The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-02-26


There Is relief-though dangerous re-
lief-in alcohol, and so AmericanMa
Mia drinks, despite all the warnings OF
science that in e-and-fever-infeet-
ed tropical countries alcohol presents
the shortest route to the grave.
The Filipinos of Manila are rather
slow to take drink. They have always
| heretofore been an abstemious people.
Soda and tonics have furnished the bulk
of their beverage that was not drawn
| from the hydrant. Yet slowly but sure
| ly the natives are veering around to the
temptations to be found in the saloon.
Five years more of the present saloon
reign in Manila will see sad demorali-
cation of the natives. AT present the
non-drinking majority Of the Filipinos
feel only contempt for the Americans
whom they see lurchingly walking the
streets Or crouching in silly semi-stupor
in the cabs on their way to office, home
or barracks.
I do not mean this as a TRADE against
all saloons. 1t is only a much-needed
protest against the worst features OF
the American saloon that have crept in
to Manila .zrm in arm with our boast
ed progress. There is nowhere in the
world such an excessive amount of
drinking, per capita, as among the few
thousand Americans at present living
in Manila. Nor docs this mean that we
have sent the worst dregs of American
ism there Far from it; some Of the
best American blood is represented in
Manila. There are men of brains and
attainment there, who would nobly hold
up our name, We're it not for the saloon
at every step. Gamblers and depraved
women-in both classes the very dregs
of this and other countries-have fol-
lowed, and work hand in hand with
their natural ally. These people are
fast teaching the natives the depths of
Caucasian wickedness, and the natives
imagine 1t is Americanism.
Go into one of the 'better-class" sa-
looms along the Escolta. Here, seated
at the tables, you will find American
soldiers and their nom commissioned
officers. They are ordering fast, and
talking with the thick volubility of
semi-intoxication. 1t does not take
new arrival many minutes to reach that
stage. At other tables are American
clerks, merchants, very likely, and
rather seedy-looking spectators. At
one or two of the tables you will find
army and navy officers, with sprinkl-
ing Of the better-paid class of govern
ment civilian employees. At no table Is
the drinking slow. Peanut women and
fower-girls paas in and out, and fire.
quently become the target for lewd sal
lies. Barefooted Filipino walters dart
about, bearing on trays the stuff that
is quickening inebriation. All the time
these little walters are silently thinking |
on the visible traits Of the American |
On the porch of the "Paris restau- |
rant" overlooking the river, are little |
groups in which the commissioned off, |
GERS of the army and navy are conspicu-
ous. Every now and then reveler, in |
uniform or in civilian dress, breaks in
TO hilarious song, or abuse, as the mood
seizes him. Laughter or oaths follow,
and the turbulence grows Then the lit
lie Filipino waiter winks elyly and says |
Eel Americana tiene mucho vino! (The
American has much wine.) A simple
thing this may appear by itself, but
the average Filipino could be induced
20 frankly tell what impressed him as
he greatest characteristic of the Amer
can, he would say that it was the
Americans fondnese and capacity for
liquor.
Over in Santa Cruz, under the very
lose of the police station of that dis
riot, are to be found some Of the most
degraded saloons, run by the natives
Here hard liquors are
much cheaper than In other places; they
re correspondngly vile, for Manila has
10 vet no standard in the purity of liq-
lors Here the sort of stuff is sold that
cts mems brains on fire twice as quick
Y as better grade of liquor would.
Here fights are not uncommon. In the
acific lulls women from nearby haunts
Ass by, peer in at the doors, and even !
top long enough to handy nasty talk
With the saloons patrons. 1t is pic ]
ure of degraded slum life. {
Chairman Schurman of the Philippine
commission voices his regret that the |
.merican saloon was ever permitted to {
1ake its advent in Manila. Well may t
e regret it, as may every other Ameri- :,
an, too, who has been in Manila during /
he past year. 1t is great mistake /
, suppose that every officer, soldier {
nd sailor in the Philippines is drink q
lg to excess, but some of them do, and c
le same is true of great percentage T
: the civilians. The native is not dis u
and attributes this vice to
Il Americans. If saloons were care J t
lily and honestly restricted in number, d
I'D put under the rigid regulations that t
scency requires, this shame of Uncle G
am would quickly vanish. 1t is the C
airing opportunity for drunkenness n
lat does so much harm. h
SO far as my observation went, L :. n
und that the military authorities of t.
anila were not on record as having II
me anything to abate this crying dis ii
ace. Indeed, one American officer, h
irly high in the councils at the palace, h
the putative head of the concern that d
doing the most to encourage and W
pply the thirst of Manila. We tried d
civilize the Indian and incidentally II
ped him off the earth by permitting II
white traders to supply d,
m with ardent liquors. Are we to re- 6,
at this disgrace, tenfeld, as we at m
esent seem fair to do, in the Philip II
ne?-H. Irving Hancock to Leslie's r
eelly. ri
THE JOLLY SOUP"
~,