The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-26
The LIQUOR PRoHIB,roRY BnL-Nothing

Il L.
now remains but the fiction of Governor Sey-
mour to make the liq'4or prohibitory bill law,
to take effect in December, or to throw it over
board altogethcr FOR the present. A good deal
of curiosity is excited among the public with
respect to the probable course of the Governor.
When the law was first proposed in this coun-
try, in the State of Maine, the bulk of the
members of the Legislature disliked it at bot
tom, but had not the courage to say so openly
or to vote it down. They therefore voted for
it, relying secretly on the supposed antipathy
of Governor Hubbard to such law, and ex-
pecting him to ssve them by vetoing it. Mr..
Hubbard, being shrewd man, had no notion
of sacrificing himself to save his disinterested
friends in the Legislature and much to their
establishment and dismay, signed the bill as
soon as it was presented to him. His conduct
had the effect of sinking him and the Legisla-
ture together. All political parties were shat
tered, and from that day to this Maine politics
have been a scramble, luck deciding the fortune
Of the day. We may safely consider that some
thing of similar kind has been operating in
our own Legislature. Many of the members
who have voted for the bill would be delighted
to see it vetoed, though they lacked the cour-
age to oppose its passage by their own votes.
Whether Governor Seymour would share the
fate which Governor Hubbard dreaded, in the
event of his vetoing it, is very different mat
ter. 1t must always be remembered that the
question involved in the prohibitory liquor law
is now purely political. The moral basis on
which it was originally started was thrust
out of view long ago. The establishment of
teetotalism by law is now a mere wing
pie round which they rally their forces.
1t was taken up by the wings when the
election of Mr.. Pierce destroyed their party,
and it was seen to be utterly hopeless to recon-
struct it on any of the planks of their old
platform. A fair majority of the defeated
party accepted teetotalism and the prohibitory
law as their future watchword. With the aid of
those democrats who are favorable to the pas
sage of such law, they have succeeded in OBJ
tanning the control of the two branches of the
Legislature, and they have been obliged to pass
the Maine law whether they would or no. Now,
should Governor Seymour sanction it, the re-
suit would obviously be the same as that which
followed it's enactment in Maine. Parties would
be broken up, the present political leaders
driven into obscurity by the inevitable revulsion
in public sentiment, and political affairs gener-
ally thrown into confusion for some years to
come. Mr.. Seymour would not escape the general
melee, and his career would clearly be ended.
On the other hand, should he veto it, strong
party, comprising a respectable sprinkling Of
conservative wings with large body of demo-
Gratis, would insist on running him again.
Whether they could carry the State is not GER
tain Until the liquor law has been tried, there
will always continue to be strong prejudice in
its favor. But those opposed to it would make
great exertions, and it is the only chance of
political resurrection offered to Mr.. Seymour.
On the whole, the chances are very evenly
balanced. The confidence expressed by the
whig teetotal leaders would lead one to sup
pose that they apprehended no danger from the
Governor; while, on the other hand, the tone of
his message seems clearly to indicate that con-
stitutional scruples would interfere to prevent
his sanctioning sumptuary law. A few days
will now decide the question.
Our SUMMER Observation-Disclosures SHALL We
Go IN THE HoT WEATHER?-Now that summer
is close at hand, when everybod rich and
poor, will endeavor to leave the city, if posi-
BILE. in order to secure some of the salutary
benefits arising from short trip and stay in
the country, few words about the principal
watering places in the neighborhood of New
York may not be amiss. To secure the greatest
and most important requisite to ourselves
good health, it is necessary that all should
avail themselves of the opportunity that warm
weather presents, and fly to the country for
pure air. untainted by mud, filth and other gar
bage, and where persons will be able to take
healthful recreation, and view with delight the
wonders of nature, compared with those of art
as seen during all the other months of the year
in large cities. The aristocratic portion of our
inhabitants, with boundless wealth at their COM
mand, can proceed whittier they please. Sara
t02a Springs, Niagara Falls, Newport, Long
Branch Cape May. the White Mountains and
the Catskills, are no novelty to them, for they
visit these places Of dissipation regularly every
year, where they are halfstarved, i'll treated
by the landlords, and receive no benefit
whatever for their trip. but on the con-
trary, are always swindled our of their
money and time. Pleasure they have none,
and recreation very little In fact, all
who put up at these large piles of laths and
plaster return to their homes quite disguised
and disappointed with everything they have
seen while sojourning out of the city. None
profit by the operation except the landlords,
who charge enormously for what they never
give, namely, board. This system of treating
those who dwell in large cities has very detri-
mental effect; that is, it prevents the middle
classes from leaving the city for fear of being
shaved, as it is vulgarly called, and prevents
our farmers and country friends from lettering
their condition in life ; for the middle classes,