New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-07
REVISE THE EXCISE LAWS.

The Republican State Convention was true TO
the traditions Of the party and to the convic-
lions Of the great mass OF its voters when II
met without finching the issue which had been
raised by Senator Hill and the Tammany Democ-
racy against the Just and impartial enforcement
Of law. In passing as II did, by unanimous
vote the resolution In favor OF the maintenance
OF the Sunday laws in the interest OF labor and
morality II did no more nor less than respond
70 the universal sentiment Of the party and give
EXPRESSION TO It's will. 1t could not take any
other position on the Sunday question without
inviting overwhelming defeat and 1t could not
evade the issue or ignore II without making an
exhibition Of moral cowardice. which would have
been almost as surely fatal to its prospects OF
succcss AS The Tribune has said before. moth
ing I'm the proceedings Of the State Convention
was so credtable to II as the representative OF
the spirit and purpose OF the party. 1t was hon
est. manly and straightforward, and though
timid political managers feared the effect OF 1t
and in one way and another attempted to wriggle
and twist out Of it, the returns show that The
Tribune was absolutely right in saying that
courage always pays" 1t did pay In this case;
paid not only in the preservation OF the good
name and the self-respect OF the party, but In
important material conslderaton-in votes
Thousands Of Anti-Tammany voters In this city
STAYED at home on Election Day because OF the
shuffng Of the party leaders here, but in other
parts of the State very nearly the full party vote
appears to have been polled That fact suggests
q contrast which needs no comment
1t Is doubtless true that the existing excise
laws passed by a Tammany Legislature and
| oil Inv n tc n
respects unsatisfactory. 1t would be idle to
DENY that large numbers OF Republicans in this
county. who believe in the maintenance Of the
Sunday laws have been more or less dissatisfied
with the methods by which they have been en-
forced, and are DESTROYS Of change That fact
has been only too patent. But the question
which Senator Hill and his following raised-the
question with which they befogged and befud
died the German American voters-was not so
much as to the law ITSELF but rather as to It's
| enforcement That question was discussed not
temporarily and reasonably, but with heat and
passion. And the German Americans who voted
| the Tammany ticket because they had conceived
| the notion that the impartial enforcement OF law
infrlnged their personal liberties did so blind
/ ly. without ever taking thought that their action
had no purpose whatever and no significance
| except as II OF anger ana spite
1t was mistake on their part. In the first place
to indulge In angry demonstrations and intern
perate language over so simple and SO necessary
thing as the enforcement Of statute law
which had always existed and had always been
in greater or less degree enforced; and 1t was
greater mistake to vent unreasoning spite by
/ casting their votes for party that In existing
conditions was powcrless to repeal the obnox
ious laws or hinder their enforcement
! But all that Is OF the past. The election Is
over. The making and changing OF laws for the
next year are committed 10 a Republican Legls
laiure The party harbors no resentments 1t
recognizes now as always Its duty to legisate
for the common good, regardless Of partisan
considerations The Legislature, when 1t meets
| In January. will be confronted with question
| not unlike the one which came before the con
| vention at Saratoga 1t Is II question which It
cannot shirk without cowardice. and one which
calls for the best thought. the most temperate