The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-22
THE EXCISE LAW.


Yesterday was one OF the quetest Sundays that has
boon the good fortune OF Gothamtes-who love peace
and order at least during day out OF the allotted
seven-to enjoy for long years past. The sun shons
brightly overhead, and refreshing breeze the lvelong
day blew cool comfort tho thousands who sauntered
out into tne streets and parks intent upoa quiet pro-
menade or rambe in shady hooks unmo.ested by the
old time echoes OF rbad revelry Even the blue coats
those fellows who numercals on their cap fronts
for the particular qualification Of all wrathfu citizens
who, on questioning. see how neatly they dod
their head geareven they looked though the Ii. p
force were soon to be dbanded through shoer want OF
work for the Metropolitan employees Adapting them
selves TO circumstances however these ',oney watch.
ers BY the way managed during tho day with great
deal OF equanimity, to steady tho lamp posts tho
street corners by the support OF their bodies and keep
grocery store coal boxes In their places by improvsng
them into sitting beats.
0wius to the efforts that have been made by many
Interested persons to induce the body Of liquor
dealers Of this city aud Brooklyn organize clubs for
drinking purposes on Sundays IL would seem, judging
from certain events that took place yesterday that the
neS idea has been acted upon already but does not
seem to take as well as It's most earnest advocates
anticipated. Hundreds Of clubs have been
gained and we're in working order yasterday--the
Bowery between Houston and Hester streets boasting
OF thirteen, and no less There was no such
thing as open house Tor all corners as the festivities that
elevate the thirsty soul OF the anti-excser
ried by select circles behind very thick curtains
but by no means in out OF way places On the
second floor OF a stacy mansion, just adjoining
Polo Headquarters. German singing club held forth
Daring the entire day the members, not passing
tho tedious hours making themselves boarse by sing
Ing Old chants sanetided by yaterand associations
cooly drinking unexcitable lager and surrounding
themselves but not with misunderstanding intent,
with that species of smoke cloud which the Germans
alone know well how TO make mpenerabie mortal
vision. To add to tho enjoyment Of the members OF
this club, the open rear windows OF the which
they were putting themselves outside thor libatlons
afforded excelently tempting view OF the lager glasses
and, what was OF more consequence the lager the
loaded tables from the south end windows OF the Police
and Excise Board rooms The OF the club system
generally understood lies in the agreeable fact that
as none but members admitted to parlake
Of the select liquids purchased during week days without
q pass, no policeman In disguise Can by any known
method by which one Is supposed 10 push Inself
unwecomed into appetizer mans company put himself
within eye reach Of lager beer glass OF course, tho
Starry Mansion Club, which Is In such dangerous con-
uguity TO Police Headquarters, Is fearful exception to
this general rule However, although many clubs are
in GOOD standing already, the majority OF the licensed
liquor dealers In this city still withhold their counte-
nance from the club system and contend In justica-
ton OF their ars ~ Interest in !hs matter ths! hey
hold licenses which the ioad Of Excise havo power TO
revoke for very slight cause they do not feel inclined 10
run risk With the chances in their favor OF being
closely watched and reported by the police for
other little denquencss that might otherwise be over
looked.
Il would not be out OF pcs to say in this connection
that good deal OF very unshoesome advice has been
given-innocently, no doub-to the liquor dealers by
associations who enieayo to instruct the dealers
generally the ways they should go. Asample OF
this may be noticed in the instruction gwen
last week that the aboard VI Excise has decided that
clubs may hold forth In barrooms, the bars being
ciosed.n This 10 sheer nonsense as the Board never
decreed anything Of the kind On the contrary. con-
tends-as particular provision OF every license appl!-
cation plainly shows-that the barroom OF a horse
beng the "place licensed drinking of liquor on SUM-
days therein renders the ofcldng proprietor amenabs
revocation OF his privilege to sell liquor This fact
should be borne Ia mind by those Woo are wiling to
follow In the wake OF the advocates y the club system
and brave is consequences, ba they ~aat they may
Anti-Excisc Meeting.
A meeting. for the purpose Of organizing an Anti.
Excise sunday Club was held At Prominent public
house In tho Fifteenth ward yesterday afternoon Mr.
Thomas II. Atkinson occupied the chair Mr.. John T
Marshsll made short address, He remarked that this
association that had been formed this y was justly
denominated the Liberty Club they Intended by III
means to enjoy that social liberty and cnvorse which
by the presen, arbitrary Excise law they deprived
OF enjoying 10 the only day OF tho week VII ich could b
spared for pleasure and relaxation The prefensons
extension oil cviI nberty By the advocates
of the Excise law do not plate the TACT that thcl
arc the greatest social tyrants world and that the
entire scope OF the Excise, Health and other law
relating the habits Of the citizens OF New York cit,
restrictive and yrannous In their nature, and which
should be the duty Of every citizen to reprobafc and
condemn That tho establishment OF the social Liberty
| sunday Club designed to secure soai enjoyment
and TO form the nucleus OF similar organizations through
out the city, which by proper combination would assist
defeating and destroying this most outrageous OF all laws
AMER remarks from MsssrR Kinsclla, Williams and
Others the gentlemen present were invited 70 subscribe
TO the roll which donc the exte OF some one
hundred signatures Subsequently the toward OF the
club tapped several casks OF lager Will Old Tom gin
and Bourbon whisky oxpedtiousy disappeared to the
| blinking OF many glasses After sevsra hours fpen
Ia fssivy, in,srpersed with songs and speeches. The
meeting adjourned TIL next Sabbath.
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