National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-06-05
PHOEBE CouZINS
Writes nm Open Letter 10 the Postmaster-
General.

WASHINGTON, D. c., June 4, 1882.
DEAR SIR; Although but an humble citizen OF
the United States, whose suggestion may not carry
with 1t the potential power which member OF
Congress invokes, yet / presume the wishes and
sentiments Of that greater constituency which
creates Representatives and upholds officials are
Of Sufficient importance TO also gain respectful
hearing when questions arise which directly
affect the whole therefore, as one Of that body,
desire to record my protest (and think utter
a., h sentiment OF majority o, the PEOPLE SESnst
Of New York, TO inauguratc, under your authority,
Sunday delivery of mails in letter. carrier cities
OUR LETTER-cARRIERs
are already grieyously overworked and under
paid, MS a large majority of the subordinatcs in
that department are, and n proposition which
looks to n deprivation of the only day in which
mcnts consideration at your hands. II Is not only
an unjustiiiable robbery of this faithful laborers
day ofiest but il is in direct contrayenton Of all
Sunday law. For, If mail delivery be necessary,
why not the but her, the baker, &C., AMI jnse
quently the opening Of all avenues of trade, and
conclusively, why day of rest at all or one set
apart to the sauciities Of life2 As government
we invoke
THE BLESSINGS OF GOD.
upon our institutions. We profess to be Chris.
tan peOp'c, whose aim and end is the up-buildlTg
of n nation wherein I'LL classes, through the Dig.
nifty and mobility of labor, shall have comfort
leisure, Independence, the decencies Of lie, ne
refinement OF lvn' freedom of opportunity for
men tai and moral devclOl ment. Yet we nre
gradually reducing the humble laborer of the
United States TO u condition Of serdom, eucrO0ch-
ing upon
HIS HOURS OF REST,
and all tho sanctitiCS of his being, and thus In
vuking n brutal disregard for The bcutitudes Of
life, 10y II reckless ana thoughtlCss infringement
of the rights to which he is soiemnly entitled
This is notably true of the r. s,-Oilce Depar ment
in our large cities. Cei ks kept on duty ntinu-
ously through the seven days Of the week, and
when, but Il short time since in st. Louis pro.
tested against this, was told by the superintendent
THAT TUE CITIZENS DEMANDED
a MONDAY delivery on Sunday. Upon investiga-
ton, found the "citizcns" who demanded this,
were limited to handful Of curbs;nne poll l.
clans who regard neither God, nor the well. being
of their f1llow-mnn, whose rendezvous Is the
post-Ofice at noon, and for whose benefit young
men reared by Christian parents TO regard the
Sa nssacrtd to the good and he beautiful were
kept I'm dureSs vile on the day ct upnrt for r. st
and worship. thus hardening thcir natures against
both teaching aud nation. We may not hIpc that
subOrdinatcs under this training VIII develop into
faithful server, but rather must anticipate n repe
titiOn Of deiClicton of duty, and The NUM- er
continually augmented of those who secretly
piiier the nation which openly robs them OF
rightful leisure
PRAY YOU THEN, GOOD SIR
the paternal head OF this branch of the govern
ment whose jurisdiction extends over so large
body of faithful workers, rctald tleir rights us
which would deprive them of nCediul rest and
in movie consent to put them in the treadmlll
rund otpergetual labor which brings to one ana
I'LL an evil Very respectfully YOURS,
PHOEBE W. COUZlNS, of st. Louis.
Hon. Il. o. HOWE, Washington, d. e.