The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-24

TIE war Issue which is the Official
of the Church OF England
society. In It's issue OF
October deals with the drink menace
as It relates TO peace and the future
in words which all America will do
well to heed
II was q soldier In the trenches
who elected the magazines strong
utters noes. by a letter from the front.
In which he discussed plainly and
feelingly what will happen in England
II the soldiers return to the open ga
looms. or public houses, as they are
called. The letter was published by
the bishop OF oxford IN recent issue
of the Oxford Diocesan Gaxstte. This
~ what the soldier at tina front hsd
TO say
see no signs OF anybody making
move towards prohibition for six
months after the war. j think tia up
TO the people at home TO safeguard
the fellows who will come home with
a big thirst and a full pocket. no work
to dc, and boundless fattery and
mock heroism waiting on them
Lloyd George may say II he likes
that the soldiers must have a say In
the settlement Of post war conditions.
but It's up TO the people at home TO
allow the soldiers TO get settled down
before they have to resist the tenpta-
tons 81 their old life again. Many
men now know no restraint but the
discipline of the army and the impos-
sihility of getting the stuff. They Will
not have a sober day for weeks after
they get home, They'll be treated TO
drink and then robbed and then
treated again till they are In the gut
fzr =,.4 NH y
earned. with seIf-respect and seif-re-
strain. are in the hands OF the pub
lean.
You've got It In your own hands
now. you people at home. and you
won't have il long II things move
rapidly. You may talk of social re-
construction and industrial common
wealths. peace on earth, good will to-
ward men. You needn't be afraid of
military agrressiveness In the return
ing army But there will be weakness
In the return Of millions OF men with
money and leisure, II money and LET'S
ure mean whiskey and still more wills
key ] don't care what 1t costs. II
isn't our business to say how IL should
he done The six months that follow
the war will be at lenst as crucial as
the six months that preceded it. Will
the fellows who have won the war
start off again to take their splendid
health and war-s.ck minds back into
work which II Vita 20 the nationa |
welfaree Or/will iiey awake slowly
from drink scdden stupor to renew
the quarrelt and :burlish drudgery
OF life as thev knew Il?
There is absoluteS no doubt now
OF what the Military issue is to be. or
even what DIR economic position is
to be. when peace Is declared. After
this life. a m IN who has been accus-
toned to drink will drink like fish
so long as lie can get it. If his wife
is working. as she probably is. when
he gets back. he viii probably continue
TO drink az long as she will give him
the means. Public feeling will be one
Of indulgence: "Poor fellow he has
had bad time; we must make 1t up
TO him" Men will give him a drink
TO get his story from him out OF curl
osity, and men win give him a drink
out OF pity
Under the heading, THE Great
Peace--A Forewa rnlne." the editor OF
the Cherela ef England Temperance
n n g saEiHa ..N printed the
fahove) letter in last months issue,
but make no apology for again doing
so. The communication ra ises an is
sue of tuch tremendous importance
that we have given II special prou.i-
hence IN this hope il may attract wide
spread attention. The bishop of
oxford viii be execrated. no doubt.
for libeling our gallant men, by pub
fishing letter from ore OF them
Rut the anger cf the thoughtless and
tte WRATH Of the Interested are small
matters. II IL the warning with which
we are concerned--ands which will, we
trust. come home to a much larger