The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-29
Circulation Statement.
Praying Down Brother wcI<tnIey.

Because we are Informed urol the high
est authority that We ought to love our
enemies. and always eRdeavor 10 do so, it
IS our privilege and pleasure or this aus
picious occasion to congratulate the Re-
publican Presidential candidate upon the
Inauguration Of a movement, largely con-
fined to people Of his own religious con-
neetien, which we feel sure viii make him
many friends and possibly an equal num-
Der of votes. There is comfort in the
matter TO which we allude-comfort at a
time when the detection OF numberless old
adheTents and the support of men like
Tincarrion DENLY are circumstances cal
culated 10 make his ''toSoms lord sit
painfully on the tacIts on his throne We
refer TO the pious and ingenious device
of the respected Women's Christian Tenn
perance Union to start an endless chain
of prayer throughout the Union the
scheme being II enlist the Almighty
against the President and thereby COM
pass ais downfall at the polls in Novem-
Der.
The project, anyone must see, is
unique ard feline II we are asked what
Mr. Mckinley could have done TO set all
their knees in prayer for his overthrow.
We answer that his offence is unforgivabIe
He has succeeded in keeping drunkenness
oat Of the Army, by approving Of the de-
cent and respectable eanteen, which under
the supervision OF proper officers, fur
nishss enlisted men with good, honest,
wholesome American beer in strict mod
Grafton Can the mind of man conceive OF
more sorl-sickening sin against every
thing that the shrieking sisterhood is out
for?
As We have frequently remarked al other
times, the alternative to the Army post
canteen is the vile doggery just outside the
limits of the military reservations where
drugged whisky OF the meanest description
would be sold, as it has been in the past.
10 our soldiers They are American free
men and not slaves, and those of them
who choose to bend the subservient elbow
TO the merry cIinking of the glass, so they
do not over-induige, have an absolute in
herent right to do so. But it takes but a |
very little of the miserable poison kept in |
such as dives as the President and the /
War Department are anxious TO keep out
OF existence. TO steal away the drinkers
brains, to fill the guardhouse with INSIDE
meanants, and 10 seriously interfere with |
The health and discipline OF the Army.
The canteen averts these evils. II does
not supply spiritUous liquors It's bar on
~ furnishes the national beverage which
has become as much one of the necessa-
ries of American life as tea or coffee and
which is quite as innocuous as either of
I hen, mi
Gent to put out a good sized fire. Then
why, let US ask, is this system. which no.
toriously has been one of the most moral
izing influences in the military establish
ment' so Vindictively opposed by the Wo-
mems Christian TEMPERANCE Union; and
why IS ii that. for UNFOLDING it. Mr.. Nc
hinley is made the target for viruperation
and vulgar insult by large section Of The
countryis cranks?
The answer is that the canteen. and tho
President are obnoxious TO this class of
people, Tor the simple reason that the
lantee7 has abolished drunkenness with
7ut depriving our Tommy Atkins of his
stein Of beer, The enemies Of
he canteen want the dives re-estah-
lshed and want all men at the post of
get roaring, raving drunk on each sue s
.eeding pay day, 50 that an object lesson 1
nay be supplied in their misconduct and I
which can be used in the holy q
rank cause of prohibition. 1t is for the a
eason, among others, that We wish to see
dr Mckinley defeated for reelection t
hat We view with alarm this coarse and t
diottc attempt TO iniure him by means of L
saerilegious endless chain of prayer o
Will not hurt him little bit. What is t
o be feared is that, through sympathy, it Il
viii attract TO him voters who by no |
means are in accord with his public poll P
y, and who oppose the purposes. methods.
nd tendencies of his Administration. g
n