, 1872-10-28
THE suNDAY.DRINKIEG QUESTION.

70 the Editor Of Tie Chicago Tribune:
S1n: 4 word, if you please, in defence OF the
much-abused drinking community. For myself,
I do not care fig whether any liquor is sold on
Sunday or not, or in fact, on any da3 in the year
at all; but do caro- to sec question involving
the tastes, habits and predictions OF by far the
ereater portion OF those who spend their Sundays
out-of-doors, treated fairly and justly; and do
not consider that it is fair and just for instance,
to include Turner Halls, and German beer
saloons, or frst-class, respectfully located bar
rooms, in the same category Of Misunderstanding
pests as the lows dens md groggeries. Anybody
Gun pass BY Turner Han On Sunday, when the
audience iscoming out, orby arespoctahle saloon,
ouent such plsces arc neither Of the ciass who
amuse themselves in that way, nor OF that which
produces our cut-throats; and tho mea who
manage such concarnB ere abunda2tly able and
about their premises. As to whisley being the
cause OF all our troubles, that is true only in
part. Actual observation on West Madison
street will convince any one that there are
class Of men, or roughs. rather, TINT Will insult
women, With or without ThlsAey; and it is . en-.
tnsy lars DO in the Sfa habt are Of png hs9 sd9
t.ada under the influence Of whlskey. fal to
see any Justice in furnishing our lnoifens1Ve
necessity, or the respectable portion Of the
American community, who are IN the habit OF
indulging moderately On Sundays, because
rufhan killed an officer On one occasion in grog-
gerry AT least that incident appears to be the
foxt for all the present outcry.
It would be amusing, il it didn't tax ones
patience, to observe the efforts Of tile pro-
fquor-law party to cook up facts and evidence
for their readers, and suppress anything that
conflicts with their versions or their views
their aim, of course, being to influence the pub
lie mind, az far as possible, to their way Of think
ing. That the end justities the means, seotns to
be their doctrine. Tho Sons Of Temperance, at
at their meeting on last Tuesday, stated in one
Of their resolutions, that, son the two Sab
baths on which the saloons have been to great
extent closed, tile number Of arrests decreased
more than so per cont" It will be news to their
readers to learn thGt there was general closing,
or even partial closing, Of saloons On tho Sun.
day before last; indeed, I did not observe that
any had closed. II, then, the decrease OF ar
rests on that occasion be true, it must detract
good deal from the glory OF tho Temperance
last Sunday, tho. police had thor lands
more than full with watching the saloons,
md they could not possibly have made oven
the usual number Of arrests, il they had tried to-
mcn to be seen on the streets last Sunday night
thnn usual. Will the newspapers please to des-
scribe tho scenes on the Sunnyside Road last
Sunday? If they will, the Temperance party
| will have little loft to boa6G oil.
A member Of that party, signing his production
"Law and Order, wrote a letter the other day
| to city journal, in which he remarked that he
| "alwnys bought the Monday morning paper, for
the purpose Of knowing where th1 us@a! sunday
murder had been committed" That mans
ta tastes cesov IN the svon "aY less aslaa
than tia tue tact tkat ho should publish his misfor
tune He winds up with -, the as! asau.np, 2 !;
ton that "Iho people VIII p 20 +R sessled tIs LED
HAN n.ala % strict enforcement OF The law, The
people" is an extensive phrase, and yet he uses
# very freely, quito reek1essly. But, seriously,
will any one competent to form an opinion oblge
siiored fair estimate Of the proportion between
tro people who honestly object to the sale OF
liquor oil Sunday, OF who are likely to be annoy
cd By it, Oh the one hand; and on the other, those
but aro not annoyed By it, or don't care oonti,,
mental whether liquor is sold or not q :..
! For my part, I fancy have ag good opportu-
mites gu most people of judging what tho feel
ing ig in private circles OF society, and have
found no particular snslety manifested On tho
crime itself, and the performance Of their d11-
! ty by courts and constables naturally excite a
deep interest in tho community. The fact il,
! the failure OF the authorities to arrest and pun
ISL criminals is to be anlothered up and project
cd from Public indignation BY digerting the lat,
ter in anotler dtrectiap; and t.le Innocent must
beer tho prunt Of tho punisl llmont.
Tho true and only remedy, Il. suppression toi
crime is the only object OF the llquor-law party,
seems to me plain and simple enough. Repeal
this absurd law have . police force strong
enough to control the city concentrate them,
on Saturday nights and Sundays, in streets and
districta where rYfdanism is rampant, WithdrsY.
ing them entirely from tsspeet1tl9 strtats,' Ii
neeese&1y; arrest every drufkard, nuisance,
and criminal promptly; punish them promptly
and with The bxtreneat 1lger Of the law have
abolish the supa;rseaeas businebs. Finally, TO-
Yoke the heonse Of every BALLOON that cfeates 3
disturbance, and punish tae propt1etors. p.
CHICAGO, Oct, a, '1a72.