The New York herald., 1876-07-15
THE EXCISE LAW.

APPOINTED BY THE COOPER INSTITUTE MASS
MEETING.
The follow ing letter Is copy Of that has been
prepared by the Committee Agitation appointed by
the indignant opponents Of the Excise law enforce
ment:-
To tho Hon WILLIAM II. wIcKHAx, Mayor of the city
OF New York
DEAR sIn-Ths undersigned on behalf of the Com
mittee on Agitation appointed by the mass meeting Of
citizens recently held the Cooper Institute tho
purpose OF protesting against the despotic arbi-
uary enforcement OF the Sunday laws by the police
th0rites, respectfully represent tollows When,
after vigorous and earnest popular agitation OF sew
era years duration, the Metropolitan Excise law Of
1866 superseded by the statute Of 1870 il gen
orally supposed that compromise had been effected,
under which the public peace and order could DO GU
forced Sunday without obnoxious INVASION of pri-
vae rights and an oppressive curtalmcnt of popular
liberty The police authorities OF this city were bv the
passage OF that act deprived OF good deal Of power
which had previously been exercised IN arbitrary
way and the OF which had made the Mcropol-
tan Excise law odious in the eyes OF the people, and
the words ale and beer, which had been in the Sun
day OF tie Metropolitan Excise law were omit
ted from the sunday clause of the new These and
other CONCESSIONS that could be pointed
IN Difference to the views OF who had argued and
shown before the Legislature that It had become the
policy OF every enlightened government to wean its
people from Its habtual OF strong and intoxicating
liquors by encouraging ths substitution OF mild and
nutritious OVERWHELMINGLY, beer; and that by the
pursuit OF this policy, conjunction with the gradual
education of the masses, the OF true tempe
could be more cnectually promoted than by the pas
popular opposition During the first FIVE years Of it's
existence this act OF $50 enforced the spirit
which had led to Its enactment and public peace and
order maintained under It without subjectng
zens to unnecessary hardships.
But the present Comm mssioners OF Police who were
appointed by did not remain contented with this
general result Blinded by newly born official zeal,
they suddenly set to work not only the very
letter OF the statute but to stretch their
II TO their utmost possible cxtcnt-nay even more to
provoke alleged violations OF the statute construed
by them IN violation Of decisions made by the courts
on N tha hntn
enabled TO enforce II vigorously Arrests and incar-
ceratons OF citizens of undoubted rcspectabty and
wealth took place Tor the sole purpose OF securing
their attendance before d committing magistrate.
Many of these arrests only made IN u clearly
vindctve and prosecuting spirit but were held by the
courts to have been made without any justincation
whatever No absolute monarch OF Europe would
have dared to cause them to be made IN the
and unjustiiabe manner. IL was monstrous pcrver-
sion OF power. for the power 10 criminal onend
ers likely TO escape without warrant by the law
Intended to he exercised upon respectable cit-
zens who are at all times ready willing appear
simple notice.
Finding their course IN this respect condemned not
only by their victims, but by the OF honest
citizens of this great city, the police authorities de-
sisted from general enforcement OF the statute and
thercupon attempted sort OF discrminavc enforce
ment Tor the sake OF Keeping mp appearances IN GER
tam quarters. But their dscrim is now directed
against the places reqnencd by the poorer classes
their families and IN which principally beer is sold,
and In favor OF tue places rcqucnted bv the wealthy
men or controlled by persons OF political influence,
where choice wines and liquors can be obtained any
quantity One illustration to this effect viii suffice
For the last Two sundays not only beer but chuc-
and liquors openly and IN tue presence
of the police. sold at t morcs Garden while The A.
antic Garden located on the Bowcry ahighly respect
able place though resort OF The poorer classes
virtually taken possession OF by large number Of
policemen who stationed inside OF said premises
by the orders OF their Kuperiors the purpose
stantly supprcssng any attempt that might be made
to sell lager beer who even went
far 10 snatch glasses from the lips guests Ior
the purpose OF asceraning the Kind of beverages
tanned therein And this was done In the face Of
crai uccsions the courts that lager beer
deemed an intoxicating liquor or wine, unless per-
chance, should be brcwcd strong as TO assume tho
charscterscs oi that class beverages IN which case
the exceptional fact has 10 be established by compe-
tent legal evidence
name OF tho great mass OF it's honest citizens. the
name OF justice ana air play appeal to you against
such an arbitrary and uDJustabe adm ration OF
the law, which brings AL law Into contempt Do not
make the mistake 10 suppose that tins is "a question
which touches simply tue men concerned the sale
Of iguor or beer IL touches the the people
oi this great cosmopolitan city. who constitute The
source from which all power springs this country
and the places that most ntercrcd with constitute
their parors, in which they and thor ianillcs seek
refuge and relief from overcrowded and overnea,cd
tcnemenIs
The caim made by the Police Comm ssioners tha, Il
their duty 10 enforce their law is but pretence IT.
In dcercnce 10 the dark aud intocrsn spirit OF pur
tanism the statute IN question Is to he enforced not
only to It's very letter but even SO FAR beyond II as IL
caD be stretched by IMAGINATION, all .thcr upon
the same subject, which still remain In force, should
be enforce d IA the same manner The ment TINS is
attempted To be done " Will be found be thvduty
the police to stop only the sale OF all articles with
exception, alter O'Clock In the morning but
all worldly business aud all travelling la that con-
tngcncy the salc OF soda water milk lust as
illegal the sale OF beer liquor and the Of
railroads and steamboats, eGectually stopped
the qu,et OF liquor behind closed doors
shutters In that contingency the question viii
have to be answered why concerts, gwen In Gil
morc's Garden not only connved at but protected
by the police Surely the noise made by 100
intcrferes with the quctncss OF Sunday either as
day Of rest day OF rciirouS worship. far than
the quiet and unobscrved consumption OF refreshments
behind the closed doors and shutters OF ncighboring
saloon
II, as the head OF this great uncipslity, who by
law charged with the duty OF supervising workins
o the different departments OF the city of New York
you prepared to provoke this issue, so let II
not we hope and trust that you will take the necessary
steps to secure TO the population OF this great
pol Tan city, without distinction Of party, creed or
nationality, at least uniform ana impartial enforce
ment OF the police laws, an enforcement which "
'ounced on wisdom aud experience which does not DIS
crimna,e between the rich and the poor and which
spccts the lifelong customs habits and OF
every class OF The population long they
frnge updn The public peace and order which due
sunday AZ civh Institution this country Very
spcctiuIly yours
SsSSS SsSsy GSSs;SISs%SH, Ss; i SSsA Committee
july Il, ls,6