The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-27
"sAUCE FOR TIE GOO Sc is SAUCE
FOR THE GAN DEB"

The New York sun has the following
editorial. headed "A Bombshell for the
Cubs
The Right Rev. Bishop Potter salu
something startling al the meeting oi lho
Church Temperance Society on NedheS-
day. at the Church Mission House In
this city. The subject of Sunday Hquor
selling was again agitated among those
pre s,nt. owing to the recent dellVerahceS
of Mayor Strong In It's favor. Against
this the Church Temperance Society SIG
uifed anew its unalterable opposition
through the resolution introduced by the
Rev. {. De Witt Brdgman, rector of
the Holy Trinity church. in Harlem
"That this society protests against the
proposed change, and Will resist the bt-
tempt OF the saloon keepers TO secure the
sanction of the law for their sunday
traffic. and confinement of Their present
and past defiance of existing Statutes,
We suppose if there had not been some
much more radical and aggressive spirit
In the meeting than Or. Bridgman, MS
resolution would have been adopted spon-
taneously with unau.mity, as a satis;ac-
tory expression of the temperance socle-
ty's feeling against the proposed revolu-
ton in the ciiy's liquor laws. Bishop
Potter. however arose with an ameri-
hitherto unmolested by the hostile energy
of any lawmaker or citizen of importance
or influence in our civic affairs. He offer-
ed this amendment. or, more accurately
this addition TO DR.. BridgmaDs reSolu-
ton, which, he said did not go tar
enough, and together they were instantly
adopted:
But that in demanding the strict en-
forcemcnt OF existing laws restraining
the Sunday liquor traffic we recognize tire
Inconsistency of any legislation that re-
strains one class and exempts another
ana demand that the law that compels
enforced denial to the poor should be so
amended as equally to restrain any ana
every more favored class"
Bishop Potter has lately reached the
secular eminence of the presidency OF the
Century Club. a large, well-housed so
clety of gentlemen as genial and jov.al
as any who live in town. 1t keeps a bar,
like other clubs, and its members buy
liquor there and drink, subject TO no re-
stricticna except whatever house regula-
tons may provide for shutting up the bar
at certain hours in the early morning. Sun
day, Of course for the Century, as for all
other clubs. is a day Of the week ike
other days, imposing no peculiar restric
tions upon the enjoyment of alcoholic
beverage.
Plainly the purpose of this amendment
of Bishop Potter's is TO shut up, during
Sunday, the bars of all city clubs incluc-
ing. of course. that of the Century Club,
ald to make them all conform to the
Law bearing upon liquor shops used by
the public.
And Bishop Potter is right. There
should be but one law for all. AS the
law now stands buying and selling liquor
on Sunday is unlawful. and it is not
just that the law should be enforced In
some cases and not in others We recog-
nize the necessity for police regulation
in this matter, but such police regulation
as We now have is practically to make
liquor selling on Sunday the rule and
not the exception. The reason for this
violation of the law is that the law itself,
in dts present ironclad and indiscriminate
construction, Is not sustained by the
common opinion of the people and, as 1t
is VIGOROUSLY violated in some places, the
rule that what is sauce for the goose is
sauce for the gander" lets down the bars
rather. we should say opens the bars
in many places where the common oplii-
ion of the people would say they ought 20
be up. Our Sunday liquor law. in It's
present shape, is not, and probably never
will be, enforced in cities. except in cases
where the police choose to make IN oX-
ample To pretend TO enforce a law
which is not enforced either makes Tie
police corrupt or brings the law itself
into contempt
Whatever the law is, it should be OK.
,ecuted everywhere and without partially,
be the consequences what they may.
If such enforcement brings about prCro-
sition fDr amendment. then we will con
slider what amendments are reasonable
and righteous.