The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-06

MAJOR GRANT takes substantially the same
ground rs TO Sunday liquor selling which
was occupied by Mayor HEWITT and was
assumed also by the Grand Jury IN its pre-
sent mint on the subject last spring. In
his spcecl, before the Liquor Dealers Assoc
citation ins, Tuesday ho pointed out that the
present Sunday Excise law is opposed by
public sentiment and cannot DO enforced by
the police. llo therefore favored the pas
sage of n measure to permit the sale OF
liquor on certain hours Of that day.
That would be- sensible temperance
measure and ns it could be enforced and
would command tho popular respect, the
contempt for law generated by tho present
imprac.icablc measure would be prevented,
and the general moral gain would therefore
be great. Tho dealers themselves would
unto with tho authorities In compelling
obedience to it. tho polico would be
saved from the temptations to corruption
OF which the existing law Is 50 fruitful. and
the sense OF justice among the people would
DC outraged no longer by the discrimination
which forbds liquor selling In ono place
and allows it in another.
Practically. the question Ia whether Sum
day liquor selling shall! DO regulated by law
or whether 1t shall 70 on without legal regu-
latlon. and subject only to police intlmida-
ton ami rXt1rtior. UnQuestionably tho
dealers would rather be governed by law
than by the caprice and cupidity Of the
police. They would prefer to obtain tho
protection ol the law by rendering strict
obedience to lis provisions as to limited
number of hours for opening than to buy
the silence Of the police rs to their present
illegal opening at all hours.
AS it's now. the bars are open on Sunday In
spite OF the Excise law. and 50 it has been
for many years past. except at brief inter-
walls, when the authorities tried to enforce
their closing and exhausted themselves in
the attempt 80 thoroughly that they aban-
doned tho effort Mayor GRANT, Mayor
HEWITT, and tho Grand Jury advise that the
business shall be regulated hereafter with
due regard to the character Of the day. They
are the friends OF temperance; the advo-
Gates OF the present law are its enemies.
They are the friends Of law: the others are
Its enemies. But they have on their side
the great majority OF the citizens OF New
York, temperate drinkers on all days OF the
week and DESTROYS Of maintaining law, Or
der, and temperance at all times and under
all circumstances.
this resolution:
Reso'ped That 10 the Of this convention that
character and conduct exhibited In the practical
management OF the liquor business and dstsrmusd By
proof In court furnish the only just basis for Licensing
Therein they agree with the Rev. DR..
BACON, a foremost advocate Of temperance.
He opposes high license because it favors
the large dealer without regard to character,
when character and not the amount OF
money paid ought to preponderatc. II high
license were proposed as a revenue measure
only, it might be defended with some reason,
says DR.. BACON, but as temperance meas
ure he declares that 1t is unjustlflable and
absurd, since 1t rewards the dealer who sells
much, and therefore does the moro injury,
and drives out tho dealer who sells
little, and hence makes few drunk
ards. License for revenue no holds
to be immoral, the State making gain out
OF the business, which he regards rs opposed
to the public welfare. Hence. II he gave Ii
oenses at all, and without prohibition they
nre necessary il the traffic is to he regulated
In any measure, he would grant them for
nominal pecuniary fec and make his exac-
tions ut the dealer tho s;rlctest moral re-
luiremcnts. Not what amount OF money
the saloons pay for the privilege OF selling
liquor, but tho character Of the men who
keep them. must receive the first considera-
ton. That is substantially tho ground taken
by tho liquor dealers themselves, and 1t is
unquestionably logical.