The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-14
THE EXCISE LAW.

- -~NOsO@ .N'ss
AM 4Nt4NMA <~~,~~~-~~~~->>~-~~~~-~~~~~ y
The Gern,ans Observation-Disclosures Meeting
In Brooklyn stirring speech Of District At
tornay Morris-Kes0lutions, &c. .
In response to call for meeting Of German dele
gates from each ward In the city Of Brooklyn represent
ing the interests Of liquor dealers, large number
gathered at the Brooklyn Garden, adjoining the new
court house, At three O'Clock yesterday afternoon for
the purpose Of taking preliminary steps towards holding
mass meeting, and also to hear the sentiments Of DIFF
feent parties in reference to the order Of the Excise
Commissioners 70 secure license ~ .ifs,s !. 4
The meeting was called to order at half.past three
O'Clock, Mr.. Joseph h. strouse presiding.
The CHAIRMAN stated the object OF the meeting In
few remarks saying that he hoped they would make
united effort to oppose the enforcement of the odious
law by all legal means He did not wish for rsvslu-
ton, but called upon all reemen TO aid in checking the
yrannicai act OF John A. Kennedy and securing bis
Mr. MEYEsssRa was next introduced, and also spoke
OF the attempt Of Mr. Kennedy to tyrannize the
The CzAmxAs thea introduced District Attorney
Samuel D. Morris
18 .fea IT'S SPEECH or Mr. NORRIS. .sg
GENrLEhEN.-I did not come here this afternoon for
the purpose OF making any speech and do not intend
10 do SO. suppose that this s preliminary meeting
general meeting shall Be called and that this sna
simply meeting Of delegates from the different wards
shouid be happy when tho general meeting is called
upon the subject that has called you here this
afternoon. shall be verv glad to have the opportunity
Win lsn here O the az caas
such meeting. About year ago 1 was called
upon TO address a mass meeting in these rooms
the constituonahty Of the Excise Law. Those who
here this afternoon will recoect that then stated that
did not make the law would not have made the
law it made in ali respects; but as lawyer giving
an honest opinion stated that the law constitu-
ton.l and would be sustained by the courts. In that
hav hooa asvodh uo all Tho Tn o
district and by the Court Of Appeals unanimously.
at that time that lawyers advising
you that the law was unconstitetionai when knew
that they knew or believed that the law was con-
stitutioual. saw that their object was not
dealers or benefit anybody but their own pockets that
their object was to induce you to organize, to raise
70 pay and ss 70 their stated
injudcious in making the speech that making;
that knew that there were a great many that were
for giving them an honest opinion. Had At that
time, upon that platform there, said to you
Won to disobey the law, YOU would have
thrown up your hats in the air and you would
have hurrahed for Judge Morris tApplause.) And
the end would have been ten times off, There
were some lawyers In the city Of New YORK who said
the most eminent present--n0 not the most eminent,
but the most ocious in behalf Of the liquor dealers
city OF Brooklyn, who sent 10 him for the purpose OF
getting honest opinion, when he asked HIM the ques
This his =. Or %o = ssd mot s
skty q ths las; 4 wisI BE- sustained BY the courts.
m hepoe deslss, who = N insimass htendoc mine
ssnsh what i he uss - your 6ahsins the question:
swsal." be says 70 him. Il am lawyer; that's my
ssSs Is him. .whs. viii " tie position Of tioss nan
Iav ia 10 80; whss win b. their posisions' Weir'
money" GAnshtsrr And, gentlemen what has been
- position or th0ss nsnY 0ne-haf e. than
s . sssn 10. other ''S al. sa ss pss
license pay the cost OF those Injunction suits pay their
lawyers, and have been in turmoil and in difficulty dur
addressed you from that stand who An honest
spoke for your nsrss,si And yet said to them there
from that stand: /" Az Politician am very foolish
Vim :; sa for dealers, s s1S: . Vi. F';v:
opSa E I turned gu. s &c. gentlemen an
have s:' Ss.n CUT ss.sd .sa blamed a.s
for giving. An honest opinion. whereas II bad
"a 1geo s.' .s and nsfd ny own sentiments and
Ssnsd V sive you an honest opinionI Subsequent
:su A': sss.s r., "a C s'.:
said then, not responsible for this Law. You have
read my a. before s Inc .s Sor. have
supreme Court and before the Court Of Appeals that
the time would come when The Legislature would
are imposed by this law. not opposed gentlemen,
70 your sunday amusementsL cay " myself without
any Boosting there no man IN the cy Of Brooklyn 70
running they ere TO myself You recollcct the
controversy got in then because sustained Sunday
from the pulpit have not changed, and the time,
repeat here will come when the Legislature viii the
necessity that these restrictions should be removed and
~ ha ~ bo nj n he
nationally, properly, In poaceabe manner, uumoested
BY the minio1s OF John A. Kennedy. loud applause
70 cay 70 this preliminary committee for know you
have only met here for the purpose Of taking prcimi
2 s.ss %po.
short SINCE addressed 70 Mr. George Bliss the at
torpey OF the Board Of Excise intended Tor Board
they have imposed upon persoss applying for the
license; and, - l have seen. par.graIh " sen
tsncs q that lst'er nss been misandsrssood !. !
explain IL ] said in that letter that the man who
would voluntarily submit 70 the degrading conditions
have license. and ihs man who treated the conditions
with the contempt they deserved thereby showed mis-
n.nss. 70 have license mas oecn e % :.
The sentence In perfectly correct cay here nov, that
any man who would voluntarily submit 70 such con.
dtone 10 unds 70 have csnss. Appiauss But. gentle
men, you do voluntarily submit 10 those conditions
you compelled 70 submit 70 them. THAT'S soil You
are 10; y. s
q your head. and demands your purse o. your life
Well, yeu hand him ever your purse You do not do il
voluntarily you do 10 70 your life. And you submit
thoss cond0es nos Voluntarily but you do IL 70 save
your business; you compelled 70 do IT, But what
said In that etsss IN that respect is perfectly correct
and have nothing 70 change alter respect 70 IT,
Hut II Mr. Kennedy or II the Board Of Commissioners
suppose that the people Of this Sae OF the Metropolitan
dssric are such sbject slaves submit 70 those
conditions they very much mistake the temper Of
pie Appiaussl And say here feariessly, and without
any hesitation, the who gets his license has got 70
subscribe 20 those conditions Gentlemen, do ~ IL Is
the argument OF the highwaymsn who presents his
voivcr 10 your head. submit 70 the conditions; sign
them, take your license, and after you have got the
license, the that win then submit and carry out
those degrading conditions q not % 10 be called citizen
OF the United States tCheers) I trust in
God, In going about this very county and
this very city, that will peep In the window
the door OF any places hole at. least four inches
square Laughter snd applause.) And let the Board OF
Excise try they dare 70 revoke any mans license be-
he won't put hoe there, four inches square or
because he won comply with any Of those Illegal yran-
meal oppressive conditions. Let them revoke his
license, and let them undertake to arYeet him for
such violation Of the Excise law. Call upon
me great applause and I will prosecute them
both civly and criminally. 1 viii teach them that
there 10 law In this land that they have 20 obey