The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-01-12
NOTES ON CALIFORNIA.
rrBLIc wEONGs.

Among the many public wrongs to which the
people Of California have been and are yet
compelled 10 submit. through the Ignorance
or culpable neglect II the Law. makers, is the
common aud AfnusV univeFzsi practice u card.
PLAYING aud other modes nf low or petty
gGmVi"y, in almost every place 10 which the
public d. business. Our wise heads-0ur Law
makcrs-iu A-EsOrsl sp;r;t. truly conrnendaLlc,
have passed -laSs imposing heavy fines and
pcualties IN the professional gambler of the
marble palacr, wl,osc doors are barred against
any but the initisted-le wealthy, or the man
Of case and luxury who las sporting propes-
Sities. To the secret aud luxurious aal.Mns Of
these sPoFtinR palaces the pOor-the lAbsEsr---
the toiIing miner-the merchandising farmer
the youth, aud tbs mere bNv-can gain M &C.
cess. hut, while our Law. makers have exeried
their m'TA fIr0hiFs for the PTOtectI"n IT the
rich and Pr"HiRAie against the majestic hon
and the royal tiger, they have left the great
mass 81 ihe p0vulatiOa. aud pufiieulasy the
youths. to fall an easy prey, aud Ike devoured
By the jAekaIas, hyeaas paHthers. cayotea and
other beasts of prey. WIN lsrk aToSsd oil places
where the people resort for the transaction OG
their oTdiuary everyday busivcAs.
There ia scarcely store. public house, drink.
ing saIOon. mechanic shop. or any place where
the people resort TO do business Or any kind
tina, card rlry;ng or gambling in some Of its sc.
ductire and ruin0ns forms, is MT to BE- sccn,
surrounded By crowd II old men and boys,
who. either fron idle curiosity or acquaintance
With some me engaged in the game, are tempt.
ed To stny and lmk on und thereby lose their
time, which hikLt he employed IN better pur.
pose, or at the earnest solicitation Of some
FREUD they are induced tn take hand in the
gam'e-t~yS merely " learn the game, adults
aud Old men only fur little whisky, cigars,
and snmetimesa little bluff, bray, or poker, aud.
I" make the game interesting, they will gu n
hi or q"dTtSr ante. In this way b0il, time aud
money are wasted, habits uf idlehcss aud dssi-
pati'a are soatFaetsA, the yOsshs NJ the cmnntry
are cOrrSptVi, crimes are eOs.sMiit~t, jaiIs and
peniieniiaSies ere 6llsG, and abe public nre bur.
dened with the expense ~ well rs houses u
correction TO RETURN juvenile offenders who re-.
ceived their first lessons in crime in these pr;-
HI"Ty sehooh IT iniluity. All the rnbbcrs, lnur-
derers, drunkaTds end others, whose crimes
have become burden on the public. and whose
lives are a repr"ach to civilization, eau nearly
all lmk back through the dark and Oftenl,n,es
blOOdy retrospect Of the past, and date with
uuerring certainty the commission Of their
first crime-tleir first transgreasion to the
teaching, the Lessons they learned 10 one Of
these Pr;Hs'y Fkpb pf vis0 .t.>.
The Saviour Of mankind Taught all to pray
to bs " deliUerod' from trmptdfioa." IIow i'm.
PerAuve thea is the duty AZ every good citizen
aud especially ri the Law makers. to use every
means 10 their power to suppress this growing
vice, N remove this great temptation. No man
should be permitted IL do business with the
public under license. WIN would permit card
playing or gambling in any manner or form to
be done in his place Of doing business. Drive
INTO dark plAces-intO denS and caves-tbIa
prevailing vice, and California viii then start
On the highway To prosperity and greatness.
hut until this is done, there is no hope for the
future. tyCiIl s.: ~ 5UNiCS.
Hermitage, Jan. sth, 1860.