New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-02
THE EXCISE QUESTION.

THE EXCISE QUESTION.
1t seems probable that the enforcement OF
the Sunday closing law will add n new compli-
cation 10 the issues of the next fall campaign.
our Democratic friends are already beginning to
take courage and appear cheerful on account or
the prospect in this regard For they reason
with some plauSibility that the Republicans can
not commit the party TO the maintenance OF the
present law unchanged without mourning the
loss of large number OF voters, who honestly
believe that its requirements are too rigid and
It's operation unequal il not unjust; while any
intmaton Of Il purpose TO soften It's rlgor OF
modify lis provisions will have the effect to re-
pei many equally sincere and earnest RepuD-
llcans. who would look upon any change in the
existing law as a concession to traffic when
they believe should be wholly suppressed. II Is
upon this rock. consequently. that our Demo
cratic friends hope and expect to see the Repub-
lean party split. They count, that is TO say.
upon the fact that the law as II now stands Is
SO unpopular that no party can afford to commit
itself uncquvocaly to lis retention as an en-
tlrety. because TO do SO would insure defeat.
Al the same time the Republican party cannot
afford 10 entertain the suggestion of any change
whatever because by so doing il would lose the
support of the extreme Temperance men and
prohibitlonists, who constitute a balance Of
power
II is we'll enough to look this situation square
" in the face For the situation itself discloses
a political bunco game and trap. and the arsu-
ment from it is without either sense or reason.
Internal Revenue Collector Crosse. Sheriff Tam
sen and Democratic Rcformer Kempner say
.l,.tr 'To,, fret layn
and help restore that delectable organization TO
power-for what reason? Because OF an unequal
and unjust Sunday law, which interferes with
their liberty and puts them to great incon-
venence 10 obtain beer on Sunday: mat Ger
tainly is the original cause Of their discomfort
and discomfort. For it Is the enforcement OF
that law which has caused all the disturbance
and worked them up 10 the pitch OF excitement
which they manifested last Saturday In their
interview with the Mayor. Had there been no
such law there would have been no such demon
stration Who enacted the law? Why. singu-
larry enough the very party, the very Tammany
organization. 10 whose support they threaten 10
fock together because Of II. a Tammany 1.cgfs-
lature passed and a Tammany Governor ap-
proved It, What IS more the Association or
Liquor Dealers, which, under Governor HIS
and Governor Flowers administrations exer-
clsed potential influence In all legislation Of
that character, approved It's provisions ana
recommended It's passage What did they mean
by It? Did they mean 10 make law, or fool
the people. or set trap? In any case, how do
Messrs Crosse and Tamsen and Kempner hope
to defeat the policy and escape the operation OF
what they deem TO be an unjust law by restor-
ing to power the party which enacted II?
The meaning of these gentlemen Is, obviously,
that what they want Is not so much to have laws
that suit them as party in power that. without
botherlng about the laws at all. will simply dis
regard such laws as they think onerous or In
convenient to obey. And what they expect IS
that the extreme Temperance men will either
directly or Indirectly cooperate with them in
bringing back to power party which gives them
the empty satisfaction Of a restrictive law, while
1t makes to the opponents Of restriction the more
solid concession contained In the neglect or re-
fusal to enforce It, 1t is not outside the range
OF possibilities that the extremists on either side
may work together for this utterly Illogical re-
suit. Such things have not infrequcnty hap
pened in our political history 1t may be that
the extremely earnest persons who desire moth
ing so much as that the liquor traffic shall be put
under absolute prohibition VIII blndly assist
those whose sole aim Is not only TO release the
traffic from all restrictions but give II special
privileges and unlimited license. And II Is not
impossible that in such an event the only party
to which the friends Of temperance and good
morals look for reasonable laws and their
rigid enforcement may suffer reverse. But
we do not think so. In our confidence In the
ultimate reasonablencss and sound practical
sense Of the majority we are assured that the
hopes which our Democratic friends are build
Ing upon the success Of so empty trick and so
palpabe a trap are without foundation.
Meantime 1t will not be amiss to keep In mind
as the starngpoint Of the whole discussion
that the only contention OF the persons who are
just now uttering threats against the Repub-
lican party is that Republican administration
is doing It's sworn duty in enforcing law ap-
proved by Tammany liquor-dcacrs, passed by a
Tammany Legislature and signed by Tam
many Governor.