The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-11-06
ne German Committee saws:

L D6
Third: The present Excise Law,
absolutely prohibiting the sale of
fermented or spirituous liquors on
Sunday, in fact creates privilege in
favor of the Weather classes; for
they can, in their spacious and com
torta able dwellings, on Sunday, enjoy
the company of their friends, and
satisfy their taste for any KINDS of
drinks they like, while the working
classes can find the same enjoyment
only in public houses. The existence
and the business of these places
must, therefore, be considered as an
inevitable peculiarly of the present
state of society They are, in fact,
the parlors of the working classes.
Glass legislation in Republic cannot
exist without the greatest danger to
the polite body; but it Is evident that
the present Excise Law has the effect
OF class legislation. although such
evidently was not the intent of the
Legislature
All this pother about the present Ex-
else law Is radically dishonest The
men who so talk are perfectly aware
that the laws of our State have all1ags
certainly, for the last eighty years
forbidden such sale of liquors on the
Sabbath as they insist on. 1.-The
present Excise law" differs in no es-
sential provision from what has been
law here at least since 1873. If grog-
shops and beer-saloons are the par
Tors of the working classes" it has
not been lawful in this State to fire.
quent such "parlors' on the Sabbath,
and drink in them, since the Federal
Constitution was adopted. These
German gentlemen seek to upset the
immemorial legislation of our State,
as they have perfect right to do.
But why not meet the issue fairly?
These gentlemen say:
: FJth-The moral aims Of law
providing for the maintenance of
public order and decorum on Sunday
surely would be easier and fuller at
tanned if the law did not absolutely |
prohibit on that day what it allows |
on the other days of the week: But, |
if this law is to be considered as a
law. we cannot help say
ing: Whatever respect religious
creeds and customs can claim from
the citizens, they have no right to en-
force them by law in State consti-
ted as is ours
What is this bat asserting You
have never understood
your own institutions-you have all
along violated and defed the funda-
mental principles of your Govern
menT, and seen fit to absolutely pro-
hibit all but the most necessary traf-
nc on Sunday, when you never had
any right to do so.'2iiIt seems TO US
but modest to presume that our
fathers who made cur Constitutions,
State and Federal, and our Sunday
and Excise laws as well, understood
their own wants and their work, quite
IS well as our German friends under
stand them.
We freely concede the right to
very one to question, to criticise, and
10 suggest improvements in our insti-
5utions. IF our German friends can
larry a majority of the people, they
will have the laws changed as they
wish, and we shall conform to them
rs good citizens. Until then, we re-
'pectfully suggest that difference to
he laws as they exist is expedient
md commendab bic And we think no
airer platform can be devised than
hat which allows every Republican
o favor such Excise and Sunday laws
IS shall, in his enforced judgment, be
most conducive to the public good.