Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-11-09
ssIstt MistsIIanr.
Prohibition in New York.


have at length a Prohibitory Liquor
Law in our State. II has been ope-
rative for nearly four months past
or would have been but for the con-
spiracy Of Mayors. Judges. District
Attorneys, de-, to embarrass It's exe-
cution and nulIify its provisions
This conspiracy has paralyzed ii in
this city and TO some extent in other
portions of the State, so that but a
fraction Of its natural good effects have
yet been realized. Still. at least these
benefits are obvious to the careful OBJ.
server: e
1. We are freed from the evil, the
reproach and shame Of our License
system. Men still sell liquof as a
beverage; but they do tin defiance oI
the statute-in defiance Of the best ex'
ertions Of the Legislature and Cover.
nor. They do it knowing that their
business is condemned by public sen.
timent. and that the best portion Of
the community most emphatically rep
rebate it. They do it knowing thai
justice is on their track, and with q
shiyering consciousness that it viii
surely overtake them. They do il
saying that the Prohibitory Law is
imperative, unconstitutional and un.
sustained by public sentiment; but
their acts give the lie to their words.
II the act is imperative. why dc
they work SO hard for cts repeal?-
II it is unconstitutional, why wish il
repealed? An unconstitutional acl
is Observation-Disclosures; you
might as sensibly repeal last Winter
Their exertions to overthrow il, proves
il both constitutional and operative,
even in their own estimation. And
while they say it Is unsustained by
public sentiment, who ever heard them
propose to submit the question Of il.
continuance or overthrow to direc
popular vote?
III. Men who sell Liquor are now
Obliged to know well with whom they
deal, and take care that they secure
their pay. The law has done colIec.
ting their debts or enforcing their con
tracts. And this circumstance Of il
self tends 10 drive men OF substance
out Of the business and seriously Grip
ple and resisf the Wholesale Iiuuol
Traffic.
Ill. The whole Traffic IN Intoxica'
ting Beverages, except in few rum
ridden localities. is under bonds fol
good behavior. The tayerns and
"wet groceries, !" which were formerly
scenes Of daily riots and dens of pro
fame ribraldry. now sell liquor, If al
all, with great secrecy and circum'
spection. IL scon's do to have them
surrounded day and night by all the
"sons of Beliap, in the township, "a
they formerly were with impunity. =
The keeper puts his liquor down ce''
lar, behind a close partition. or in
some sort Of a coal-hole, and tells his
thirsty customers that they must drink
and 60 quietly awsy, o. he will have
to stop selling. Thus time is saved,
quarrels prevented, and the evil con.
sequences Of tippling greatly dimin'
ished. ,.tt'.f'- - 81
( Nv. Drunkards obtain liquor fal
less freely and frequently than the,
formerly did. Even the rum-sellers
admit that more should not be sold te
man who has chad enough"-thu.
doubling on their track and repudia
ting their favorite idea Of "Mora|
Suasion." Not even Judge Brown
has yentured to pronounce invalid SC
much Of the act as forbids and punish
es sales Of Liquor 10 drunkards. The
consequences are peace, competence
and comparativecomfort in many fam
lies hitherto cursed through drunken.
ness, with phrenzy, destitution and
despair.
v. Whole townships have been
swept clean Of the pestilent source
Of "lntemperance. Pauperism and
C,ime:" whole counties are hut slight.
ly and stealthily cursed with it,
Where barrels were formerly sold,
quarts are now with difficulty smug-
gIed into circulation. And only the
attempts Of Judges Brown. Dean. Nor
ris and one or two others to nulify the
law. have prevented its complete and
triumphant enforcement throughou,
seyen-eighths Of the State.--N y
IriLlfne- ~ -..- ~ -.