Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-04-16

has favored as with some very e1-
celleut articles concerning th6
gamblers Of our city which should
meet general endorsement, 90 they
are intended 20 preserve the morali.
" Of our city and to prevent, by anl
/ chance, = recurrence Of the days 0
vice when the citizens were com.
PEELED to rise up against the mon
stFous evil. But VIC do not believe
the author intends TO convey the
idea that il Is at ell advisable or
necessary to use mob law. Neither
the exigency Of the occasion, nor
the temper Of the people require
1t. But this subject Of gambling
has been brought prominently be-
fore the people and under such cir
cumstances II becomes the part Of
q newspaper to speak It's views
boldly without fear, favor or alice
ton.
OF course there could be no mis-.
taking the position the HERALD
would assume upon any question
affecting the interests or the morals
of our city. There can be no doubt
in the minds of sensible persons
that gaming Is a great evil, u seri-
GUS moral wrong, an injury TO a
community in many ways. We
doubt If gambler would himself
attempt to justify It as moral, pc.
litic or wise, proper for the en-
dOrsement OF a public community.
But there are always two sides toa
question ; that is, an ex parte dc.
cision can hardly be a fair one.
While gaming is unquestionably
cOndemnable, which is the best
way to control or stop it?
Can 1t be hoped, reasonably, that
in a growing and prospecting city
like this we can eradicate the evil
and keep 1t from our doors?
The experience of all other cities
of our size, and presenting the same
attractions In wealth and prosperity
that we do, teach US to the contrary.
Are we to continue to have these
legal contests between the law and
it's ~violatOrs that have occurred In
the past two or three months ? And
still more pertinently we ask Are
these gamblers to be made the VIC
tins Of q system of black-mailing
for the benefit Of the pockets OF
men equally or more guilty than
themselves?
The evil OF gambling to-day is no
greater moral wrong, and should be
treated with no greater severity,
than the sale Ofintoxicating liquors.
This may seem a bold expression,
but the rejecting aud candid mind
will agree with u.s..
Which Is the most powerful dc.
mOralizer-the wine cup or the
gaming table?
Will not liquor sooner make a
brute OF a man aud sooner send his
soul 10 a moral helll Every bar
room in this city should pay a H.
cense of two thousand dollars or
even more, so that not more than
six houses could be kept oDen, or
they should be entirely free. The
gambling saloons should be placed
upon the same footing.
A man may as we'll pay away his
money for cards as trade away his
and soul for whisky. But
both Of these evils are what
we must call, If we are practical,
necessary evils. That is, as q city,
we arc and will be subject to them.
Then let us try and control, ii we
cannot stop the wrong. Therefore,
we say, license the gambling
even as bar rooms are Il.
,ensed. Let them DO as open as
bar rooms so that a man need not
sneak into them and so that they
shall not be a refuge and hiding
place Of vice, but open broadly to
The inspection of any aud every
One.
II the moral sense Of aHy portion
Of our community is shocked at the
thought Of licensing gambling
houses we will ask such: Will not
the evil exist any way? Can they
point out any sure practical way Of
efiecting a complete cure? Can
they point to a city Of any size and
prosperity where the evil does not
Is 1t not better that these
Of vice should be open to in
spection where, If a man or a youth
goes, he must go boldly and above
board instead of hiding himself in a
den where, free from curious or
watchful eyes, he can drink and
with impunity2 Perhaps
1t may be asked how can We control
these places, even by granting them