The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-02-15
MhNUA'S CURSE.
American C5nqu est Followed by a
Shameful Record.
"CLD GLORY" BLUSHES.

pines the gravest and wickedest is ore
of our own importation. The Manlls
saloons, taken collectively, ara the
worst possible kind of blot on Uncle
Sans fair name. The city's air reeks
with the odors OF the worst of English
liquors. And all this has come to pass
since the 18th of August, 1898! With
the vanguard of American troops en-
tering Manila was the newly-appointed
Philippine agent of concern that had
| ship-loads of drink on the way. He
secured offices, warehouses, options On
desirable locations for saloons, and
opened business. Some of the proud
est and best youth of our land marched
into Manila to proclaim the dawn OF q
new era of honesty, liberty and light.
1t was cay of rare import to the down
troiden East. But the saloon keeper
sneaked in under the folds of Old Glory
Almost by the time the American SOL
diers had stacked arms in the city a
score of American saloons were open.
Swiftly other scores we're added
to Them The number grew and grew.
At the outbreak of the inSurrectlon
there were hundreds of American sa-
looms in Manila. There not being at
chat time enough American civilians,
so disposed, to take up all the licenses,
natives were debauched into the traffic.
Spaniards engaged in the business, per-
haps with an ironic purpose OF hasten
ing the corruption OF both American
and Filipino.
To-day there Is no thoroughfare OF
length in Manila that has not lts long
line of saloons. The street cars carry
Haunting advertisements of this brand
of whisIzey and that kind Of gin. The
local papers derive ther main revenue
from the displayed advertisements OF
firms and companies eager for their
share of ManiIa's drink money. The
city persents to the newcomer sat
urnalla OF alcoholism. For Manl1a's
climate is one in which drink is pecul
i;:rly seductive and insdious. 1t Is al
ways oppressiyely hot there, and
glass of beer, fresh from the ice, seems
to the hot, perspiring and dusty like
a draught OF nectar. He who over
works i'll the slightest degree finds mo-
mentary stimulus in whiskey. There is
relIef-though dangerous reliet--in al
cohol, and SO American Manila drinks,
despite all the warnings Of science that
IN plague and fever-infested tropical
countries alcohol presents the shortest
route to the grave.
The Filipinos of Manila are rather
slow to take to drink. They have al
ways heretofore been an abstemious
people Soda and tonics have furnish
ed the bulk CT their beverage that was
not drawn from the hydrant. Yetslow-
ly but surely the natives are veering
aronnd to the temptations to be found
In the saloon. Five years more OF
the present saloon reign in Manila will
see sad Generalization of the natives.
At present the non-drinking majority
of Filip,nos ieel only contempt for the
whom they see Iurchlngly
walking the streets or crouching in Sill
ly semi-stupor in the cabs on their way
to Office, home, or barracks.
I do not mean this as TRADE against
all saloons. 1t is only much-nGeded
protest against the worst features of
the American saloon that haye crept
into.r' Manila arm in arm with our
boasted progress. There is nowhere
in the world such an excessive amount
Of drinking per capita, as among the
tew thousand Americans at present liv-
ing in Manila. Nor does this mean
that we have sent the worst dregs OF
there. Far from it
some OF the best American blood is re-
presented in Manila. There are men
of brains and attainment there, who
would nobly hold up our name, were
it not for the saloon at present. Gam
blers and depraved women-in both
classes, the very dregs of this and other
followed, and work
hand in hand with their natural ally. |
These people are fast teaching the ma
lives the depths'ot Caucasian wicked
ness, and the natives imagine it is |
Go into one of the "better class sa-
oons along the Escolta. Here seated |
At the tables you Will lind American |
soldiers and their non-commissioned |
officers. They are ordering fast, talk |
ing with the thick volubility of semi |
1t does not take new
arrival many minutes to reach that |
stage. At other tables are American |
clerks, merchants, very likely, and |
.ather seedy-looking spectators. At
,ne or two of the tables you will find
.rmy and navy officers, with a sprink-
The Cs7e Day Cold Cure.
Nol1 10 hy