The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-15
THE ARCHBISHOP AND THE CAN
TEEN

There may be much to condemn in the
army canteen, viewed from the stand
point of the man who looks upon the
consumption of intexicants as beverage
as one of the principal sources of human
crime and misfortune Indeed, it is hard
to see how a prohibidonist can take any
other view of the question save THAT
which has been presented to congress
with such persistence by the members
of the Womens Christian Temperance
union When one reflects, for instance,
that the prohibitionst recognizes no
choice of evils with reference to liquor
and its use and abuse, but seeks to de-
prive everybody of the privilege of drink
ing intoXicants as a beverage to any ex-
tent whatever, there can, Of course. be
no other position occupied by him toward
the army canteen except that Of unqual-
flied opposition.
1t is different with those whose views
of the drink evil are less radical. in the
proposition before congress- to the ordi
nary mind, the question to be determined
is whether it is more or less to the adj
vantage of the soldier that liquor should
be wholly debarred from the military
reservations. The welfare of the soldier
is the matter under consideration. 1t is
not merely moral question. 1t is
question of expediency-whether as a mil
itary regulation it is more advisable that
liquor should be excluded from military
reservations, or whether it should be
supplied to soldiers under the direct s,1-
pervision of their superior officers. There
may be ground for serious difference Of
opinion on this score, but the better
of the argument is unqestionably with
those who would allow the soldiers to
have access to intoxfcants under reason
able restrictions and regulations within
the grounds of the war department. rath-
er than compel them to go outside in
order to supply themselves.
The appearance of Archbishop Ireland
before the senate committee on military
affairs in opposition to the movement 10
abolish the canteen will have much In
fiuence in the ultimate settlement of the
question AS a recognized temperance
advocate of power and influence, as a
leading prelate OF his church. and as an
eX-army officer, the archbishop is enti-
tied to have his views regarded with the
utmost respect and Difference. That
they differ from the accepted doctrine of
the adherents of the temperance cause.
and are in agreement with those enter
tanned by men of the world who. while
deeply regretting the general use and
too frequent abuse of intoxicants. are I'M
willing to apply the radical remedies of
the prohibitionists. only helps to show
that the archbishop thinks more of the
practical question which is involved
than he does of promoting through his
views any abstract notion which he
may entertain as to the evils of the
liquor traffic or of the desirability of
stopping the traffic entirely.
The present majority in congress has
thus far shown decided disposition to
bend 10 the demands of the prohibition
lists. If this measure is embodied into
law it viii be as the result of the moral
cowardice of that majority. The views
OF the archbishop are timely. They vii:
go far toward preventing the consumma-
ton Of policy which would certainly
work to the detriment OF the soldier. and
which would never be adopted by that
majority were it not from fear of tie
consequences which might ensue political
ly from standing out against the unrea-
sonable and unworthy demand involved.