The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-28

of being loosened. The respectable men who |
give their public sanction to lotteries have |
either lost all sense OF their wrong, or they |
think the public conscience is weakened on |
the subject and that they are IN no danger OF |
being called TO account.
And this latter, we ear, IL the true state of
the case. The spirit OF gambling seems 10 have
taken possession Of the public mind as with the
power and lage OF madness. II careers over the
country and the world like destructive tor
nado. II looks as though 1t would tear up the
even foundations OF right and wrong and OBJ
lterate, or at least cover up with flying RUBBISH
the very sense of honesty between man ard
man, why, II II comes to be settled that gam
bling operation IS a legitimate method OF alien
atibp property, then whv not, in time, any other
method OF robtery Look abroad See the
gan bling In the so-called highest circles both
here and in Europe. Thnk oil Baoen- BaOeu,
with Its gamblng princes and miliona res,
where dice and cards rest not, day nor night
Remember Saratoga, formerly a happy and
innocent resort Tor the SICK ami weary, now
place AT which gambling hoids perpetual c8rni
val where even women play deep and bet with
all the boldness OF men, shaminG husbands and
brothers, ana converting themselves rom ladies
lntO disgusting, staggering AmaZOns. Here,
TOO, within two or three years, has come the
horse-race, bringing Its exciting blight OF bet
ting ana bluster and bravado IN the place OF the
genial quiet which formerly was so noteworthy
feature OF the place. Ol all the forms of
gambling, horse-racine seems most nearly allied
U coarseness and vulearity. Toe race implies
the jockey, and at the mention OF that word the
ANhhNN ih'NAiNOA bVEluo w Shllhhs
Close upon the heels of the lottery Just drawn
comes another, already beginning to crowd the
newspapers. Jt is a lottery pretending to be for
the btneht of the soldiers, and thus appealing TO
the patriotism OF the nation against its virtue.
OF the same nature is the great yaChtrace across
the Atlantic, which has Just taken place. We
do net affirm that greed OF gain was the chief
Indictment with those who have been smade
heroes by the great yacht race. But we take II
for granted that there was considerable betting
on it, and we know that the victor was lmmedl-
ately challenged by prince OF the bloJo roy
for race around the Isle OF Wight tor wager,
and accepted the challenge.
The hcartless spirit OF gambling is mani est in
this great ocean boat-race in its recklessness of
human lite. 1t was toolhardy and Heaven
daring in the extreme TO cross the great ocean
in dIminutive yacht, when mammoth steamers
were advertising for passengers. 1t was espe-
Cially so when nothing CHER was in view than
the honor OF an empty and trivial victory.
And then what might have been expected aCtu-
ally took place. Human lie was sacrificed
NOT one lie, but Fix at least. But what is that
if the whlms of goddess devotees of pleasure
and small ambition are to be gratlded? "Oh, but
they have raised subscriptions Tor the Wi1O VS.;
they have gone beyond their bond.' Their pro-
fame folly has left husbands and fathers at the
bottom of the sea, but they have lound out the
value of human lie, aud paid the price. When
the yachts reached ENGLAND the whole
cheers. The six dead men, murdered
by the race, did not give the sliah est check to
lDb TbJO ClIB OIL eltleT SlQ6 OF Jle ATLANTIC.
The aurels awaited the heroes every where
The royalty and nobility OF England threw open
their palaces and welcomed them with pRans.
The Emperor o. France personally Congratulated
the victor, and this great land gratefully ac-
cepted the compliments. Our view is that we
ought rather 10 blush and hang down our heads.
care reminded by these daring, fancy mariners
OF the Seven wise men Of Gotham" who vent
to sea in bowl. hit was something grand to
cross the ocean in little yacht, at the risk OF
being washed over by the first big Wave 1t was
surely greater courage to attempt 10 cross in a
bowl. 1t is, indeed, noble spirit that prompts
tue lisk OF lie in the cause Of God and Humanity
but Il is as puerlie as it is rash TO Try how
near we can drive to the edge of the prec-
pice. These gay mariners have doubtless
shown courage, and If they would only
turn their courage into some nobler chan-
mel, instead OF trothy and thoughtes5
/ applause, they might WIN the grateful tears and
/ prayers of humanity. The courage OF THESE
men, baptized with the spirit OF Christ. would
make them hitting successors OF John Howard
and carry them undismayed through the loath-
some and infected prisons aud almshouses o. the
/ world, the good angels OF the poor and suffering.
| As it is they have only played game, ouly run
| boat race, at gleat expense OF money and
the loss OF six human lives. Instead OF blessing
men, they have but won an irrational hurrah
! and given an Impulse to the spirit OF gambling.
Whatever the princes OF the blood in Enc land
! or the would-be French C@ear may think, what
ever the trothy and thougbtless may say, we
hold that the great yacht race was not only a
useless piece of pomp, an expensive vanity, but
that ii is marked and stained with the blood oil
men. We think OF it only with pain, and II we
could reach the ears OF its little heroes, we would
remind them that the praise they have heard Is
not the voice of the wise, or the good, OF
thoughtful, but only of the troth OF society
no me tier how gilt with foreign titles or with
American gold.
Another evidence of the prevalence OF the
gambling spirit among us Is seen in the loves
stratum OF life III the fern OF prlze-nghts, now
rapidly on the increase. As in the crosby opera
House lottery, We see gambling putting on th'
double veil OF art and Iespectabihty; as IN th'
| sold eTs' lottery, soon to come OIL In New ork
we see it snugly enscouced in the uniform OF thu
Boys in Blue" sitting under the star -Spang e'
Banner, with a crutch tor tiaPstaf, as IN th
horse-race, we hear it pirate about improving
the breed Of horses; as in the yacht'race, we se
it bearing the trident of Neptune, and hear
declam about triumph over the sea. So IN tn
prize fight We see il allying itself with the orut
In man, and playing its game with the nst, ac
cordlng TO the rules OF the ring. Aud Wby not
1t one party is to gamble according to It's tastes
| why not another? The PoOles, the Hey eTs, InC
MoInsseys have no taste loT plctures; but thel
have pluck quite equal to that Of Yacht-racers
Like the victims OF Crosby they are ond oil eA1I
bluons OF art ''the manly AIT tOtseltdeense; OF Tx
them, they have q passion toI betting, Whlcl
the faro bank and kindred private games 90 no
entirely satisfy, because they do not bring theu
su1hcepily before the pu0llc eye. Tney mus
exhibit and bll the newspapers in the line Q
thlnes IN which they are Skilled an tneir priLe
1 lights are as natural a result OF the gamDllh
9 propensity as an art lottery. They have as III
g tense eradication in thrashing and heecln
: an antagonist as MIR. Crosby has in OutWlttin
{, the gullble public. They do not beat on
\ another blaCker and bluer, in actual colofs, INA
2 tDe more respectable lottery men 90 ID iei
! rloiy earnest figure And as long as gamOilh
+, IS fashionable, itmay be expected that each 0
I me gan OHne classes will cone to the suflac