The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-16
A CHOICE OF EVILS.

The people of New York city are max
ing ready for another campaign for RE
form" There are no doubt many men
engaged in the fight against Tammany,
who have no purpose but to secure better
city government, but the Republican end
of the combination is after nothing but
spoils and political advantage.
The compIaint-and the just complaint
against Tammany has been that it openly
tolerated and approved what is embraced
in the term "a wide open town" The
Christian men of New York, like good
men everywhere are opposed to destroy
ing the observance of the Sabbath. and
the opponents of Tammany have had the
support of this class when they have
been sincere in advocacy of better Sab
bath observance.
The crusade this year against Tammany
is TO be waged under the banner OF Re-
form without any intention of real re-
form The New York Times, the best ex-
ponent of the anti Tammany crusade.
says that the opposition to Tammany this
year will not put anything in their plat
form "forbidding the sale of liquor on
Sundays" Justice Jerome, the leader OF
the raids, declares that he "sees no good
reason why man should not have
drink on Sunday if he wants it, and sug-
gests that under reasonable restrictions
as to hours the saloons might be opened
on that day" Mr.. Cummins, who has
been suggested as a probable anti-Tam-
many candidate for mayor, says that the
gamblers should be let alone" The
Times referring to the defeat OF the
Reform" forces in 1890 because the
preachers and women we're so active in
the canvass as to drive away the German
vote, and the present anti Tammany pol
icy of not depriving the German OF his
Sunday beer draws this contrast between
1890 and 1901
''This is proof not only of political saga
city. but of the broad and liberal spirit OF
the day. Eleven years ago, when Judge
Scott ran for mayor on the antI-Iam-
many ticket, hardly any man in the po-
sition of a leader of public opinion would
have yentured to defend the propriety
of Sunday beer selling. We found it an
uphill fight then to get the museums
open on the day of rest. An advocate of
the opening Of the saloons was looked on
as an enemy of good morals and careless
about his soul The distinction between
sin and a social custom that is harmful
only when abused is now more clearly
recognized. 1t is extremely unlikely
therefore, that the sensibilities of Ger
man American voters will be ruffled by
any pronouncements of principle or dec
larations of intent on the part OF the
united opponents of Tammany.
To provincials. who are not yet God
grant they may never be!) "of the broad
and liberal spirit" it looks today as it
looked in New York in 1890 that IAN ad-
vocate of the opening of the saloons on
Sunday is IAN enemy of good morals, and
is careless about his SOUL
In everything except its wide-open sun
day advocacy Tammany stands for what
is broadcast and biggest in politics in New
FYork city. The opposition now comes to
Tammany' position Tor Sunday saloons,
and thus gives the lie to all their pre-
lenses of standing for reform" Between
the,frank avowal of wrong policy and a
hypocritical pretense of reform" the.
people of New York city will not hesitate
about preferring the avowed sinner to the
hypocrite. The voters of New York city
seem to have no alternative but to vote
for Sunday bar-rooms and democracy or
Sunday bar-rooms and hypocrisy. Be-
tween the two evils, many will take the
voice of DR.. Charles Force Deems and
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