New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-15
GRATIFYING EXCISE STATISTICS.

OBEDIENCE TO LAW THE NEXT THING TO SECURE
INSTEAD OF ENFORCEMENT.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The statistics OF the excise question--show
ing only eighteen arrests last Sunday-are becom-
ing satisfactory. There are other statistics which
would be exceedingly gratifying, II they could be
obtained and published For instance. the number
of persons who used to be drunk Sunday and
ehe number that drunk now; the number Of
families who used to be In less suffering
on account Of drink and comparatively exempt
now; the amount OF money received Saturday
wages which spent for drink formerly, and
the amount spent now. If these figures could be
obtained they would. I am sure give us very
good test whether the excise law Is benefit
or detrinent to the community at large.
General Grant said. THE best way to repeal
bad law TO enforce It," when 1t would
be apparent whether It beneficial not The
saddest part OF the whole question is that there is
a large class OF "would-be' respectable people who
have no intention whatever to obey the law. What
want IL law-abiding people; want the law
obeyed. rather than enforced. But the ginm.ll-
keeper has such intention. l suppose no law
can be placed our statute books which Is for
the restriction. the suppression the prohibition
of the liquor traffic which they would propose
obey. Hence eternal vigilance ia the price have
to pay for the restriction Of that traffic Would
that 1t might be suppressed, so far as the saloon
goes. entirely seven days week. The presence
or drinking saloons Is, 1 believe an evil and only
evil
An article in the Revue des Deux Mondes. and
the author speaks from observation, states that
there in the French capital more than sixty
establishments, such as cafes OF the lowest type,
gin shops and other places for drinking which
headquarters to assassns thieves, concealers of
stolen goods swinders libertines ard other crimi-
nails" and probably New-York is not less free than
Paris in that respect To say nothing of the multi
tudes of respectable 90 who frequent GIN
mills. IL is the natural resort for all such charac-
tiers are mentioned above. Where else would
you look for them? l should go
the gnmill expecting to find the larger part of the
Christian community, OF our clergymen and OF
men who seek purity of itfe
But why should the influence OF the gnmill be
potent in politics? We expect however, that
the party who has always taken ground opposed 10
anxious deprive them Of their Influence in pollti
cal things. but the party of moral ideas In other
words the Republican party. cannot anord to take
any backward step in this matter. 1t may not BE-
wise and in the presen; state of public opinion 1t
probably would not be wise Tor them to take the
ground occupied by the Proh.t iton party, but they
traffic must not be an exception, to be exempted
from legislation even to rhe extent OF prohibition If
1t shall be found best for the public veal
licans who would delight to see the saloons blotted
out Of existence and the leaders Of the Republican
party will have to beware how they seek to ease
the best portion OF their own party. The Republican
party will be strong yea, invincble, so long as It
will lead and take the EXTREMIST advance IN nSh
moral questions. but IL II fails 10 90 3d. III VIII DC
found rope OF sand M
There il a higher law" there is an "irrepressi-
BILE conflict" now, as well when those phrases
first coined. and Will be well II we can come
Brooklyn. Sept Il. 1895