New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-07
Rum AND TIE EXCISE BOARQ.

The report of the Democratic members OF
the Excise Board 10 the Mayor is document
illustrative of the depths to which the Influence
of the saloon in politics can carry govern
mental department in the greatest city OF the
Union. 1t is a perfectly candid, shameless
and thoroughgoing expression OF sentiments
which exist only among TIE case-hardcned
lovers of rum and keepers and patrons OF
saloons to whom the Democratic party ever
looks for support The good of the commun-
lty, the experience of mankind, the opinion OF
the sober and intelligent citizens, are each
and all ignored with calm indifference which
really seems the effect of an honest belief Thai
the views advanced are altogether dcfcnslDie
and undoubtedly popular. These Democratic
Commissioners consider the question of intem-
perance wholly from the point of view of the
liquor traffic. They not only sec no ground
for restricting the drink evil; they plainly do
not regard drunkenness as an evil; and their
only concern is to suggest methods Of freeing
the traffic from restraints and permitting II
absolutely free expansion.
No such impudent proposition has for great
many years been brought before any civilized
community. At time when the horrors of
the drink evil arc moving the people every
where to remedial measures when in the most
conservative parts of the country it is felt
more and more necessary to curb and restrict
the traffic in rum; when the real question at
issue has already ceased to relate to inter
ference with the trade. and has resolved itself
into debate between High License and Pro-
hibition when the gravity of the temperance
question is so forcing itself to the front that
lis elevation into a national issue is plainly
but a matter of time the Democratic Excise
Commissioners of Ncw-YoIi1 coolly propose
that all regulation of the drink evil shall be
abandoned, that the entire responsibility OF
tho trade shall be officially recognized, and
every facility accorded for adding to the 5000
saloons which at present manufacture model
Democratic voters by stealing away the brains
of their customers. Certainly it is a sufficiently
audacious position, and one concerning the
character of which it might be thought that
few remarks from Mayor Hewitt would be
timely. lie can hardly feel proud Of his party
friends on the Excise Board He can hardly
believe that their report indicates a clear ap
prehension on their part of their duty to the
people of New-York.
But this extraordinary and altogether shame
full report of the Democratic Excise Commits
sioners must have an interest for the sincere
advocates Of temperance reform who have
Joined the third party not inferior to that OK
perienced by the general public. For the
report shows them what kind of men they are
in effect training with when they vote the third
party ticket. The rum power is bold IN pro-
portion to its strength. Here in New-fork it
has deadly grip upon the Democracy, and
here consequently it is least disposed to COM
| promise or to disguise its real purposes. Evil
IDENTIFY it has full control of the Democratic
Excise Commissioners, and they have been
put under pressure probably to insult every
decent citizen by their brutally frank brief on
behalf of the gn-shops. Now every New-Ycrk
vote cast for third-party candidate Is vote
cast in support of the policy just declared by
| the rum power through its official instruments.
| The issue is evidently going to be sharply and
clearly drawn. On one side will be ranged the
| Republican party, backed by all the moral
clements Of the community, pledged to tenn
| perance reform. On the other side will be
the Democracy, upheld by the rum power.
Will sincere men who desire the extirpation
of the drink evil be found on the side of the
saloons, as all third-par supporters must I'M
questionabiy be- let them pretend what they
,lease? The report of the Democratic men,
bcrs of the Excise Board goes far to clear away
all doubts from the situation. 1t shows above
all that third-partyism here can never be any
thing better than futile tag to the rum vote
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