Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-01-19

The army canteen does not regard
the soldier as prey, IL keeps the sol
der away from degrading and demor-
allzlng associations. 10 IS not, Ike
ordinary drinking dens, mere thresh-
hold TO br0thcls. II keeps the sailors
together 10 holds them under the eyes
NJ their responsible superiors. il Is
cheaper II Is "a safeguard against
drugged drink. 10 protects the soldier
from thieves IN his hours Of relaxation.
10 may not promote morality. but lt
certainly shuts out immortality
Yet here are the elect OF GOd-ignOr-
ant " the temptations which beset
ylrile men IN the held--stormlng the
doors Of Congress and denOuncing the
wisest provision that experience can
make against inalienable human appe-
lite.
The government Is denounced for OH
cially recognizing the proneness OF
man 10 alcohol But what is the gov
eminent 10 do? The soldier will drink.
There Is nothing immoral In beer or
whisky. Christ Himself turned water
Into wine and gave Il 70 the wedding
guests. St. Paul advised Timothy 10
take little wine for his stomach =
sake. The Apostles drank wine IN the
presence u Christ The Mahommedan
church alone has condemned IL.
Why should the government be re-
NIled for authorizing the sale OF strong
drink In the army under proper super
vision? Why should our soldiers be
driven out to common grDggeries. 10
become the victims Of Watchiul ruilians
and panders? I take II that the scnsi-
bic Churchman has his glass OF wine
az dinner when he chooses. aud why
should he deny 90 the hard-farlng
American soldier serving IN distant
lands the right 70 have glass Of beer
or whisky when he cannot afford 20 buy
wine?
The best soldiers / have known were
drinking men-not drunkards, but men
who eased things up BY a glass OF
something now and then. The only
absolute drunkard / met IN the Philip
pines was an American general who
distinguished himself In actiOn-the
Orayest OF the brave But the army
canteen was not responsible for nus
drunkenness. He usually ala his drink
ing In his own quarters.
Moderate drinking does not brutalize
soldiers on the contrary. my own Cd
servation Is that q promotes good com
radeship and softens the inevitable
rlgors Of army life. The army canteen
Is simply the soldiers club house II
is a source Of pleasure and content
ment. The soldier is trained for hard
ships and deeds OF violence In the
field he is an instrument % Kill ana
destroy. Is II not prepasterous 10 eN-
pect such a man TO conform MS haols
and appetltes to standards which can
not be maintained even I'm the restau-
rant Of Congress or IN the White House
II is a fact beyond dlanute that sol
diers will take strong drink. The only
question open % debate IS whether
they should be permitted 10 drink IN
their own canteens under wise super
vision or whether they should be forced
TO patronize outside bar.rooms.
II the men and the women who are
assaling the ears OF Congress win
protests against the canteen really de-
sire to Danish drunkenness from our
army they can better serve their pur-
pose by inauguratlng a movement 70
cultivate a taste for light and cheap
wines among our soldiers. we nave
the experience Of France and Italy and
Spain 10 guide us. As Jefferson wrote
10 De Neuyillp In 1878.
mo nation Is drunken where wine Is
cheap. and none sober where the dear
ness OF wine substitutes ardent spirits
as the common beverage
Let the government buy light Cali
fornia wine In large quantities and sup
ply It 10 our soldiers IN the Philippines
Tor, say. 10 cents a quart. and the beer
and whisky trade IN the army would
soon die out II IL fact that a small
quantity OF wine Is almost a necessity
In such a climate. know that In my
own case the best physician in Manila
ordered me 70 take mixed claret and
water with my meals as an essential
part OF my ordinary diet