The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-29
The Outrageous LibeIs Upon the Grocer
and Traders of New York.


and Traders Of New York.
The recent libellous and outrageous attacks
upon the grocers and traders of New York are
about to meet their just and legitimate reward.
We learn that the parties most grievously
libelled have held meeting and agreed to
commence, in few days, actions for libel, in
civil and criminal prosecutions, against the
instigators and promulgators Of these atrocious
calumnies.
The good name that New York merchants
have earned for liberaljty and fair dealing
with their customers has been grossly compro-
missed in these villanous assaults. There is
no excuse nor palliation for them. If these
selfimposed investigations into the pretended
frauds of our grocers and traders had
been commenced and pursued in spirit of
honesty and candor there might have been
some shadow of plea in their vindication.
But when we find that secret emissaries enter
store, and, selecting such articles as are
most likely to suit their purpose, COM
pare them by such tests as they may
select for the same purpose, and spread their
flourish of trumpets, it is time for all our
traders and for all our citizens who traffic with
them to protest Indignantly against the in
| famous inquisition. For example, we find
these self-elected inquisitors taking bag of
flour from one establishment, and, without stop
ping to inquire about the state of the weather
when the article was put up and when it was
sold, draw their own conclusions and issue
their ipse dirSt about "short weight" accord
ingly. They do not take the trouble to
examine, from the experience of experts, the
effect the weather has upon number Of
articles of general consumption, flour particu-
larly. If they did they would ascertain that
the most conscientious merchants in the land
are liable to make a difference, alike against as
for themselves in the exact amount they put
up and the amount they sell from week to
week. The atmospheric changes and not the
knavery Of the -four merchant or grocer, pro-
duce this result. Besides, it is not to be ex-
pected that every article sold-say -four,
sugar, tea, coffee and all the rest of the con-
sumable domestic odities-will weigh to
less than the eighth of an ounce the same
on one day as upon another. A housekeeper
may find her budget short by few ounces
one day or one week, and the next
day or week similar amount in excess. One
purchaser may buy an article Of a grocer at
one hour in the day and another buy similar
article an hour later and it would be strange
if slight difference in weight should not be
found-one trife short and the other a trile
in excess. But we submit that this is far
from showing premeditated intention of
fraud on the part of the grocer or dealer. In
regard to authorizations, whatever they may
amount to, we ask, who are to blame-the
honest grocer and dealer of New York, or the
tea and coffee growers, the sugar planters,
the home merchants in the distant lands of
spices, who ship their goods to this market,
where they are bought and sold just as dry
goods or printing paper or lumber or steel
and iron or any other merchantable article is
bought and sold? If consumer goes to one
Of our Wholesale grocers and buys chest of
tea or bag of Coffee or anything else in the
grocery line, in the original package, he or she
will fnd we will be bound, that they get
the article as pure as it is sent from
the plantations or the home market.
The wholesale grocers here cannot be held
accountable for the soundness Of the goods
they receive except when, by the accidents of a
sea voyage or other causes, they find such
goods to be damaged. But il it is discovered
by their customers that the goods they sell as
pure and sound are not as represented, such
goods are OF course returned to them, and
their recourse is upon those from whom they
made the original purchases.
In regard to the retail traffic in all sorts Of
groceries for family use in all large communi-
ties a few things are certain. II you pay q
cheap price you may expect to get cheap
goods. If you pay chicory price for coffee
you are likely to get your coffee mixed. If
you buy Beverly beans for Mocha or Java,
Beverly will preponderate. Even the adul-
terations in this cheap retail business are not
80 terrible as these Bohemian blackmail inqusi-
tors make it appear by their own reports.
They aver that sugar Is adulterated with -four,
potatoes and tapioca starch. We have known
such authorizations to be administered to sick
children by order ofphyscians, and they thrivcd
upon them. They declare that coffee and
pepper are adulterated with ground shipbread
Well that cannot be considered so fatal an
adulteration when we find that our seafaring
men go aloft, Gin stormy winds and weather,
and keep hearty and robust on this shipbread.
But 1t is not the object of these Bohemian
inquisitors to improve the quality Of the daily
food Of the people Of our city. Their move
ment is a wholesale and abominable combine
ton to wiring blackmail from grocers and
dealers who do not succumb to their atrocious
demands. They carry on this nefarious cru
sade we repeat, at the expense of the mer-
camille reputation Of our traders. They have