Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-01-23
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLING FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.

rhe Utter Fallacy From Practical Stand
point of the Proposition to Legaiize
Sunday Salosn Opening in New York
City-Deludins the People.
1t would seem that few minutes sensi-
BILE consideration ought to show any rea-
sonable man the utter fallacy, from a
practical standpoint, of the proposition to
legalize the opening OF the New York sa-
looms on Sunday. The proposition is made
tain hours be iegalized, law-breaking upon
the part of the saloonkeepers will cease.
This contains two fallacies: First not the
mere fact of law-breaking, but the results
of the act unlawfully performed are to be
considered. Legalized robbery, legalized
arson, legalized murder. would still have
the same pernicious effects upon public
interests that those deeds have when done
unlawfully: The same is true of drink
selling The public has held that the sale
of drink upon the day known as the Sab.
bath is prejudicial to public interest. OF
course 1T is somewhat inconsistent to hold
this in view of the fact that its sale upon
other days has been legalzed But it is
true, none the less, and our laws are made
to guard public interests against the evils
that would arise from such sale When it
is discovered that certain men refuse to
obey these laws, public interests are no
more served by changing the law to legal
ize the now unlawful acts than they would
be served by changing our law with regard
| to larceny, highway robbery, arson and
murder to prevent law-breaking upon the
part of people who insist upon doing those
| things. The style of reasoning practiced
| by the advocates of Sunday opening is SUI
perfcial to the last degree, and would be
| disgraceful to the statesmen of the Stone
The second fallacy lies in supposing that
| if it is made lawful for the saloonkeeper
| to sell his drinks during certain hours of
the Sabbath he will refrain from selling
| during those hours when the prohibition
still remains in force. 1t must not be for
gotten that we are dealing with men who
are already law-breakers. and who have
not the slightest respect for law. 1t must
not be forgotten that the same incentives
that make them sell drink on Sunday
been granted the legal privilege of selling
drink on Sunday afternoon: To suppose
that the spectacle of law bending itself
| down at their beck will inspire them with
such respect that they will of their own
motion cease to violate the law, is ridicu-
lous. Nor is there any reason for suppos,
ing that it will be easier to enforce the
| law which prohibits the sale of drink dur
ing one part of the day and allows it dur
| ing another part than to enforce a law
which prohibits the sale during the whole
day-on the contrary, it will be more diff
| cult.
1t would be an insult to the intelligence
| of the leading advocates of Sunday open
ing to suppose that they do not recognize
these facts. They recognize them, and
the fallacy of every argument they ad-
vance is perfectly clear to them. The
| people who are deluded are the good peo.
| pie who fail to see that the whole move
ment is merely an attempt to get the nose
of the liquor camel inside the tent.-The
| New Voice.