New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-06
THE SALOON POTTER.

Has il ever occurred to the saloon statesmen
that there is a bare possibility OF their over
doing the business of making laws and con-
STRUNG them in the sole interest OF the liquor
dealers? They seem not to be content with
the usual facilities of merchants and trades
men, but require special privileges and advan-
tagcs over their ncighbOrs. No other branch
of trade no profession, calling or occupation
exerts such an influence in politics, none makes
such demands upon parties. The power of the
saloon in this town is pretty nearly absolute.
For Tammany rules the town; and the saloon
controls Tammany to such al extent that there
is not an election district whose centre of po-
litical influence is not in "a saloon hardly ono
in which the Tammany leader is not either
saloonkceper his creature. Saloonkecpcrs
are on our most important municipal commits
sions; they fill the Board Of Aldermen they
become Police Judges and Civil Justices by
sort of natural process. slipping from the bar
TO the bench as Senators and Asscmbymcn
they make our laws and they take 10 them
selves in the administration of the affairs OF
the greatest city on the continent the largest
responsibilities, the most important functions
and the widest scope Of power They are an
organized force within the Tammany organiza-
ton : a wheel within a wheel lis most power
full constituent element. As an organization
they raise large sums of money for election
purposes. and as an organization when election
is over they demand the special favorS they
have paid for. No other organization does
this.
Seven years ago they bought Governor.
They have had him ever since until last Jan
uary, when, having promoted him, they bought
another on his recommendation. With HIM
they had Legislature partly elected by their
money and the rest stolen by thieves IN their
employ. So this year they have been having
things their own way without let or hindrancc.
They have had Saloon Governor, Saloon SEN
ate Saloon Assembly. The acts of this Legs
lature have been such aS might have been cx-
pccted from body of men elected by such IN
flucnces and recognizing such control. The
rocking odors OF the saloon pcrvade them all
The very halls in which they did their dirty
work are foul with the stenches in which the
whskey- plishers and tumblcr rinscrs who did
il were bred and trained. The Excise law IL
a part Of their work. What is it, purpose?
In whose interest was il enacted? What is 10
be its effect? The answer is short and simple
~
tagc; 10 remove every restraint upon the bust
ness of liquor-selling at all hours everywhere
and every day in the week. lis Obvious in
tent is 10 increase the sales Of liquor 10 enlarge
the scope and extend the business OF the ga
loon Az il there were not already sufficient
faciltic, for drinking As If this bust
ness was so bcncfccnt in lis operation that
every induccmcnt should be offered for lis
maintenance and spread, and il should have.
like Death. all seasons. all DAYS. all hours. for
its own
Do these people know anything Of history?
DO they forget that this same Democratic party
which they control TO-DAY lent itself forty years
ago to another institution. against which the
public conscience rcvoltcd, and what happened
from il? Forty years ago the Democratic
party had the same sort Of triumph il has been
having in the last two or three year.. IL
swept the country The slave power thought
it saw lis opportunity then just rs the saloon
power thinks il now secs lis own II became
aggressive, was more arrogant in It's demands
than ever. broke its bonds refused TO rccog
nize it's limitations and undertook 10 spread
itself over the whole country. To the rcmon- |
sirances Of wiser and more sagacious leaders |
the slave power haughtily replied "Thc !
Democratic party is strong enough to do any
thing. 1t controls the coVtry and we control
the party" They went on as though there
was no conscience in the people, and they could
work their own sweet will. with - danger Of |
a day Of reckoning hereafter. They had their
way but the day Of reckoning did come. and !
came speedily. The gods had indeed sent mad |
ness upon those whom they intended to de-
stroy The party went tumblins into disaster
and defeat and dozen years later the savo
power was dead beyond resurrection. Is there
any lesson in this for the new power which
holds the control, chooses the leaders and di- /
reefs the policy Of the Democratic party in this
town and this State and aspircs to complete
power in the Nation?