The Springfield herald., 1900-03-16
DRINKING AT MANILA
NOT As BAD AS REPORTED.
The Native Gin which Was Death to the
Soldiers Is Not Allowed on sale-Amer
lean Beer Takes Its Place.

The reports of excessive drinking by
United States soldiers In the Philip
pines have brought forth much un1n-
vomble comment of late. 1t Is now
staled that conditions at Manila are
not as bad as they have been painted.
The Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Record quotes the Rev. q. Z.
Pierce, ID. d., one of the oldest ana
most highly respected clergymen In the
army, recently chaplain of the Eighth
army corps, who was the first chaplain
to arrive in the Philippine islands, and
who remained there continuously untll
few weeks ago. rs follows:
There has been II great deal OF
drunkenness in the Philippines, and
there always will be more or less. but
no more than exists among our troops
in the United States and elsewhere.
Drinking has materially decreased
since our occupation and the conditions
will gradually improve. 1t is absurd
for temperance lecturers to argue that
because prohibition is right the sale
of liquor in the Philippine islands
should be entirely prohibited. We can
accomplish better results by degrees,
There is no such thing as driving n
soldier to do what is right. He must
be taught and persuaded. If you pro
Philippines the soldiers will drink the
native gin. which is the most deadly
and maddcning of all intoNcnnts,
When first went to Manila the streets
were lined from end to end with M
tive shncks at which this poisonous
compound was peddled at the rate OF
one cent glass. The natives take one
drink and stop. They know they have
enough, but our soldiers, Ignorant OF
f1s character, and because of its low
price. would take four or five drinks
which set them crazy. They were not
used TO it. They drank 1t rs they
would drink beer or American wines
This caused an appalling amount OF
drunkenness. But it did not continue
long. The native drinking plnces were
abolished and the sale of that vile stuff
forbidden. Then discharged soldiers
began to open saloons and sell Amerl'
can beer, wines, whisky, etc, which
the soldiers drank moderately and
with the same results as in the United
States.
THE establishment of these saloons
is accepted by persons not familiar
with the facts as evidence that drunk
enness has Increased, but they do moi
know, or neglect to explain, that half
dozen drinking places have been
| abolished for every one that has been
opened, and to-day If the American sa
looms We're abolished the soldiers
| would return to the vile native gil
| which the Chinese. who are very
| shrewd, would find means to furnisl
| them somehow or another.
"The military authorities are visilan
and are working with a determination
| to break up drinking entirely, and theii
| efforts have already shown excellent
results. There Is considerable less
| drunkenness than year ago. the NOR
| ais of the troops have greatly I'm
proved, and far better conditions will
| be seen in time"
The correspondent goes on to say
| that government reports show that the
quantity of wines and liquors and spir
| its exported to the Philippines is mucl
| less than generally stated. The totn
value of these exports last year was
| S26S,9 ,966.