Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-07-17
Wesi1gs Of the Maine Law in Now
.hf. York.

T r .fI7T W.
The MAKERS OF the prohibi,ory liquor
law u New York, seem TO have resolv.
sd y stake tho enemy where no lived .
md selected the 4th Of July as the day
upon wbith oil drinking Of spirits should
cease. The day Of ell others devoted
70 merry meetings, and the social glass
when Sil parties and sccts meet upon the
common platform Of patriotism, and give
vsntto the love Of the country, and ven.
Sration 10 the founders OF Liberty, some
by sentiments pledged in The "spa'k
ling cstawba." some BY the heroic shout
and de6nn, banter, suggested from ample
potaiicns Of old "bald face" whilst 9th
erS seek TO render obln,ions 10 their Coz
,de.s Of Liberty, by imbibing lager beer
until they imagine the cask, to be i,sel
The Goddess, and their flowing mug hel
cap OF Liberty. Such was the day chos'
en- 10 commence the enforcement Of this
law, but !. would appear from an article
in tho N. Y. Herald that the oct instead
of prohibiting the sale Of liquors, grants
free trade and unlimited traffic in the
business. The effect Of the working o.
the law seems to be that everybody may
buy and sny body may sell, without the
expense OF license, or fear Of the law
.s.The FIRST section Of which positively
rinterdicts the selling or giving away o
any intoxicating liquors, upon any pre-
tence, OF for any purpose, in any "tav.
,eta, store. grocery, shop. boarding OF
victuaiing house, or room for gambling,
dancing, or other public amusement or
recreation Of any kind" &c., &c., and
says ,ha. no intoxicating liquor shall be
kept or deposited in any such places, in
view Of ihe penalties OF the law, which
is pretty clean sweep Of The retail trade:
butihen comes the proviso, which says
"this section shall not apply to liquor
the right to sell which in this State is
given by any law or treaty Of the United
States" Here is the loop.hole escape.
The federal constitution provides that
Congress shall have the power TO reg.
ulate commerce, levy duties upon i'm.
ports, &c. This is the fundamental law.
Under it Congress provided for the ad.
mission into New York Of foreign Ii.
quors as merchandise. This comprehends
the right to sell upon this construction
Mayor Wood has issued his manifesto to
the city policemen. He considers the
prohibation Of the law as limited to bald.
faced whisky, lager beer, and other home
made articles, and cautions the police
accordingly against interruplng tho re:
tail business in French brandy, Holland
gin, Jamaica rum, Scotch and Irish whis
ky, and English beer and brown stout.
Scenes similar to the following are
now Of daily occurrence in the city Of
New York -
Scene First--A Lager Beer Saloon.
Enter thirsty customer.
CusToMER-To bartender-Give me
some Philadelphia lager beer.
BAgTENDER-There is none 10 be had
in the city. We have, however, an ex.
cellent article imported from Germany,
which has very much the flavor Of the
beer you ask for. You can have it for
The same price.
CusToMER-Well, bring it along. CA
huge mug is brought into which the ,hirs'
ty gentleman thrusts his head, and does
not withdraw it for FIVE minutes.) Well
l declare, this is an excellent substitute
for the Philsdel phia beer.
Exit in capital hunor.]
Scene Second-a Restaurant IN Broad
,oay.
{Enter Carson League Agent.
AoENr-To landlord-l want some
Albany cream ale.
LAKpLoRD-We can't sell that, but
can furnish you with fine English or
Scotch ale on draught.
AGENr-Well, I'll take some New
England rum.
LANpLoRD-We run out OF that on
the I'd Of July. Wouldn't the Jamaica
variety do as we'll
AGENT, (nonplussed)-We | guess
shant drink to-day.
Exit disgusted.]
It's remarkable that these imported
liouofs have very much the flavor and
taste Of the common article, and what
is more, can be sold as cheap. The en-.
terprise displayed by the liquor dealers
in disposing Of their American liquor in
one night, and filling their shops with
imported liquor by the next morning, is
certainly very extraordinary, and merits
this public notice.