New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-01-01


all far loss suffering and death than ia annually caused
there by Alcoholic Drinks Free trade OF any trade nj
AL, IN Lofoy Iotds is prohibited although the pur
CHASER violates no principle OF morals and gets some
hg OF value Tor his money. He gets the chance of
drawing prize which chance Ia worth but little lc.s
upon the whole than the price paid for the ticket and
at worst can only lose his money While the purchaser
o, Num Oscs MS money, and may lose his health, hs
character his power OF performing his duties his ia
ny, his country aud his Cod and gets nothing of value
Ana yet the prohibition OF the trade in Lottery Tickets
IS Incorporated MO our new Constitution sanctioned by
an ilnmcn so majority of the People of this state and
must II would seem be conceded To be- correct in prin
ciple. Indeed, our statute and common law books
abound with provisions in direct restraint of trade and
Tor similar reason, the act In question and all
laws based on the same sound aud familiar principle
repealed, the body of Jurisprudence would be
dsscctcd into lfecss skeleton utterly unfit for
the regulation OF the complicated concerns and conflict
ing interests OF an enlightened people.
II the vendors of Intoxicating drinks object farther
that the law IN question cannot be enforced and that
more liquor IS drank now than before lis passage" we
inquire If this be So whose fault il that of the law
or of the directors themselves Let them like good
Citizens, yield obedience 10 the laws OF the land and
TO sell and this objection would be Mt once obva.
ted But IT, on the contrary they determined to defy
the law and contcmn Che patience and orbearanco of s
friends reply that although habits of thought and
action in the public however erroneous like the physi
cal habit formed at the dram shop be overcome only
by somewhat painful and proractcd struggle yet
they in supposing that law demanded by the
science and sound dgment though at variance with the
present habits Of the community cannot be enforced in
this State This very Jaw, IN not few OF the towns OF
this state, is already completely enforced. And the
statute above auGed7o against the sale OF lottery tick
cts passed but rci period after OF the best
men in this any Stse had been openly engaged in Il
and the rst attcnptst1 iDdict not unliequeny found
majority of the Grand Jury with such tickets their
pockets. But although so short time has elapsed,
the business is conducted stcalthy, and convicted
aud punished by Courts and Jures with much alacr
ty, any common law misdcneanor. And as to more
liquor being drank than before the passage OF the
actbis If precisely what the vendors desire and
they should be content its friends think differently and
are content also
Il has been objected that the law in question is a
sumptuary law" regulating ood and drinks But how
statute designed to prevent the unwaIy and infatuated
from being tempted at every turn with injurious drinks
is any sumptuary law than Furnishing the sale
OF unwhoesOme provisions Is not very evident II will,
doubt cause more Of the poor mans earnings To be
expended in neediul tood Tor his family and less IN
needless and pcrnicous drinks Tor himself But this is
the object of the law Ii is because the poor drunk
ards deserted wife and children are thrown burden
upon the public and because the wrongs and crimes
which in his frenzy he commits, fall upon the uno end
ing who entitled to the protection OF the laws that
the public claim the right to interfere by way oil pre-
yenon.
And is even commended that the law must fail be.
cause 1t attempts to control human GDoaes and pas
sOns DIS though the largest portion VI police and
penal statutes designed to protect the innocent
against the ungoyened sppeues and passions OF others
to protect purity against lust personal intio
Liability agant anger, human life against revenge, and
property against cupdity and avarce And II this be
upon what rational petence can The ruInselef set up
the thirst occasoned by the drains he administers.
thing too strong too sacred 10 be subjected 10 sanitary
lave especially when that artificial thirst carries ts
train suffering, violence and bloodsned than
any single aaarai appetite passion
1.-The principle Is not novel one but IN Eng old rs
the common law and IN this country, and an similar
form Of It's application Older than separate national
existence This Will appear by the following resolution
adopted by the Continental Congress, February q l1l,
at Carpenters Hall Philadelphia.
Rssoltsi That be recommended TO the several Legs
lsies OF he United States mme atey TO pass the
most efecua for putting immediate stop 70 the pefiCi.
practice OF dsthng gram by which me nost eAten.
size evils likely TO be derived # not quickly prevented
And for more than quarter of century, Grand Ju-
res under the sanction OF their oath have from time to
presented the licensed dram shops OF this state 90
public nuisances and loudly called on the Legislature
tor THEN suppression.
o. IL ia believed that the law In question 10 not exposed
here somewhat similar, but certainly lees perfect
has been IN adjoining state TO the danger oil concerted
political action. lts friends comprise many OF the most
Influential members, alike OF all our political dlys9ns
And is not 10 be supposed that either one or the other
OF the great parties into which this state Is divided can
be induced needessy to offend and ALLEVIATE Has "
thousands OF its frmest adherents not upon a mere
question OF expediency but OF principle involving
they believe of their most lasting and precious
interests and at time, too, when party restraints
so shattered and loosened At the present moment
Let it not be supposed that particle of the zeal
which inspired the opponents OF licences IN May last
has been exngushed that If occasion should call IL
bers, and with augmented energy. The progress OF
public sentiment in this State is neither downward nor
backward And it must be evident that majority OF
more than sixtyye thousand of the electors OF this
State, ought not TO- aud will not ultimately lack fail
TO apply, the OF causing their opinion upon this
important question of public policy to be respected
These are some OF the views which have convinced
the Committee that a repeal OF the Excise Law would
not be seriously attempted and that the time and labor
necessary for procuring and transmitting memorials
against such repeal might be spared. The friends of the
car in geveral State. Judged dill
ferently and perhaps wisely, and circulating
petitions.
The committee have not hitherto assumed TO offer to
the friends OF the cause throughout the State any pub
lie advice or directions They have printing press,
no funds no such means OF organized action as were
possessed by former Committees have they need OF
any for the Excise Law wisely transfers action under
it to the respective and ohiesmsking this, as 1t
emphstcally is the business OF the people themselt es
TO be conducted in their way, and in view oil ell
the local circumstances When, however, any incident
shall occur rendering the united counsels of the friends
Of the law desirable State Convention will be prompt
ly called by the committee. They would therefore,
only say in conclusion let not DC msled b. our oppo
nents into any change OF position, indicating hckeness
and consequent imbecty but let us all as one man
firmly adhere to the principle Of tho lao as 49, until It's
details shall be perfected and shall be extended to the
vhoic State and fairly and fully oorcod but let us not
for one remit but rather increase, those efforts
for the dissemination OF light and truth and those social
and moral influences TO which our cause is 80 deeply
indebted Tor lis past and on which 1t must still
mainly rely II is in power by such means to secure
for the Empire State the gushing honor OF stand
ing foremost in rearing up, not only an intelligent and
vrtuous but sober generation hted To accomplish the
high destiny, and WELD that prcdominating influence
among the nations, now ysiby opening upon our
beloved country.
AIOR TABOR B. X. WOOD, q
n NJ POHLMAN o. SCOVIL
j. A. SPENCER, DANIEL CADY.
ilbdag Dec. -, 1916. State Central Committee.
VESTS First Picture.
Correspondence OF The Tribune.
Pun tptt. Id