The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-03-21 00:00:00

To the Eldor qf the " Oksereer."

SIR,—A correspondent in yaur val aahle paper of last
Saturday who signs himself "N," and who writes like on
angry man, begins his letter by reminding the inhabit-
ants of the neighbourhood that the publicane have sp.
pealed to the public generally, and that with that appeal
be agrees. Then, in almost the same breath, he heath.
iugennity to discover a class to whom the word " gene-
rally " does not apply fir he immediately adds "to every
class of the lie shall the subjeet be admitted," and
then in a spirit of prophecy he exoltingly exclaims " tho
result will be that the public-houscs will cease to exist
altogether." What a wonderful man! My thanks for
his courage ! What a pity he was not at the right hand
of Mr. A. Smith to support him in his arduous labours..
. Bat perhaps he is better employed. If he can do all that
he promises he will raise on Amazonian army beneath
whose weighty blows the public-houses will cowa to exist.
Ti) his queston, Why the publicans soil the landlords of
the gin•palacea should enjoy a monopoly in trade which
is denied to the butcher, the baker, the grocer, dee., my
answer is that the publieen is te a certain extent the
servant of the etato eml of the puldie. and this meaning
the word " publican" implies. Next he is butcher,
grocer, and baker, all in one. and such meaning the word
" victualler '' implies. For the monopoly of which " N
.peaks, the public in pays heavily, anal has to submit to
many incenvenionces which others have not. Ile has to
find abed for the weary, and a home for the homeless.
He may be called out of his bed at any hour in the night
ta take in a stranger, and in the morning that stranger
may not have the means of paying for his accommoda-
tion. His house must at any time be open to admit a
Police.ofGeer. Ile must have stabling for horses, even
though that stabling mop not he required except for
cavalry boron. He must find accommodation for aril-
diers. These are a few of the services to the public and
to the state which entitle him to the privileges and to the
monopoly about which your cone:li indent appears to fin
so dissatisfied. Next follow two or three questions which
I have already ',flowered. The purport of the next ques-
tion which I consider I have not answered to "Is he (the
publican) allowed to carry on trade on Sunday becanse
he makes direct payment to the National Exchequer at
' the macrifide of the happiness and welhbeing of a coml-
. try " I answer, No. His direct payment to the Na.
Lion's' Exchequer entitles him to carry on trade on that
day for the comfort, the happiness, nail not unirequently
the instruction if his fellowdnen. The weary traveller
when he enters his house finds himself at home. The
person who wand re from his home in search of !width
or of employment, and is overtaken by a storm, whoa
' aces the rood•side Inn, even on the Sabbath, koowe that
I be has a second home there. Yenr correspoodent wishea
to deprive him of that home. Weill lit be right? Windt
. • ..

it be just? Tile concluding part of his letter basely
misrepresents, insults. and libels the labouring man.
The labouring or working man as a rule is as kind aml
a. careful of his wife and children as are those who move
in a sphere above lsm. The working man is not that
despicable wretch lii is there deacrib,Nl to be. lie huffers
net his wife to feel the pangs of hunger when lie can
prevent it. Your correspondent might find a few adult
females to sign a petition to abut pnblic-liouses on Sun-
days, but for every one that would sign such a petition,
there would be taw ti sign its counter. Your correspon-
dent ought to speak pluinly, and Nay that he means thin
unfortunate women wli• are the wives of habitual
drunkards, and ought not to Mame working men gene-
rally.

Yours truly.