The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-06-12

OESDAi, JUNE IL, 1900.
staten M OF the leaders and the general senti-
men OF the msSes, Is still full of vitality, and
win no doubt shos itselr at some future time
and very probably wiz come force st the next
elections; Dut In ine means-ae it ID clearly the
duty of President Johnson, nov chat he has ex-
tended such benefcent service to G.>at Britain
as to save her principal colony from ah.ihils-
ton, 10 demand without reservation or dea.y
full payment for all the damlg done to our
commerce by the piratical raids Of the Ala
bama and other Confederate cruisers fitted out
in British ports. This ID the least ret.rn he can
ask from England for having done what no
dared to do In the face Of the popular senti-
m,nt Of hostility to any interference with the
punishment of Canada for her treacherous con-
duct towards us In the late rebellion. The
Fenians seem to lind consolation in the fact
that they have not been defeated by the mill
tary power Of England, but by the action Of
their own government We have urgent claims
against the British government, which have not
vet been settled ny the diplomatic machinery
worked by Mr.. Seward Now Is the time, there
10 Q, for the President to demand . guild pro
quo He has preserved Canada for the English
COVE ament (; let him insist that the Alabama
claims shall be settled at once.
FEN1ANIsM IN CrY Politics. The political
organs of this city have all mlde great mis-
take about the Fcnians. The democratic papers
have abused them and the republican papers
have abused them. But the Fenians are by no
means dead, and 1t is not improb BILE that they
will hold the civ politicians rigidly accounta-
BILE at the next election. There Is plenty Of
time to organize Fenian party during the
summer and to run Fenian ticket independ-
ent OF oil political parties. Should this be
done. as it probably will be, under the leader
ship of Fernando ana Benjamin Wood, the
regular machines will be very badly smashed.
A Feninn ticket would be supported, not only
by the Fenians, but by all sympathizars with
Fenianism. who rather outnumber the Fenians
themselves. Thus the political leaders may be
lett without corporal's guard and the green
banner may float in triumph over the City Hall.
FUNNY STATE OF THINGS UNDER THE EXCISE
LAw.-The new Excise law presents several
curious phases in its operation which might
amuse and instruct our philosophers. It WIS
intended, Us the collective wisdom of the State
at Albany said, to promote tho cause of tenn
perance. Tie Officers appointed to execute
the law evidently so understand it, as is seen
by the marvellous zeal with which they carry
it ont So enxious are these conscientious
officials to execute the law strictly that they
will not only not allow strong drinks or even
diluted beer to 60 down the throats Of people
at prohibited places or tim,s. but they are de-
termined not to let it 60 through the pores Of
| the skin. According to our report In yester-
days paper an INSCRIPTIONS barber attempted
to get round the law by inserting bay rum into
the System through the pores Of the skin Of
one Of his customers. The guardians Of the
law, with remarkable shrewdness, saw that the
pretence of using bay rum on tho chin Of q
shaved man was only 10 cover up wicked pur-
pose to convey intoxicating liquor otherwise
about this Excise law il that near seven thou
sand grog shops have been licensed, and
we suppose a great many more will be IL
ccnsed, swelling immensely the revenue Of the
city from this source beyond what II ever
was before. We do not know the amount but
It must be considerable, probably million Of
dollars. Thus we see this positive advantage
in the temperance movement The temper
ance societies estimated that under the old
law thirty millions Of dollars worth Of liquors
and beer were consumed yearly in the city.
Under the present law it would be safe to cal
culate that there will be forty millions at least,
thus increasing the revenue in that proportion.
The natural operation Of the law is to make
people more thirsty and more determined to
allay that thirst by entering back doors, by
laying in larger private stock for Sundays,
and by rush to the suburbs where the bever-
age can be obtained. In fact our high spirited
citizens viii not be baked by the excise OH
GERS, and drink out Of spite and defiance to our
legislative Solons. Every day there are fresh
and singular developments in this excise bust
ness and we shall continue to watch them with
profound interest