New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-31
no THEY UANT THE EARTHf

Do ,vo roollv need more rum? DO we need
-actually need-mOre facilities for obtaining the
stimulants which, by their various titles, from the
mild LAGER TO the more pronounced and hery
Installations which impel men to madness, pass
undor tho generic term of " rum? Arc we so
reDrcssed and suppressed in our natural and
Wholesome desires, in the qualification of our
normal appetitcs and the indulgence of our fixed
habits that we need some looscning of the re-
straints heretofore imposed by law? Is there
under existing law such scarcity OF cOnven-
fences for aSSuaging thirst that we need new
legislative enactments in order that no citizen
may 60 dry?
These are the questions that thrust themselves
upon the attention of thinking men in connec-
ton with the pending excise legislation at Al
bany. Thinking men, we say not the so-called
fanatics of temperance, or total abstinence, or
prohibition, but men who use stlmuantS them
selves. who may Use them to excess at times,
but have intervals at least of lucidity and COM
nonsense; nay, even of the men IN white
aprons behind bars who rinse tumblerS and set
out bottles and who look on, cola, sober, while
tho drinkers got drunk and the tOpers take their
tpplc and todde away. For some Of these do
InlUkUH Vi lu'lI DNH' anu AliS I'N''N"' S"S
gested are those which naturally arise in the
mind of any one who has any intellectual pro-
cesSes whatever
The purpose of the proposed legislation is to
extend the facilities for the sale and consump-
ton of intoxicating liquors. Is it upon careful
consideration a good thing to do? Is it upon
still more careful consideration wise thing for
the manufacturers and dealers in intoxicantS to
urge? Is there any citizen Of this town who
is under existing regulations put-we Will not
say under any undue restraints he put TO any
Inconvenience whatever on any day OF the week
or AZ any time of day or night in obtaining any
thing he may desire in the line Of intoXlcants?
How many blocks are there in this populous
city which do not contain from one 10 4 dozen
places where tho thirsty citizen may indulge his
habit or assuage his aridity? And on any day
of tho week? And at any hour Of the twenty
four?
Is II so necessary that this business OF dis
tributing malt and distilled liquors should be
rolieved from all limitation and restraint? There
are some other trades and occupations in tho
world. None of them are so crowded as this
one of liquor-scllng None of them requires
moro than six days in tho week: mono more than
from ten 70 twelve hours in n day. All the
essential wants Of mankind can be supplied by
tho facilities they furnish within the time limits
named Is the need of stimulants so universal,
so constant so absolute and empowering that
the trade in them should 90 on everywhere and
at all times, untouched even by tho legislation
which regulates the hours Of labor?
More than that The trade is uncommonly
profitable; should we all engage in il? Are
there not enough in it already? There must be
customers but if high premiums, the premiums
Of enormous profits, and constant unrestrained
trade at all hours and through the whole seven
days Of the week are offered, why should not we
all cease TO be customers and become dealers
But they say that under the proposed legislation
thore will be a cessation Of somewhere from
one to thirteen hours in the week Why? Why
anv limit? II 1t DO so desirable to have the
facilities so universal and continuous during the
rcst of the week, why control them nj all? Have
the gentlemen engaged in this business from
winoseller down to diyekeeper, who call them
solves " liquor-dealeS," considered the possible
inv Of their asking too much They are pretty we'll
endowed with power already. They lately had
a Governor Of their ownest own; they have his
successor, who is his "locum tencns'' they have
United States Senator, both branches of the
Legislature, the control Of most Of the cities,
and they own this town absolutely. They are
recognized factor in politics, factor Of enor-
mons power. They can raise more money and
with greater ease than any similar body of men.
Has it ever occurred to them that the patience
o. very patient public may be faxed too much?
Do they want the earth?