Year: 1873

LIQUOR DEALERS LIN CouNCiL.


Provost Against Discriminating Lnws-
samuel q. Courtney, Albert Cardoxo,
/ Martin Nachtman and Richard C'Gor-
man as Champions OF the Trade.
/ There was large meeting OF liquor dealers In
Masonic Hall in Thirteenth street, last evening


under the auspices OF the Liquor Dealers Pro-
tectlve Association, and much spirit was evinced
I MI Herzberg the President, had the chair lie
said on opening the meetlng:-The object OF TINS
meeting is TO protest against an arbitrary law,
which all OF us feel onerous and unjust, and to en-
deavor to get the passage OF Just one which shall
secure the integrity OF the trade.


Mr. MARTIN NACHTMAN was introduced and said
that ne came in response to an invitation, and to
help them, II possible, TO get the passage Of law
which would do them justice. He did not under
stand why there was such an opposition to the
LIQUOR dealers who were, taken as a body, very
respectable class or men. II fact that there
was capital invested in this business than IN
any other in the city. II seemed that there was
feeling in the country districts against the liquor
dealers and against the trade. He did not under
stand why this should be. The Legislature
always pottering with this subject and never COM
ing to any conclusion. One Legislature would
pass one law and the next another, and the liquor
dealers were constantly at their mercy. The





away the rights OF tfleir co-citZens and endeavor-
ing to ruin them pecunarily The only way TO
counteract this feeling was to band together and
oppose all those who We're nimical to them and TO
scrutinize closely the acts OF the candidates and
their opinions he tie speaker hau been III the
halls OF the Legslat and he had seen one excise


law after another until finally lager beer itself was
prohibited, which idea perfectly prepos.
ferrous. Last year, however, . law had been
passed which he believed was just In It's general
tenor. He thought II right that there should be
/
thought at least the liquor dealers when this had
been passed, should be protected IN their rights.
IL was shame TO eXtort money rom citizens en-
gagged in tins traffic. The selling OF liquor was as
honorable as baking bread. After extortng the
no guarantees. liquor dealer could not even sue
Tor his Just blll.. This law ought TO be changed A
law ought 10 be framed which should make excise
commissioners, who should be elected by the peo-
pie, and tnen there would be some chance OF JUS
tice. He would advocate this law and stand
by it. 1T present the Legislature was in great
part composed OF men who did not understand the
wants and the opinions OF the people OF the city,
and who passed laws quite inimcai 10 the great
body OF people. There was no enmity to the sab
bath among the liquor dealers, butail they wanted
was 10 be protected IN their rights


JAMES NEE orered the following resolutions


Resolved, Thst~we opposed TO all distinction and


liquor as giving rise to iavcrm partially and corrup.


on the enrichment OF some liauor dealers e the prsa
distinction between rich and poor.


prompt o6ede1se to the viii OF The Legislature When
clearly sHpTeea IN me law v" saa n n9a 1se am 70 M r


thory until assured by the o, competent tn
| buuas, that they entitled respect


! Mr.. SAMUEL G. COURTNEY then took the stand
! and aid:-This was matter Of Importance TO the


general community. They were not there to raise
any iactious opposition TO the law TO the estab-
lsned authority, but TO take action upon subject


at the bottom OF which their iree institutions were


based. There was constitutional provision


which said "You have not the right TO carry on a


legitimate business There was no law 81 this


kind. Men had right to carry on tuls without


persecution. Under the pretence OF moral suaslon


legislation has been carried on TO an extent which
INN -A1 fhn n IL ft1lA ~
business. The courts mad always protected them
where the subject had been properly brought be-
I tion was "Where Is the remedy by which you,
respectable men, may be pnt on the same
bic trafflc than yoursSr You find committee
| appointed by the Mayor Of New York who are to
bic business or not. But | believe you have the
right to demand the repeal OF this law. But speak
ing among yourselves VIII 40 no good II demands
The laws which gave some rights 20 some men and
none 10 others as to their business was one intrln


sically against the genius OF our government No


three or icur men can have the right 10 say whether
| you snail or not conduct and carry on any busi-
ness you please. some tribunal within the power


OF rhe Court should have the right TO say whether
/ you can carry on business. To such tribunal
! you could appeal ana secure your rights. There


actually no power in Court or Governor above the


arbitrary VIII OF the three men forming the Excise
Commission. But the power ought 10 De in you TO


force the Legislature to DO you justice and If you
go about 1t right you Will have the power alter the
lst OF April next 70 conduct your business as you





! grain and wheat. nine-tenths OF which goes into
the manufacture OF various kinds OF liquors. The
moral people say there ought to he no drunken
| people on the Sabbath. We all agree 10 that. But
| man may Kill himself by eating too much. All
| this is mock sympathy, and II IL heaped upon the
unfortunate liquor dealers


| Mr. ALBERT CARDozo. said that recognizing
| in the society some old personal friends he had
\ come TO discuss subject 10 which he was not a
! stranger He thought the former speakers had
omitted something: they had not gone to the root
OF the evi--the Injustice OF taxing one body OF men
| in their business while they let the other go in
| their business without taxation. You pay your
| license for one year, and y0n find that the next
! Legislature passes another law taxing you again,
and saying n you don't pay you must STOP You
in fact made saves IN your business, until the
whole principle OF government Is destroyed ia
this one attack upon you. How are you going 10
accomplish this In this great purpose there was
wanted unity, and unless there was grand single
ness Of purpose nothing could be done. You don't
him drunk any more than the tailor can make him
wear his clothes. You are not responsible for
the man drinking. You can't stop his appe ttes.
Bgotry Is ss strong here ever II was IL was
narrow mndedness which attempted to cut
man down his business. The same part OF
ness Of the country had attempted 10 make this
matter persecution 10 one portion OF our fellow
citizens


Mr.. RICHARD O'GORHAN wrote. saying that f il
were possible TO make laws which would prevent
an abuse OF liquor he would advocate them But
this was impossible and the abuse OF alcohol was
a peculiar trait OF the busiest nations. Law
with this law, as there was too much money IN
this business not 10 make legislative enactment
dangerous. Drunkards should be punished, not
those who sold them the liquor.