Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-17

port is to be compared with that of
the great and good bishop of New
York, let him read the chapter of hor-
rors detailed in the New Voice by
Frank M. Wells, late chaplain of Uni
ted States volunteers, which he gave
verbally to President Mckinley and
Secretary Root. Chaplain Pierce has
laid stress upon the number of huts
from which maddening native liquors
were dispensed, but it is not made plain
| that these were not in such evidence
before our troops arrived, for whose
trade they were established. Chaplain
Wells, in a recent interview with the
editor of the New York Philanthropist,
testified: Whisky and bad women are
running more men into death in the
Philippines than are being killed by
Filipino bullets or injured by other
causes"
Drunkenness, lust, gambling, bru-
tally and other vices that annihilate
conscience are in full swing at Manila.
Not only are the natives poIlutei by
this contact with superior civilization,
but the soldiers who return to the
United States bring with them the
seeds of disease and contagion, to be
sown broadcast. 1t has been estimated
that 10000 cases of syphilis afflicted
the volunteers thus far returned from
the Philippines to San Francisco. Who
can estimate the ravages among our
own people in consequence?
In the French army Gen Gallifet has
just promulgated an order against the
sale of ardent spirits in barrack or
camp. Degeneracy and increase of in
sanity among the consumers of bran
dy and absinthe have forced the move.
Mulhall, the statistician, says that al
coholie insanity "is twice as frequent
now as it was fifteen years ago, and
the number placed under restraint on
account of it has increased rs per cent.
in the last three years" Every ship
load of returning soldiers from Manila
brings its quota of maniacs.
We have a President belonging to the
great Methodist denomination, which
probably includes the largest percent
age of prohibitionists of any religious
organization in the country. The souls
of many of its members are stirred over
the question whether Their distinguish
ed communicate turns his wine glasses
down on festive occasions, or ventures
to take drop. We have a secretary
of the navy who is president of the
Massachusetts total abstinence socie-
ty. Contributions for it are annually
solicited to save few drunkards from
the gutter. Mr.. Mckinley has but to
speak the word to close every greg
shop in Manila and remedy the canteen
abomination. He can find excuses for
arbitrary power to the extent of nulli-
flying the principles of republican gov
eminent and disregarding the constitu-
ton. but not to clean out the saloons
in the Philippines. Nor has the total
abstainer, Secretary Long. yet made
his influence felt against this national
enormity, which destroys more human
beings in day than his Massachu-
sets society can save in a lifetime.
| Let the responsibility be placed where
1t belongs.
This is difficult subject to handle
without offense, but it needs exposure
and emphasis more than any other
aspect of the war. Death closes the
account, and wounds of flesh may heal,
but the soul degradation and dissem-
ination of vice through the great en-
/ ginery of the army entails incalculable
curse. Nothing should stir the indig-
nation and purpose of women like this
sin against the human race. From
Cuba and Porto Rico comes the same
story. The trail of armies is the trail
of the serpent, and no fine phrases like
those of Bishop Potter can for a mo-
ment obscure the devilish work in
which the countrymen of Washington
and Lincoln are now engaged. Two
| thousand years after the birth of the
Prince of Peace, and pious lips, in his
| name, shielding the crime and the
criminals,
WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON.
Boston, May 9, 1900.