The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-23
Public Sentiment as to Drin king.


The recent discussion of the question OF
immortality by correspondents OF II U
was remarkable for tho temperance with
which it was carried on. IL was a contro-
versy over a fundamental article of faith
which appeals to tho deepest feelings OF all
religious believers, yet II was pursued from
beginning to end without u trace OF acri-
mony or recrimination Each side gave re-
spectful consideration to the other.
So also in the discussion with regard to
the drinking saloons, which has been pro-
voked by the somewhat unguarded words
| of Bishop POTTER at the Squirrel Inn meet
ing, there il manifested n disposition to
treat the subject dispassionately. 1t is a
temper OF mind which would not have APP
peared In the consideration of the questions
few years ago, and is indicative of q hopeful
change of sentiment regarding 1t. One ex-
PLANTATION Of this probably is that the saloon
is no longer the potent influence in politics
it used to be. The Raines law may not
nave had the effect Of :" taking the saloon
out of politics " wholly, but it has dimin-
ished greatly its power in politics.
Formerly liquor dealers were numerous in
the State Legislature, as many as
O0e-JIlTu Oh INC ASSeIlDlylnen from InlS
city having been connected with the liquor
interest directly or indirectly. In the
present Assembly, however, there is only
one member from New York who gives his
business as that Of a liquor dealer, and in
the whole body there is none besides. In
the Senate there are, on the Democratic side,
one saloon keeper and one former bar
keeper. both from this city, but there are
no others.
That is a very great change. But 1t is
not u change greater than that which has
occurred in the attitude Of all sensible men
toward the liquor saloons. The notion that
the liquor business imposed on its patrons
some sort Of obligation to give to it politi-
cal countenance and support has passed
away. The drain the saloons make on the
pockets Of the poor begins to get considera-
ton, and the Churches, both Catholic and
Protestant, are more and more their foes
because they tempt the poor to an extrava-
gance destructive of the comfort Of their
families and oftentimes OF their own wage
earning capacity.
Accordingly, the saloon question is now
discussed by our correspondents as purely
practical matter, to the consideration of
WHICH, mtIt ltelluB 10 Wholly lOTtlRD.
Even men who are temperate drinkers
themselves are free to acknowledge the
reprehensible features OF the business as
conducted, and the Incorporate are not
less ready to confess the harm it does to
themselves. The delusion of Bishop POTTER
that the rumshop is 1.-THE poor mans club"
finds little support among those who know
the place by actual experience. They I'M
derstand very we'll that its attraction con-
sists in the stimulant it sells and not in
any qualification OF the general "recreatlve
instinct of humanity"
As men have come to look on the whole
question Of alcoholic drinking more ration
ally they nave become more temperate.
Drunkenness has decreased proportionate-
lN. At public and private dinners the con-
sumption of wine is very much less than it
used to be, and even in the saloons them
selves the tendency to excessive indulgence
shows n marked decrease. People are learn
ing from scientific investigation that the
craving for drink, once acquired, leads TO a
nervous disease very difficult to cure, and
of destructive consequences morally and
intellectually. The growth of the drinking
habit in a man is regarded anxiously both
by his friends and himself. The exhibition
of intoxication, once viewed tolerantly, is
now accounted disgraceful, or pitied, as in
dicative of a deplorable disease. Modern
life requires sobriety in all workers more
and more.
We dare say, for instance, that Father
DOYLE, in his bitter denunciations of the
saloons, found more respectful sympa-
thizers even among those who are regular
patrons Of the drinking places than did
Bishop PoTTER and DR.. RAINsFoRD, in their
descriptions OF them as a social neces-
sity." They know better.