New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-04
THE pRIyJLEGE or SANCTUARY.

III the opinion OF GftSlucHt NoCi, vi inc
Board of Excise, is correct-and he certainly
ought to be an authority on the subject-thc tx
else bill lately signed by Governor Flower
establishes the ancient right Of asylum or priv
ilcge OF sanctuary for one day in the week in
every licensed liquor-store or saloon Tho
new law contains a provision which President
Koch thinks will be construed to prevent police
officers in or out of uniform entering liquor
saloons at any time when the saloon may not
lawfully he open and in operation under its
license Ii is section 3S, and is the first clause
of the spy section of the bill. the penal clause
of which was stricken out by amendment.
Section 80 now reads as follows
Every officer authorized TO make arrests on crm!-
nal process In any city or town in which any licensed
premises are situated may enter upon said liccnscd
Is,mse. While the same permitted to De kept open
for carrying on the licensed business therein.
Under the provisions of that law" Mr..
Koch is reported as saying, ." don't believe
that any police officer has right to enter
saloon on Sunday or at other prohibited times.
and his doing so | think would be held mis-
dcmcanor." On Sunday. accordingly. or AT any
other time when the licensed premises are pro-
hibited by law from being kept open for bust
ness they furnish a'safc asylum for any person
whose misfortune il is to be " wanted by the
police Under this construction OF the law
that large and deserving class OF industrious
toilers who WELD the bludgcon or work the
jimmy" and who when not " doing time or
voting the Democratic ticket are prosecuted
by an unfecling constabulary, will have
breathing spell Of one day in seven which they
can spend in congcnial company undisturbcd
by the minions OF the law. To all these from
the safebrealicr t. the cutpurse, from the
bunco stcercr 10 the purloincr of election re-
turrs. the new law is blessed boon. From
the time Saturday night when this bcnefccnt
law requires all licensed saloons 10 put up their
front shutters and do business at their side
doors until the early Monday morning hour
when they are permitted 10 reopen az the front
and resume their public functions. the person
of the fugitive from justice and the offender
against law is safe under the acgis Of the new
enactment and the license Of the Excise Com
mission from the prying eye of the detective
and The heavy hand of the police. Here Thomas
O'Blicn and Isaac II. Maynard, both now n;
large by grace Of Democratic leaders, may find
sanctuary one blessed day in seven.
1t is the rc-establishmcnt Of tho privilege
which under the Mosaic dispcnsaiion found ey
preston in the " cities of refuge" and which
under certain limitations was recognized in
Scottish and English law until the fifteenth or
sixteenth century. The Church being prac-
ticaly the ruling power and the universal ar
bitter was authorized Ia grant immunity To any
one who sheltered himself in the sanctuary.
The privilege of asylum was sign Of is power
and recognition Of It's authority. The new EX
else law, under the construction OF President
Koch cxempiiics the princp pie and restores
ne privilege Church and state have been dis !
joined The Church is not now supreme. 1t
no longer offers immunity from arrest TO those
who seek It's affairs. In the development Of a
Tammany civilization the saloon has taken the |
place of the Church. What could be more fit
ting then than the rc-enactment OF the privilege
of sanctuary with the substitution Of the saloon
for the Church and the bar for the altar?
So another is added to the Innumcrablc bcnc |
fits which the saloon as All institution has con- |
fcrrcd upon mankind. il has been for many |
years the training school Of statesmen. II has |
graduated line Of Aldermen the like Of which |
could be produced by no other agency. 1t
keeps police force busy that might otherwise
rust in idIcncss. 1t furnishes the bench with /
some of its most remarkable ornaments. II |
not only sets up the machinery of the courts,
but supplies the material 10 keep il running.
1t educates beth the lawmakers and the law
breakers. and 50 promotes ceaseless activity.
a nd now, having elected Governor and " con-
veyed' a Legislature, il has signaizcd its cs-
tablishmcnt in absolute control by cnacting for
itself the right of asylum and the privilege Of
sanctuary. Great is the saloon, great the new
Excise law, and still greater the Excise Com
mission in which resides the power to grant
the licenses which contain the privilege of