented Juice
of the grape but there is no use in specu-
lating on that point, especially when consid-
ing army matters. 1t may possibly be, as
the prohibitonists say, that everyone would
be happier if there were not drop of in
toNicaIing liquor to be had in the world:
if the Atlantic Ocean were made of julips
and the forests about its shores of mint,
men would not care TO drink; but this. too.
is Improbable speculation
The fact which confronts us is that
liquor exists. and that under the present
circumstances the soldier is going to
drink it. Time and time again has it been
proved that if liquor is prohibited in camp
the men will go out of camp to get it, and
if they are where none is to be had they
will have a remarkably hilarious time
when they reach different region. The
only question which has to do with the
canieen is. whether the men should be al
lowed to drink moderately. under the eye
OF their officers. of liquor which must be
of certain standard OF excellence, or
whether the time of their drinking shall
depend on the leave which they are able
to get. and the amount be left to their own
discretion, which, in the case of the av-
erage youth of twenty-one or twenty-five.
is apt 10 be small. There is absolutely no
alternative. The soldier cannot be refus-
ed leave on all occasions; he cannot be
questioned as to his doings while on leave.
unless he commits an offence against the
laws: and he cannot be prevented from
getting liquor when he is in town. There
fx>,, 9 L.. L.
drunk, and possibly be robbed OF his mon
cy. and overstay his leave. and get himself
into as much trouble as fate and the DO
lice will let him. And it is perfectly evi-
dent that if he goes to town with q con-
suming thirst. accumulated during weeks
of dryness. his power of self-control is not
great
While the volunteers were encamped at
Falls Church last summer, for some in
scrutable reason a local organization pro
tested against their being allowed beer.
and followed that up by forbidding them
soda water. sarsaparilla, and other soft
drinks. This might be called prohibition
gone mad. 1t is hardly credible, but II
happened. One feels like suggesting. in
view of this sort of insanity. that there Is
such a thing as temperance in interfering
with ones neighbor's right to choose his
food and drink.
At canteen the men drink more or less
moderately Of liquor which is reasonably
good; in town they are apt to drink i'm
moderately of strong and maddening prep
arations, not to speak Of those which are
so aduiterated as to be poison. At canteen
the soldier. is surrounded by his conn
rades, whose tests and horseplay, n rsagh,
are usually wholesome. In town he is