New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-25
4 STRIKING CONVERSION.

The saloonkeepers have seen great light, ana
the action of the Excise Committee OF their asso-
citation IS sensible and gratifying. The resolil-
tion that the Sunday closing law shall be oDeyed
will doubtless be ratified by the members OF the
association. which represents more than half the
dealers in the city. and formal announcement is
made that after September the Police Board
will have their cooperation instead OF their an
toconism. This is candidly proclaimed as
complete surrender, and that is certainly the
appearancc Of II. The judges to whom the an
nounccment was first made, and the Police
Commissioners whose triumph IL seems 10 Sig
nfy. express no doubt as to the entire good faith
OF the action The lawyer OF the ASSOCIATION ana
its chief spokesman say that the resolution VIII
be overwhelmingly adopted and vigorously en-
forced that members who violate it Will be
sternly disciplined. and that liquordealers out
side the association will not be permitted TO IN
crease their business by Sunday trade. In be-
half Of the association Il is said also that It's
members now realize that obedience to the law
is good citizenship. wherein they are entirely
right; and that it will lead to the enactment Of
better law, in which they may or may not be
mistaken. We are not in their confidence but
we much prefer to think that they are sincere.
Whatever the fact may prove to be. the good
faith of this action Is acknowledged by news
papers which have supposed that they were CIV
ing great aid and comfort to the liquordcalers,
and which accordingly are now left in an ex-
tremely awkward situation. They and great
MANY light-hcaded, loose-mouthed citizens have
been loudly proclaiming that the law was TOO
odious TO be enforced that the saloonkccpers
were not only justified in resisting II. but entitled
10 praise and sympathy as practical friends or
freedom and that the Police Board not only
ought not to succeed, but was absolutely sure
to fail All this has been increasingly proclaimed
in hot temper and with an air OF perfect convic
tion. rs If il were disgraceful that any liberty
loving American should pretend TO hold n con-
trary opinion The fact that public officials, I'M
der a solemn oath and obligation, were equally
enforcing a law hitherto employed with remorse
less partiality for purposes Of blackmail was
carefully ignored in the arguments and ex-
pletives OF all who taking their cue from Sen
o,or Hill. have spent their energies in COM
miseration and encouragement of poor and OPP
pressed lawbreakers.
But suddenly their clients throw them over
board. More than half the llquor-dealcrs in the
CITY. represented In powerful and intelligent
exponents and advisers that a great mistake
has been made; that the law not only can be
but IS being enforced firmly, impartially and
effectively, and. moreover, that obedience to the
law is both good citizenship and good policy
They complain Of the statute, but not Of the
Police Board. in whose honesty they express full
confidence. and with whom they announce their
intention TO cooperate in the hope that thor
ouph enforcement of the statute will result in
it's amendment II ever boisterous hypocrites
were set down hard and abandoned to contempt
nv those in whose name they had eagerly exer-
cIsed their vocation. these champions Of lawlcss-
ness. in the press and among the people are in
that situation to-day. For whatever others may
possibly srrmlse concerning secret and sinister
purpose behind this apparent surrender. they
nroclaim full faith ia It's sincerity. The liquor
dealers say to them: I'VE are better ana wiser
citizens than you" We wonder what they are
SAYING to themselves.