New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-03
OPENING SALOONS ON SUNDAY.

STRONG REASONS AGAINST PERMITTING 1T.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Looking at the matter from the point Of view
or citizen and not from that OF a Sabbatarian.
Prohibitionst temperance reformer. the state
ments in favor Of the opening saloons Sunday af-
ternoons and evenings amount To the following:
First that lIquor-selling is business and as such
deserves consideration Without discussing what
Kind Of business II Is. and whether its tendency
Is toward preserving or nfraction OF the peace.
whether II is beneficial the to the morals
OF the people. 1t may be asked why IL should have
any privileges not accorded to all other business
We restrict our Jewish felowcitizens. who are not
believers in Christian Sunday from doing bust
ness on that day. and compel nearly every kind OF
business to be dispensed with. not exclusively be-
cause the day thereby profaned. but for the
human reason which IL now being considered also
in Continental cities and towns. that all animals.
man and beast that work six days Of the week
need seventh days rest Certainly the saloon
keepers. who work every day Of the week and
every night. need a relief than any other class
OF business men,
Second it Is said on their behalf that the labor
ing man needs his beer on Sunday az much az the
man who does not labor with his hands needs his
wine. II It only beer that was desired there
might be less fallacy in this statement. but beer
reads whiskey and that injurious,y decocted. and
the class that goes the saloons would turn away
in disgust II only malt liquors were dispensed For
six evenings of the week the men who would fire.
quent the saloons on Sundays go 10 them, and as
they paid off Saturday afternoons. why don't
they lay in their needed stock OF stimuants for
Sunday. and !mbibe them with their families at
home the who drink wine do. Now II is
fact Of experience familiar TO the old-time hotel
earroom observer that open bars or saloons on sun
day were and would be undoubted nuisances 10 any
wcll-ordered community: that those going TO and
from the churches would he subjected 10 disagree
able sights. and come in contact with insulting de
pravty and that pandemonium which Is now
confined to certain slum districts would break out
like contag ous epidemic all over the city.
Third 1t is said that opening the saloons on sun
day would prevent police bribery as developed IN
that little good may come On the same primer,
pie We should let the dlsorderly houses alone. ana
turn an unseeing eye on other evlis winch &, 'n ne
police are supposed 10 pre'en This statement II SO
weak and childish that II refutes Itself When we
cannot have police force that can be trusted or
compelled TO enforce the laws we have reached such
start de novo. and establish Kind Of authority
which meets the needs Of civilization. The dis
" that the police. as BODY. were nor prOeh, OF
unwilling to enforce the laws, but that those IN
command. not the rank and file. were the criminals
and that. like all bodies Of men. military or nom
military the latter were influenced by the conduct
OF their superors.
f. VIII a sad day for the great city just strug-
Cling ont OF the mire Of incompetent and unciean
despotsm and striving 10 rid itself or vicious boss
ism. II u s thrown into the maelstrom OF sunday
- those who have respect for churches or
schools. men children. whose saloons
on nearly every corner Destroy me vaue OF Is ss.
m their Vicinity and are the hotbets OF crime
and constant breaches Of the peace The making
~ criminals is 80 enormous and constant at these
resorts as now conducted that the idea OF eN-
tending this nalign influence by devoting por-
ton ~ Sunday for their especial benefit mirst
strike the average citizen as so horrible that nc -
unable 70 see how any sei-respecuns person S9u'n
New-York jan q. 1876.