Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-01-12
An Apology Is Due The
Army And The Navy.

nitely than another in the field of
social obligation, ii is the duty of
making honorable amends for wrongs
done. The teaching against wrong
judgments is explicit, and no less is
the obligation for reparation The
great Methodist Church seldom strikes
an uncertain note, and in the present
case it, as such. has not done so. But
an Official adjunct Of that church has
struck a wrong note and has com-
mitted a blunder that is acknowl-
edged, but as yet unaccompanied by
any expression OF regret. The Meth
odist Church cannot afford to rest
under the reproach that has been
brought upon it by the individual re-
sponsible for the temperance clip
sheet in which the American soldiers
abroad were so grossly Mbeled. There
is not q true American anywhere who
would not deplore even isolated cases
Of drunkenness among the fellows
who have been selected as the FIRST
contingents to tight the foe of civili-
cation and the defamers Of all viz
tue. as well the producers OF the par
ticuIar beverage that has been made
the popular drink among Americans,
as other peoples They are there to
fight the Germans ard TO fight Ger
man infamies, as Americans at home
are prepared TO fight everything in
famous that is German. This Is the
tie that binds the boys at the front
and their friends in the homeland
Yet, despite the obvious facts, the
Methodist official responsible for the
clipsheet sent broadcast statement
that the men who are protected in
the environments by the fine organi-
cation under Mr. Fosdick, when in
France, are cast into the arms Of
disreputable women and made the
prey of drunkenness without protec-
ton. AS though the United States
were expanding billions of dollars
with no better thought for the out
come OF that expenditure in the rec
ord of its soldiers than TO permit de-
hatchery of them here or abroad. AS
though General Pershing and his as
/ sociates for the army, and Admiral
Sims and his associates for the
Navy, had no higher idea of the value
| OF these men than to permit them to
be ruined in health and habits the
moment they touch the shores Of
France. And it may be added, as
though the French authorities them
Il selves, who turn to the Americans
as their saviors, had no better use to
| make of the men who are to work out
| the redemption of France from the
enemy hordes than to permit French
! profiigates and winebibbers to destroy
the manhood upon which the very life
OF the French nation depends.
There is no American who is worthy
of the name who is defender of
obligatory liquor rations. rumtots or
anything Of the. kind for the Ameri-
cans abroad Most of these come
from clean homes and from temper
ance communities, and have rights of
principle that demand respect. And
General Pershing assures the Ameri-
can people that they are respected.
And Admiral Sims assures the
American people that they are re-
| spected. If, after all that is done
and may be done, some few insist
upon debauchery or are inherent
weaklings and manage to get liquor
and get drunk, they are given the
severest kind of handling by the
American military authorities. They
and all others are made to under
stand that America is not in war to
make drunkards or to condone
drunkenness, or to foster the taste
| for liquor in those who have been
protected from it, or to permit those
who have been accustomed to i'm
bibing to continue their habits to the
| detriment of the service.
1t has been made clear, perfectly
! clear, that the Methodist Temper
ance clipsheet editor was not speak
| ing by the book It has been made
perfectly clear that he was speaking
| without advisement. Mr.. Fosdick has
rebuked the culpable official by re-
Winding him that ii was his duty to
verify such strange statements as he
attributes to Mr. Fosdick without any
/
That somebody has sought excuse in
saying that the clipsheet was old
matter and that conditions are so
very much better now. AS matter
OF fact, conditions are much the same
only he has received better infor-
nation. as he now admits; saying that
General Pershing had not made
known his temperance orders at the
time the clipsheet was sent out. Well,
| let it go at that What is called for
under Christian, under patriotic and
high-minded dictation, is manifest.
The verile, broad-minded and up
right Methodist Church owes to the
men in the army, the men the world
looks to as the protectors of all that
makes life worth living-an apology.
And the Methodist Church, in MAX
ing this apology, will not compromise
an iota its perfectly correct attitude
as church in insisting upon prohi-
bition Of the liquor traffic. This is
not at issue. But the attempt has
been made to have it appear that this
/ clipsheet business has been made
much of in an effort to embarrass
the prohibition forces. There is every
confidence. felt in the disposition and
purpose Of the Methodist Church to
apologize for the wrong position in
which an under-official has placed 1t
by an Incorporate and unpatriotic at