The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-05-17

L
article In its column last week, en-
titled "a Post Office Sermon" Sub
sequently at your office learned
that it referred to a discourse /
preached in the Presbyterian Church the
Sabbath evening befo1e. It did not re-
quire one to be tswiser than DanieP' TO
understand that the characters 'P. o. ., %
as attached to the aforesaid article, meant
'+Post Office Department" There may or
there may not be some significance at
tached 70 the fact, in this connection, that
the Post Office Department OF this city, and
the editorial department Of THE NEWs,r re-
volVe around one center. However,
care not for the real Paternity OF the
article in question. l have only TO say.
that If the writer was present when the
sermon was delivered, 1t Is charitable to
suppose that he was asleep and dreaming.
If he was not present, he was grossly mis-
informed as to what was said. All that l
said, in what is denominated "a Post
ONCE Sermon" concerning postmasters
and their employees, would not occupy
one-fourth the space devoted to II in your
columns. The writer OF the criticism
could not well have gone wider apart
the impression he has given to the public
as to the spirit and utterances OF ''the
preacher on that occasion.
In view Of the publicity you have given
this matter, and the Importance Of some
Of the questions raised, have concluded
further discussion Of the subject presented
on the occasion referred 70, in which i
win restate ana enforce what l did say
in that discourse on the post Office ques-
ton, ana also say some other things.
That have touched on subject that
should be discussed, and the proper dis
cussion of which will do good, I am con-
vinced not only from the criticism in your
paper, but also from the many thanks
received from person. both old and young
hat haann6ntlV- for what
l said. Respectfully,
j. H. CLARK.
We rise to remark: Firstly. That we
regret deeply to learn that Bro. Clark
sees THE NEWS but seldom, and we can
but regard this as q misfortune to him.
We do'not zee how he has kept house with
out it. He certainly could net have been
very happy nor very well posted as to
what is going on around him. THE
NEWS is the means Of communication
with the people by the people. In 1t MIR.
Clark could learn much Of the doings of
the community-Wheret to buy the cheap
est and best goods; who raises the largest
potatoes and corn; who gets married; the
doings Of congress; the wars in Europe;
what is going on in our own nation
and state, etc. Besides this, THE NEWS
is the official paper of the county and
city, and prints the tax lists, road
notices, etc. Is it possible that Bro.
Clark has been here SO long and never
read a tax list or sheriff's sale. We can
scarcely believe it. 81 year invariably
in advance is q sure receipt for the evils
the reverend gent has visited upon him
self, OF his own motion, by seeing THE
NEWS but seldom.
Secondly. The article in THE NEWS
last week was written by young man of
excellent parts who has been connected
with q post office. The article did not re-
volve nor evolve around the center Of the
"post office department of this city," nor
the editorial department of THE NEWS"
1t waltzed In from an author who is not
connected with Ell Their. 1t is strange he,
as we'll as others, should have received
such erroneous impressions from the SER
mon. We had given him credit for good
degree of intelligence, and the soothing
effect OF the brothers. ministratiOns must
have been very considerable If it caused
him to slumber, 'perchancet to dream" He
was there and we will ask him about it.
Thirdly. We may remark here, that
whatever may be said on this subject,
postmasters are In no way to blame for
Sunday malls. The IaW requires them to
open and deliver mails arriving on Sun
day. The question comes to them in but
two shapes: to do what is required by the
Law, or resign. They can choose, of course,
which ''horn of the dilemma they will
take, and we regret to inform Brother
Clark, II he does not already know 1t,
that the average p. NJ. has not arrived at
that state of perfection, as a rule,
10 lead him to adopt the last horn. He
knows, too, if he were to resign it would
not stop the Sunday mails, as there can be
found ia every enterprising community,
plenty of patriots who would immediate
themselves on their country's altar, Sun
day mail and all. Seriously, whatever the
reverend gentleman or any one else may
have said, or may say, on this point, it
will do no good to essay against post
masters and clerks. The cause lies deeper.
We hea rtly wish the whole business OF
running Sunday trains and Sunday mails
were stopped. Every empIoye of the
railroads and the post offices wishes so.
The cause is with the public, and there is
where the remedy must be applied. II
there were no public demand for such
things, they would not exist. If the pub
lie did not want the Sunday mail, ii
would be stopped. A post Office employe
Of this city, OF his own motion, tried to
have it stopped last fall. The community
was against the move. He did something
practicable in the right direction, and his
action contains valuable suggestion to
those who desire the discontinuance Of
the Sunday mail. Preaching is all right,
but work is as important to bring about
this reform. We have noticed little dis
tinction in .he Sunday patronage OF the
post office, between what is denominated
the world and church members. Even
ministers quite frequently avail them
selves Of the privileges of the Sunday
mail, and postmasters and clerks, being
public servants, having nothing to do in
the matter but obey the law and the de-
mands Of the patrons of the office.
Those who care to hear Mr.. Clark's
visws, will make note O. his announce
ment.