The Blackpool Herald. — 1888-05-18 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

COMPENSATION CLAUSES AND TOWN'S MEETING.  TO THE EDITOR. attended the above meeting, which was called by the requisition of Radical teetotallers, and which was packed by about 350 of the same to about 10 opponents (Conservatives). When these 350 found they were in such overwhelming force they, taking their one from the platform applied the vulgar closure by howling me down as an opponent, because I simply asked for the names of the requisitionists to be read as a test of bona fides. These are the very people who are for everlastingly prating about liberty of speech and rights of public meeting. I protest against £lO of rates being spent to provide a room, &c., for a Radical teetotallers' political meeting. As these lovers of liberty and free speech howled me down, I shall be glad if you will allow me a little space to state shortly what I had intended to say at the meeting. My contention is that the licensing clauses give power to the district councils to reduce the number of public-houses to the tune of several hundred per year without costing the ratepayers one penny, and the effect of these clauses (if passed) would close several houses every year in Blackpool alone. Teetotallers have worked hard for 20 or 30 years and have not been able to close one public-house nor dismantle a single beer. pull. But because they cannot get full Local Option is that a good and logical reason why the temperanoe party, tinder blind leaders, should refuse a good practical measure to reduce what they call a monster evil and without cost to the ratepayers. Dr. Kingsbury tells an audience (who are prepared to take all he says as gospel) that it would cost the ratepayers of Blackpool Is. 43. in the £ to shut up 10 public-houses, but I was prepared to prove that they could be compensated and closed for three-half-pence in the £. And considering that teetotallers say that £l,OOO is wasted in Blackpool, it is from a teetotal point of view a tremendous profit. lam prepared to prove that the whole of the public-houses which the Doctor says exist in Blackpool could be closed and then leave a profit of £45,000 per year in the hands of the ratepayers of Blackpool. I don't care a fig about Dr. Kingsbury's exposition of the points of the law; all I need prove is that it is awfully cheap at the price. I find that even the Doctor has spoken in favour of compensation a short time ago. But all the arguments used by these immaculate debaters with infallable arguments recoil on themselves. They told the meeting of crime, misery, insanity, and death, and when they are asked to make a money sacrifice to reduce all this they turn round and denounce the people who suggest it because they happen to be Tories. Dr. Kingsbury and Mr. Balmer make your blood curdle by telling you of bloody murders and horrible suicides, and crimes committed under the influence of drink. They tell the audience of the crowded workhouses, gaols, and madhouses. My reply to the Doctor and Parson is that if it is true what they say (and they believe in it themselves) then they must be mad too not to catch hold of the first measure that will evert reduce the appalling list. To the appeals of the paupers, criminals, lunatics, and the dying and starving, the Doctor and Parson say in effect "You may die and be everlastingly damned, I will not make one penny sacrifice." Be says "My remedy is the one idea, the thrice affirmed principle of Local Option by Sir Wilfrid Lawson, and I would sooner wait until the crack of doom for full Local Option than abate one jot of my demand, and I will not accept a measure that will mime a few hundred or a few thousand houses per year free of cost. These, Mr. Zditor, were the absurdly ridiculous arguments and statements I wished to speak about to these 350 intolerant bigoted zealots at the meeting. But they had made their minds up beforehand to howl down any  possible opponent. In conclusion, I would ask these temperance people to think for themselves, and not follow blind leaders of the blind and weather-cock political manipulators of public meetings for party purposes. I have a great respect for Dr. Ringsbue, Mr. Balmer, and Mr. Robinson, but I contend they are on the wrong tack and tainted with the guilt of perpetuating an evil which they denounce when they refuse to take a remedy or measure which will reduce what they call an awful evil and the chief cause of so much misery, crime, and death. To and against the parson I shall quote scripture, and say—" Thou fool out of thine own mouth will I condemn thee. . . . I have put thee in the balance and found thee wanting.—Thanking you for inserting this letter, yours, &c., B.