New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-29
TIE SCHOOLS AND THE SALOONS.


Not infrequently "The Evening Post" takes
ND the task of exposing and redresslng some
outrageous abuse under our local government,
reporting the facts with care and completeness
and discussing them edtonally with vigor and
intellioence. In this work our contemporary
deserves the support of all good citizens. 1t has
recently devoted much space to showing in de-
tail how the public schools are compelled TO
promote the manufacture OF drunkards. The
revelation is shocking, and that is conclusive
proof of its necessity. We heartily commend
"The Posts, determination to make the odous
truth known.
The rule supposed to govern the Excise Board
forbds the licensing of hquor-saloon in the
immediate vicinity of public school. This reg
nlation resembles countless statutory phrases in
yagueness. While it remains to be appealed to-
iuggIed with and laughed at the saloons retain
great advantage. DR.. Huntington, Of Grace
Church, in a letter to 1.-THE Evening Post"
forcibly suggests that one of the first things to
be done is to secure an adjudication upon the
meaning of the words" since "until we know
with something like precision what amount OF
area the law really secures for decency, we can
scarcely expect to accomplish definite results"
1t has long been obvious that no appeal to the
moral sense of the Excise Commissioners will
avail for the reason that, as Board, they are
without moral sense on this subject. They were
put in office and are retained in Office because
two out of the three can be trusted to administer
the law in the interest of the saloons, which is
the interest of Tammany Hall. That is an asser-
ton which admits of no argument, and it is
sufficient merely to mention the fact as con-
trolling element in the situation. In all parts
of the city the intent of the restriction is con-
tinuously, shameessly and defantly violated and
defeated Tens of thousands OF children are
daily forced into contact with the vilest grog-
geries and the creatures that haunt them. They
have no means of escaping the contamination.
Saloons on both sides of the schoolholse, saloons
on the nearest corners, saloons across the street
press demoralizing sights upon their eyes and
demoralzing sounds into their ears. Familiarity
with vice and degradation is inevitable, and it
is a short and almost certain step from familiar
ity to companionship. The poison of such an
atmosphere is absorbed into body and soul. What
chance has child against it,? Citizens are oner-
ously taxed that their children may laboriolsly
learn few things out of books and draw in
moral infection with every breath.
This horrible state of affairs exists because
Tammany cannot exist without it. The Mayor
and his advisers know the fact and the reason
perfectly. Commissioner Koch, whose character
was clearly revealed when he went into court
to plead to an Indictment and Commissioner
Fitzpatrick, who escaped with him at the same
time on technicality are doing the work they
we're appointed TO do in the way in which they
are instructed to do it. Commissioner Meakim
is entitled to the credit Of being obnoxious to
his colleagues and in some danger of losing his
place. But the majority of two is sufficient.
And there is no popular agitation. Tammany
goes unrebuked, reelects its candidates, tightens
its grip, expands its ambitions, and illustrates
its depravity by an occasional cheap pretence OF
virtue. while sedulously implanting the seeds
of vice in the rising generation. The harvest
will be gathered in due time; and what har-
yest II will be!