New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-01-22
----7-- r.
rIoUOR IN ILLINOIS.


We learn with satisfaction that the act lately
;s;.ssed by the Legislature Of Illinois regu-
iatIns the sale Of Alcoholic Liquors was fgs,
tanned by a 51..4ided majority of each political
party. It passed the Senate by SO to 4, ada
the House by 100 to 43-ofly Democratic
Senators and s (out of 8D Democratic repre-
sentatives voting Nay. The chicago 1r'oa"e
thus explains and defends the measure:
"For once, at least common sense has entered INTO
legislative reform measures, and some Kho"Ieuso VI
human nature and the workings OF mems INDUS na'
boon displayed both the framing and enactng OF inc
bill, so that 1t stands in practical reatons W "a'
all men regard as inherent right and Its operaton'
when 1t becomes law, will BIO strictly In accordance
with the operations Of that right 1t Is thoroughly
In accord with democratic principles and IN sym
pathy with that ntuitive feeling IN every mans breast
that no has the right to BIO master OF bmse ana us own
actions. II Acknowledges that has the rieht 70 eoi
liquor and that has the right to drink it, Dut hoids
them responsible for the OF that right and estops
both A and B from the abuse OF 1t. The Temperance
enthusiasts hitherto have said: You shall neither
drink nor sell whisky and in saying TINS
have Immediately encountered an insurmountaoic
difficulty in the shape Of the inherent con'lction
In tho minds Of most men, that they nave JuS' 10
much abstract right to drink whisky the Temperance
man has to drink water II allows tho use but IL rorDid'
the abuse gives the damages to the parties VINO are
damaged 1t does away with tho expensive and obnox-
ious machinery Of the Maine law-the constaDuary'
special police, spies, and detectives, who were
necessary to. but had no interest IN, us en-
forcement further than earning ther salarieS'
and were ready to valve that interest III
any time for pecuniary consideraton-and brings an
interested prosecutor Court in the person OF the
wife or other party damaged by the saoonkeeper
the guardian who sees his minor charge going to destruc
ton and the widow who has lost her protector by reason
Of the keeper OF the dram-shop and his abuse
OF his right. 1t thus becomes selfenforciDg unln-
numbered by costly and inefficient machinery, ana war
ranted to work when applied FIT does not worK, Is
simply the only ones who are Interested In us
enforcement do not wish it to work Besides this pecu
larty Of sefenforcemen 1t will enlist the assistance OF
very considerable class OF saOonkeepers themselves
in carrying out its provisions. The moro respect
able and decentE class will be In favor or IL;
and thus its operation will affect the lower
resorts, where all sorts OF POISONOUS COM
pounds are dealt where the bagnio Ia almost always as
ISOLATED with the and where thieves, harlots ana a
classes Of dsreputabe characters, nightly associate 1t
will drive these characters away, and will prevent
landlords from leasing their premises to such' ana
thus have the tendency to reduce the NUMBER Vi
saloons 1t should be remembered that the Illinois
law is even stringent than the ono law upon
which 1t Is based and that under the operation Oh the
latter law conviction and punishment have never yet
failed TO follow the institution of suit We may there
fore reasonably infer that its tendency In this city VIII
be to reduce materially the number of saloons, now
amounting to nearly and that its benefits in coun
try towns where there but or two saloons VIII
be incacuable."
Again we urge the Temperance men OF Hi
nos to do their utmost toward sustaining and
enforcing this act. They doubtless prefer alb
solute Prohibition but should they, OH that
account, take the sulks now, they will need
friends when their turn shall come, il it ever
does come. Help enforce this law, and then,
if it proves failure, you may fairly ask your
neighbors to help enact and sustain better
one.