New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-20
THE SUNDAY LAGER QUESTION:

The periodical assault ia now being made
upon our Metropolitan Excise Law, and espe.
cially its Sunday clause. Some Of our cotem-
poraries are raising false issue in the case.
Let us, then, again call attention to the essen
tal facts. The present law does not restrain
our German or other citizens from any such
harmless recreation on Sunday as they may
choose to take. The ferry-boats and street
cars bear them in crowds to the suburbs. Cen
trail Park opens it's avenues and lawns in Sum-
mer, and its frozen ponds in Winter, on Sum
days as on other days. They may carry their
lager or their Rhine-wines with them, and
drink to their hearts content. But the places
of beer-sellng are closed from midnight OF
Saturday to Monday morning. And why should
they not be7 Why, when all other traffic Is
by law suspended, discriminate in favor of this
alone7 Why leave open the German beer
saloon, IL you close the Irish whisky shopf
ANY indulgence afforded to the one class
must be accorded to the other also. Our
Irish fellow-ctize will submit to no discrimi-
nation in favor of the TeutOnic beverage over
their own. Shall, then, the more than Seven
Thousand liquor shops of this City be thrown
open on Sundayf Shall the rowdyism and
such bad prominence to the first day OF the
week, be thrust back upon us The repeal OF the
Sabbath clause is urged just now on the ground
OF party expediency. 1t is said that the Re-
publican party cannot longer stand under the
odium of responsibility for such legislation.
But there is another side to the question. The
Germans themselves are by no means united
in their opposition to the law. The liquor in.
terest among them, indeed, makes the moss
noise, and would be glad to be considered as
representing the whole German vote. But this
is by no means the case. A year ago, Two
Thousand Germans, including nearly all their
pastors and very many of their most influential
laymen, held mass meeting in Cooper lnsti-
tute to sustain this very provision of the Ex-
else law Similar meetings have been held
in Brooklyn. Give them an opportunity.
and they will be heard from again. Tho
clamor against the Sunday clause comes
less even from the patrons OF the beer-shops
than from their keepers. 1t is not so much
the right to buy rs the right to sell on Sun
day that is so pertinaciously demanded The
Republican party has its strength among
the friends of Law and Order throughout tho
State. It includes a very large proportion OF
the religious and church-going community.
These will be slow to relinquish the protection
which such legislation gives to the quiet and
order of the civil Sabbath. They do not wish
to impose its religious observance on others.
But they do insist on being protected in their
time-honored rights as Christian citizens to I'M
disturbed quiet on their day Of public worship.
1t will prove q mistake to count too far upon
the supineness of this class, or their reluctance
to break away from party ties. A leading jour
nal Of the Methodists in this City, in an
editorial which is quoted with approval BY
The Evangelist, chief organ in this State OF
the Presbyterians, thus appeals to the leaders
of the Republican party:
at may be wise for you TO look well 70 IL whether IN
purchasing the favor OF class by snch acourse you
may not lose much more on the other sue you
and good order you shall betray them 70 eohcit
late their enemies there many or them that woulo
rejoice at your Nor Is thing at all lnpos
si6le that you shall be found Enthusiastically te-
perance party will be organized; In which case your
party rather than your opponents. VIII 20 tne Sns.
loser We are aware that snnAe Of you are Conpan
ms that the cause temperance Is greater Durueu
iban Won can before the people, then IL you think
OF your most reliable supporters Your old men may
remember when IL said that the Wig party could
not carry the odium Of antiSlayery, and accordingly
that the called political heresy vas denounced by
IL now remains TO be seen whether your party viii pc
guilty Of like folly. The friends Of good order may os
sacrificed by you; but let not the late OF 'udAs
DO forgotten"