New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-12
EyCISE EEFOEN 4T ALBANY.

EXCISE EEFOEN At ILBANI.
The Assembly being Democratic. Il is useless
to expect that any measure Objectionable 70 the
rum rover will be passed at Albany during the
present session. The simple statement of this
fact is really a demonstration of the untrlSt-
vortbine,s of the Democracy Of Ncw-York under
the leadership of David Il. Hill. 1t steadily
subordinates the interests of the people, as
whole. to that of n caSs-thc saloon-keeperS.
II steadily dsregards the wishes of the reputable
element of our citizens on the demand OF the dis
reputable element. Is official and political
head is popularity known Is WhiSkcyS Coy
ernor. and every candid person, whatever his
noliticS. will admit that he can read his title
clear to the unSavory alias. But it Is comfort
ing to reflect that if the Assembly, being Demo
cratic, can be depended upon to defeat all the
temperance reform legislation OF the year the
Senate. being Republican, just Is surely can be
dependcd upon TO defeat all the pro-WhSkcy
bills.
The Democrats have majority Of eight in the
Assembly. while the Republicans have a majority
Of siH in the Senate and since the entire mem
bership of the senate is thrtytwo, while
that of the Assembly is 12S. the Repub
lcan Senatorial majority is proportlonat"ly
greater than the Democratic Assembly majority.
Nevertheless the liquor lobby seems to be con-
fidcnt that il is going TO secure from TINS Legs
laturc'the passage of a number OF bills designed
10 cripple the excise laws. TIE TRIBUNE has
already given an abstract Of the CHIEF 0i these
perncious measures One OF them aims To rem
der il practically impossible to detect those VINO
violate the law prohibiting the sale OF liquor
during certain hours. Another of the unNhoic-
some batch would seriously curtal the opera
,ions Of the Sunday law; while n third would dc
nrivc thc Civil Damage act Of much oi H.
nrcscnt efficiency. In the circumstances a grave
responsibility to the general pubIlc ana 70 inc
Republican party rests upon the nineteen Nc
nnblican Senators and upon the sixty Eepub
Icau Asscmbymcn. They must present solid
front 70 the liouor lobby, rcSoutc'y resisting
each and every attempt To amend tle cAcl>e
laws in the interests of the saloons. ne he
nuhljcan Senators have only 10 stand tDScther 20
foil this desperate lobby AT all points Inc dn'S
which rests upon the Republican ASS'mbl!Heh
i scarcely less important. \ change OF iour
votes would tic their branch OF the Legislature,
and il they make an earnest and persistent fight
II Is hlIrlN INiNNlfl' Alii ~ i'N' '''' WV
,ixtv-cisht Democrat, ma be independent ana
public spirited enough TO stand with them TO
resist the cncroachmcntS OF the inNauahl" rum
mower. At all events these Republican As
somblvmon owe il 70 themselves, 10 their con
stit,cntS and 10 the great party whose commiS-
sion they bear and 10 whose principles they ~"
committed TO use no. only their votes. hut ihclr
influence IN opposition 20 all the measures III
question
There was lately printed in those columns a
circuldr-lcttcr addressed by the organized ad-
yo6atc, Of high-HccnSc to the Church Temper
ancc Society. the society FOR the Prevention 't
Crime and the Citizens, Committee on HlEh
License. This lc't"r proved conc'u>ivrN ma
the Temperance leformcr> OF this state. the cool
headed. practical temperance rcformciN purpose
70 proceed with their work aS aggreSsivcIy ~
heretofore. undoterled by the stumbling block III
a Democratic Assembly. That they apprccia'"
the gravity of The situation which "Iniron'N them
and are equal to the emergency appears from
the following paragraph of this letter
II i, Of the hr-t Importance that the great adva"'"
which Ia, been accomplished with 80 much dh'uii'
>hond he firmly assured and made abe basis Of further
,,ror-s Iut II f., Of scarcely l"- importanr" mat
steps should bc taken 10 defend the existing excise ''-
tenn which, Inadequate a. 10 i-, l- nrV"'t''-- h' ~
,ridvc than the Liquor dca~r~ are "Iili'' 10 accept
Fmbohcncd by the recent elect ,u- i'' mean % '''"
down an ~ ,trants now upon them. the "'''uNcl'-'
Of their organization Ia, steadily ana i'PuH '"
creased Their Central Association ha, been extended
,tI 3, nav cycr tle entire STAT" and ludc- nearly
II NOT mite all the v'.olr-ac and retail liquor dealer
Those opposed e. their domination mn-i either sur
render or organize for mJr. comprehensive ana '!e'
tive effort fIr scf protection and REFORM
The HtDuLllcan> oi the Legislature VIII
heartily .,ol>c all This The chances are that
they will not be able 10 advance the cause oi
practical temperance reform this session. Bu'
they can AZ least SEQ To- il that no step backward
is taken. And if they do that mach they viii
earn the gratitude Of all who care more for the
homes of New-YorIi than for it~ saloons, more
for is taxpayers than for - taycatcr'.