St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-05-04
q enIprrdTrr.
Rum Rule in New York.

The people of New York city are
long -suttcring. The greatest city in
the western world, which ought to he
Il model of municipal government, Is
wrrtchcdly misgovcrned. The center
of commerce, wealth. culture, and ben
cticencc. it is helpless in the hands of
"A set of rulers whose ignorance Is the
least of their disabilities. In London,
Il place in the city council Is "A place of
honor. i'm New York, it is "a place of
diShonor, and men obtain it who would
more appropriately serve the city on
Black wells island than in the city hall.
With all its churches. its intelligence,
its social refinement. its busy and ben
cticcnt wealth. New York is governed
10y the rum power, and 10y the rum
power it is bound hand and foot. The
rum business is the one branch of trade
which is not only not bcneticent, but
is fairly entitled to rank the slave trade
~ the sum and source of all its villain
les. And vet the rum business is reg
ulated. OF Is presumed to be regulated,
by law and law-abiding citizens must
not interfere with the legal rights of
those licensed to carry it on. The
SLAYER. Gradually these rights were
restricted, and then withdrawn alto
gcther. and now he is "a criminal. hunt
ed everywhere and by all nations on
the high seas. We hope and believe
the time will come when rum dealers
will Ice 50 hunted; but meantime we
must restrict, all we can, their rulnOus
business. 1t is both disgraceful and
disastrous to our city to he under the
control of men whose business is as eff
fcctually destroying the liberty of hu
man beings rs that of the slaverS. Such
men are dangerous, and should rather
be under the control of the city than in
control of it.
We have excise laws in this city, en-
acted for the safety and well-being of
our citizens. 1t is of the first impOr
lance that these laws should he as
strictly administered as are those con-
corning crimes. Men who deal i'll the
ncccSSarics of life. men who serve the
great interests of legitimate commerce
and society, can be trusted to respect
the laws and the rights of society, and
close their places of business on Sun
daN but the rum-scllcr, whose meT-
chaudis, is ruinOus and only ruinOus,
six DAYS in the week. has no sense of
honor which bids him close his saloon
on sunday. You cannot deal with him
rs "a man of honor. You must compel
him to observe the law which other
lines of trade observe voluntarily. If
YOU threaten him. he will break the
law secretly.
In view of these facts, excise laws
Il.
curious paradox of keeping disreput-
able dealers. as far as possible, ont of
the business our excise commission
cr> have no right to issue licenses for
the sale of liquor in houses of il!-tame.
They have a certain discretion in re-
luSug To grant licenses. If they were
independents, efficient, and conscien-
tious officers. they could greatly reduce
the number and improve the average
character of the dram-ShopS in our
city. But they are creatures of the
board of aldermen by whom they are
confirmed, and thirteen of the board of
aldermen. Il clear majority, are direct
~ Interested in the liquor business,
and all the rest but two. il is believed,
are directly Interested in it. No rca-
Souahlc man can expect the board of
aldermen To confirm aS excise commits
sioucrs those who would execute the
laws rigidly. The same thing is true,
to certain extent. of the police com
mi>>ioncrS. Everything depends on
the vigilance and activity of the po-
lice. The most approved excise laws
would hc of no effect unless the police
would vigorously enforce them. Every
body knows that they have been
NhamctullN inactive. even under the
present inadequate laws. Saloons most
fagrantly violate the sunday law.
They violate constantly the law against
selling To- children, and most of them
do il with IMMUNITY. In response to
repeated and urgent complaints. the
police have arrested no less than thr-
tl-tour times one of the most notorious
of these laW-brcakcrS convey &c
oghcgau and Gcoghcgan appears be
fore the police Justice and asks, as
New Nork'> old chief did some years
ago, Nv hat are you going to do about
it 30 II will hold you in 500 bail, ."
said the Justice. Just what expect
ed. returned the unalarmed offender
The Justice has little discretion in this
matter. lie must admit to bail But
the next step ought to Ice taken 10y the
district attorney. Heretofore the great
majority of these eases have been pig
cou-holrd in his office, 50 that. practi-
callN, men could violate the license
laws with IMMUNITY.
The laws are inadequate in some
particulars. Why have we not better
ones Because the rum power fills the
seats of the New York and Brooklyn
representatives in the legislature.
Why are the present laws not eXecut-
ed Because the rum power elects the
aldermen who confirm the excise and
police commissioners. Who rules the
city The rum power.
How much longer will the people