New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-20
C1G IAV IN THE ASSEMBLY.

few weeks ago the Catholic clcrgymen OF
This CITY. ayailing themselves of one OF the
fundamental rights Of American citizens, joined
in n pctition to the Legislature against the
massage of a bill pending in that body. The
following is a copy of this petition:
To the Honorable tho Legislature OF the state Of
New YORK; We. the undersigned Catholic clergymen OF
the city OF NewYOrk are entirely opposed to the o'ad
,or hin or any other measure legalzng the SAFE OF
liquor after midnight .-,
We consider every such measure a hlghN u'''''o'''
70 the moral and material welfare OF the community
We therefore petition your honorable body 10 T!eo'
my hill permitting the relaxation Of existing laws
When Sneaker Sheehan handed the petition
TO the Clerk Mr.. Fish asked that 1t might DC
read. The Speaker denied the request. MI.
Fish then moved that il be read. The speaker
declined to entertain the motion, ana referred
the pctition to the Excise Committee. Suisse
montly on several occasions Mr.. Fish asked Tor
nnanimous consent 10 present and read the petit
tion But. following the lead set them by
cno,l,or Sboohon the Democratic leader on the
floor and other members OF the majority apphed
the gag-thcy would not suffer the petition 20
be read Then Mr. Fish gave notice that ne
would move to amend the Assembly rules so rs
70 hermit of the reading of petitions OF religious
bodies. But he was met by an objection from
one of Sneaker Shcchans licutenants.
The bare statement OF these facts is well
calculated to excite the Indignation OF every
citizen of this State. no matter what may be
his politics. who believes in fair play ana flce
speech. The Constitution of the United states
nroyideS that Congress shall make no law
abridging the freedom of speech or
the right Of the people to assemble and to pctI-
tion the government for a redress OF glleY-
ances" The Constitution of the state OF New
York provides that "no law shall be passed
abridging the hight of the people pcaceaby 10
assemble and to petition the government or an!
department thereof" These mandates of the
Federal and the State Constitutions grew on
of the instinct OF ircCmen; they lie n Inc
foundation of popular government. Neverthe
loss i'm defiance OF them the Democrats OF the
Assembly with Speaker Sheehan at their head
availcd themselves of an illconSidercd rule Ia
deny the night Of petition 10 hundred or more
clcrrv,ncn who. in the discharge OF what they
believed to be their duty 70 the cause OF GOOD
morals. felt called upon f. LIT up their voices
against the enactment of a measure providing
for tbc extension Of the drink evil. The AN-
semby contains lbs members. and yet TIM
pctition which was addressed to the Legislature
was in reality suppressed. That is to say, II
was carefully kept from all but eleven OF the
members, those composing the Excise TOM
mtteo. Why was this outrage committed
Every person familiar with the course Of event'
at Albany this winter knows why. II was com
mt'ed because Speaker otcchan ana MS a''o
GATES had reason to suspect that the reading Of
the petition would wound the sensitive feelings
of the saIo0nkcepcrS OF the STATE.
Il is to be expected that the RcpublicanS OF
| the Assembly will not Jet the matter rest unit
the rule in question is amended 50 that II caf
no longer teryc the cowardy, un-Amnrican pur-
pose of legislators who say by their actions thai
they diSbccvc in the right OF petition.