Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-03-11
Sale Of Liquor OH Sundays.

The Temperance people of Philadelphia have
WOO, through the law, decided victory over
tie averu-keepers Of thas city who have been
in the habit of keeping open their establish
ments, and of selling liquor quite as freely ou
Sunday as on any other day of the week. The
INTERPRETATION of the law heretofore has been
that, in order to obtain CONVICTION, 1t was ne
cesSary to prove the actual sale Of the liquor
its drlukiug and the precise kind Of liquor
drank \ committee of clcrgymcu appealed to
the Judges of the Court Of CommDu Pleas for
their Interpretation Of the law, and the Court,
all three Judges agreeing. decided that The OF
fence could be proved by Just the same KIND OF
evidence that would warrant couvlctlou ol
any other crime. 1t nay be positive, as when
witness secs liquor sod or drank Or II may b"
circuustautlal, as where the proof is that liquor
was haudrd IN a tavern, or other public place,
by the keepr, or bis agent servant, to one
or more ptrst.nS lust as W ula lie donn upnu IL
week day, upon all Ordinary sale OF liquor at il
bar or counter, or table whore II is usually
sod. Neither need the proof be po>l.lv' NAT
the article sold was wiue, split, or ma: i qn'r;
to prove that the place is u tavern or lnn Il hH-
tel, wine or beer or other public house, and
that it had the usual appointments aud sur
ruuudlDgS OF a p ace where liquors are sold,
such as bottles containing liquids resembling
spirltuous or malt liquors, wine or cider; that
the conteuts Of such bottles were sold or bar
tered, or even allowed to bc drunk on the prem
i>es on Sunday, would BE- quite sufficient to
warrant a conviction. Judge Allison, 10 giving
the decision OF the Conrt, also ln!lnIatcd hat
the temperance people had been IN fault in not
having the law enforced. He said:
81 desire to arrest ihr attention, IN this con-
otn l,n * hI,., hnn
50 Justly complaining Of the open viulatian of
the law 10 this respect. By citizens mean all
classes, ciergynen as well Us laymcn. No one
of them VINO has walked along the streets of
our city ON Sunday but has, or could have Wiz
messed the open aul defiant violation of law by
persons engaged in the sale Of liquor by mere
ly looking IN at the open doors OF taVeIns or
beer houses, or stepping inside for ninute on
an Sabbath day, bur especially IN the evening
OF such days, attracted by the noise CT many
voices, or by the glare OF the light by winch
these places arc lighted up, but could have OBJ
taiued the Information requisite tur the lrstl-
tuition Of prosecution. Each one may ak
himself what is his share of responsibility IN
this matter? To wink at the commission OF a
crime is to become partakcr IN the guilt OF
the criminal. 1t is an easy thing 10 compl lain
and denouucc, aud it may be hard aud unpeas.
ant to perform duty; but the obligation OF duty
remains nevertheless, and no one eau neglect
or refuse to perform it, and, with truth, say
that he is wholly uno:ent. The sacred bliga-
tions of good citizenship rest upon each mem
Der of the community, aud no one would or
ought to try to excuse himself from bringing
thief or murderer to punishment, why should
he not do the same duty as to one person, or
class of persons, who, every Sunday ip the year
violate penal statute of the Commonwealth :
The decision of the Court was followed by
proclamation from the Mayor directing the po-
lice officers to strictly enforce the law aud IN
form on all Offenders. The result, the papers
say, was that not drinipg saloon coud lie
found open on Sunday last; there was very t-
tie side alley or back door business, and the
city, even in IT'S usually disorderIy quarters, was
quiet and peaceful.