THE EFFORT TO RESTORE THE ARMY CANTEEN.
By W. N. G.
That Satan can appear as “an angel of light,” and make sin appear as a virtue, is well illustrated in the effort to restore the canteen in the army. As most of our readers know, the canteen was a government beer saloon. Any regiment, or any post, could have its canteen, where beer was sold and the profits go to the mess fund. Ostensibly it was for the benefit of the soldiers (1) It was to furnish them stimulating drink without their being obliged to go to the saloons for it; (2) the profits went back to them in a fund from which they could purchase such articles of food and delicacies as are not supplied in the regular ration; (3) the soldier was limited in his drink to beer, and to a limited quantity, and to the canteen as the place to drink it. This was the theory, but the testimony of nearly all those who know is that the limitations were easy of evasion, and were universally evaded. The argument of financial profit to the soldier was most absurd, as any one might see, excepting upon the theory that the soldier must drink. The idea of a man’s drinking a dollar’s worth of beer in order to secure fifty cents profit with which to buy food is simply ridiculous. Then many of the “boys” who did not care to drink were actually badgered into it on the plea of “honor.” They were recipients of the benefits of the mess fund, and in honor should contribute to it. And, strange as it may appear, they do not seem to have conceived the idea that they could do this in any way excepting by the beer route. Thus many a poor fellow has been cajoled into the beer habit on the score of honor. Most of the chaplains, many of the highest army officers and physicians, and many of the rank and file, gave their testimony against the canteen. After hearing exhaustive arguments on both sides, Congress passed a law abolishing the canteen; but the Attorney-General gave a constructive ruling that practically annulled the law, and the canteen went on. Then the last Congress passed another law that had the desired effect. The great brewing and liquor trusts, however, are determined not to be beaten out of their profits. So every effort is being made to have the canteen restored. And the virtuous, magnanimous plea of temperance and good order is the siren song of their campaign. It is claimed that the soldiers drink a great deal more, and are much more unruly and unhealthy, since the canteen was abolished. And they have secured the testimony of a few physicians to this effect. For producers and venders of intoxicating beverages to advocate a system that they maintain will materially reduce the consumption of their own products, is a species of self-sacrifice that one would hardly expect to find in the world. It can be accounted for only on the basis of the scripture which says that “Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Cor. 11:14, 15.9 It has been shown that special efforts have been made to secure results that would prove a worse condition of affairs among the soldiers on pay-days since the abolition of the canteen. The efforts have been made in order to secure data for an appeal to have the canteen restored, on the plea of better morals in the army. Such efforts have been reported by reliable authority both in this country and in the Philippine Islands. But creditable witnesses, both in and out of the army, testify that the desired showing could not be honestly made. The fact that the canteen was zealously defended, and its restoration is now strongly urged, by the organs of the various liquor interests, is the best evidence that the institution itself is favorable to those interests. And that is enough to condemn it as inimical to the moral, social, and physical welfare of its patrons. W. N. G.