Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-10

| those who make war on universally
accepted evils; and the grudging &C
ceptance of progress by yet another
element of this powerful creator of
public opinion, he cannot but wonder
that ANY advancement has been made
in the march of Christian uplift. Even
our delightful and always welcome
exchange, the "old reliable" Boston
Transcript, grumbles like a dog with
sore head, because the Democratic
secretary of the navy has had the
courage of his convictions to smash
one more of the useless, degrading
and wholly idiotic customs that are
largely maintained on the silly excuse
that some one else does it that way.
The old Transcript disgruntled and
complaining because civilization is
progressing: because the most progress
( sive nation in the world refuses long
| er to do monkey shines because some
other nations are clinging to fool
! stunts in keeping with the traditions
of days when the booze traffic was
not known to be both a moral and
economic milestone on the neck Of
| humanity!
Now that we have gone beyond keep
ing in practice for drinking bouts on
grand international naval occasions,
why is it not as much incumbent up
on other nations to RESPECT our po-
sition, as it is upon us to INITIATE
the descredited customs of an age out.
grown?
With everyone agreeing that in
temperance in the army and navy is
TO be discountenanced," as our ex-
change admits, why is it necessary,
advisable or even horse sense to cul-
tivate the habit and to keep in train
ing so as to do a good job at it when
occasion of social Importance" arises?
to be the first to throw off the yoke
of tradition handed down from a less
intelligent era?
We glory in the moral character and
courage of Secretary of State Bryan
and Secretary of the Navy Daniels in
leading the world out of monkeydom.
The spectacle of a President. a Sec
rotary of State, a Secretary of the
Navy, a Secretary of Agriculture and
ho Of lot
all in one administration refusing to
booze because some one else boozes-
refusing to continue a silly custom of
degrading oneself because others in
the past have degraded themselves,
and some today are clingfng to this
last EXCUSES an inspiring one be-
fore the rising generation. Whatever
else we may find to criticize in the
public acts of these men in their mis-
taken policies, we still honor them for
their magnificent moral example be-
fore the people of the nation.
Our exchange remarks great
change that has come over the man
ners of Jack and his officer in the
last generation" What has caused
this change-the intolerance of prog
ress by those who cling to fool Gus
toms for customs sake? If the grog
ration had not been abolished would
this great change have been affected?
VIII the adjustment of the wine
mess" not be responsible for another
great change" in the next genera
ton? Why this silly reference to
paid for by the officers out of their
own pockets? Is an intoxicated man
any worse because filled up at the
expense of others? Would not a ship
sink as quickly if sent on the rocks
by the fuddled brain of man drunk
at his own expense? What are these
light wines, beers and ales but the
first exercises in the physical culture
of drunkenness and debauchery? If
"the law and naval custom are in
tolerant of excess" why not also be
intolerant of the practice of expert
menting on the distance one may go?
The smile" for one is excess for an
other why should this mighty arm
of a nation that may hold the fate
Of the world in the balance, continue
its dalliance with the destroyer? Why
should the government chance disas-
ter where private commercial enter
prises refuse to venture? Why should
not the interests of the whole people
regulate everybodys personal con-
duct" if such conduct is a standing
menace to the health, morals, prosper
ity and happiness of the present and
the future?
W.