New-York tribune., 1895-10-31
LIOUOR-DEALERS IN POLITICS.

LIOUOR-DEALERS IN POLITICS.
Is business in this city, really in "deplor-
able condition" in consequence OF "the deterlo-
rating effect of the policy, manifestly unwise
and oppressive. adopted by the socalled re-
formers the result of which has been that the
money earned within our territorial limits has
..been driven from the business houses Of this
'city and expended elsewhere? This is the
somewhat discouraging announcement made IN
circular addressed to voters by the Wine,
Liquor and Beer Dealers Central Association
Is it so? These gentlemen say 1t Is, and that,
las business men and citizens OF this State, 1t
becomes our bounden duty as an organization
"to take action when questions Of such great
moment arise, involving both our business
rights and personal liberties as have arisen
during the present era Of what has been
termed reform" They also 'call the atten-
"ton of The business community and property
owners OF this metropolis to the number OF
vacant stores on the many principal thorough
fares Of the city, the stagnation in all lines
"of business, and call to their mind that this
state of affairs did not exist until we were
hardened with the so-called reform. This Is
really a sad state of affairs; If it actually ex-
lists Something ought TO be done about IL at
once, If any remedy for it is possible. The Wine'
LIQUOR and Beer Dealers Association think
there is a remedy and that it consists in voting
the Democratic ticket. To that end they have
issued this circular 10 the voters Of this city and
State 1t is an eloquent and strring-indecd, an
almost pathetc-appeal. AS why should it not
be when Questions Of such great moment. In
evolving both our business rights and personal
liberties" are at issue:
But what are the questions! Are they new!
Has there been any new attack on business
rights and personal liberties during 1.-THE pres
ent era of what has been termed reform "! We
do not understand that anything has been done
during this era which anybody pretends is ille-
gal. or even unusual Law has been enforced.
TO be sure. and enforced impartiay. There is
nothing illegal in that, Certainly; it would be
Illegal were it otherwise. And the records show
that law enforcement has not been unusual,
though the same may not be said. perhaps, OF
lis lust and equal enforcement Is it then true
that the impartial enforcement Of law in this
era of reform involves the business rights and
personal liberties of any class OF citizens? Not
of any law-abiding class, certainly Who are
the men. then, who have business rights superior
to law? What are the business rights which
demand exemption from the operation or stat
ute laws and immunity for their violation!
And what sort Of personal liberties are those
which the enforcement Of laws enacted for the
government of all classes Of citizens endangers?
Has any personal liberty been infCinged except
that which is not liberty, but license the con-
tempt Of law which not only has no rights, but
is entitled to no recognition except as society
recognizes the necessity for suppressing and
furnishing it? No semblance of business right,
nothing in the nature Of personal liberty, has
been touched or so much as shaded during the
era of reform. These gentlemen have no griev-
ance whatever against the era Of reform If
they have any cause for complaint, 1t is against
a law long established, always enforced in great
er or less degree. and against which until reform
enforced it equally they had never raised a
protest.
These gentlemen say affairs are In a deplor-
able condition; that there are vacant stores on
the principal thoroughfares and stagnation in
all lines of business, and that this condition did
not exist until we were burdened with the
socalled reform Is 1t so, then that in order
to have prosperous business conditions and re-
tain at home 1.-The money earned within our terri
torial limits" we must deliberately wink at and
approve the violation Of law by one class in the
community? Must the wine, liquor and beer
dealers have special privileges and immunities
which no other business interest asks or de-
sres in order to maintain material prosperity?
And shall we vote The Democratic ticket be-
cause under Democratic administration special
exemption from the operation Of laws passed
by Democratic Legislature is given, not 10
the entire class of liquor-dealers, but TO those
who pay Tammany Hall for the privilege? That
is what these gentlemen mcan OF course. when
they talk about tie deplorable condition result
Ing from the era OF reform They asking
for a restoration OF the old conditions, and, as
beginning that the voters should rcbukc the
rcformers by supporting the Democratic ticket
next Tuesday 1t requires some assurance 10
issue Il circular to voters containing such a re-
quest on behalf Of : special interest II Is an
imposition upon the intelligence Of the average
voter, as well as an insult TO the law-abidng
and orderloving masses Of good citizens, and we
have no doubt ii will be resented AT the polls.