The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-10-07
Gambling.

the indulgence OF which the curses
OF Heaven are, pronounced. The
destruction of body and soul it
brings upon the individual who per-
sistently indulges in it; the sorrow,
and often misery and destitution,
entailed upon the gamblers family;
the corrupting influence it excrts
upon society, in enticil'g the youth
and virtuous away from a life Of
honesty and sobriety, to one of dis
sipation and infamy, have stamped
it with a character at once destr,lc-
tive of virtue and happincss--an
enemy to man, and a heinous sin III
Gods sight.
In former years this evil was i'll
dulged III openly, throughout tie
country. The mind of the young
and growing Republic lad not, as
yet, been drawn to full realization
of its character and influence. Ev-
cry hotel, and Steamboat, and saloon,
and public place of resort, as we'll
as many private homes, permitted
its free indulgence; but, as time
swept on, and the victims of its in-
satiate cupidity aud dissipation were
falling upon every side, spreading
ruin and dcsolation among the rich,
as well as increasing the dcstitution
and misery of the poor, demand
for its expurgation arose to every
lip-the moral sentiment of our peo-
pie became arrayed againstit. This
sentiment assumed the form of strin-
gent laws, accompanied by rigorous
penalties, the object Of which was
to punish and restrain, and, if pos
sible, entirely prevent the indulgence
OF this pernicious sin. IN many OF
the older States these laws, backed
by uniform public sentiment, lave
had their influence for good. Gam
bling can no longer be indulged iii
openly, but must seek for gratitica-
tion in the secret, midnight hatlilts
of the criminal and lawless. In
newer States and Territories, the
laws, if enacted at all, are not SO
vigorously enforced, lacking the
power of a uniform public senti-
ment of condemnation. Here, for
instance, in portions of Oregon, and
in California, and i'll the Territories
contiguous, this sin aud crime of
gambling is indulged in most fear
fully. Men, in many instances, have
staked their fortunes on the cast of
a single die, or the playing of a few
games of cards, and have lost.
Their money has been swept away
as by the wind, and wives and chill
dren, once in atfiuence, are now in
destitution. The concomitant of
gaming, too, is dissipation. Liquor
keeps up the excitement and
strengthens the purpose. Gamblers
are proverbially drunkards, sooner
or later. The brain on fire by Ii
quor, and driven to desperation by
repeated losses, how many crimes OF
murder are annually committed !.
The dust of murdered victims might
tell. The chronicler of evil can
alone aggregate the vast amount of
crimes that annually swell into a
mighty tide from this influence and
practice.
This being the fact, is it not wise
in every individual, in every corpo-
ration, or society, to exert every pos
sible influence and agency to dis
courage, and break up, if possible,
the indulgence in this vice? Should
our town and city corporations show
a laxity on this subject, and thus
encourage the evil? Should our
annual county fairs open their gates
to the admission of games of chance
and wholesale swindling and gam
bling? Should our State give re-
spectability to such a course by set
ting the example? We are not
finding fault with any particular
county fair, for, SO far as we can
learn by the press, they are all alike,
and equally open to criticism Oh this
head. Too much indulgence is
given to those games, which all who
are informed concerning them know
| to be swindling games.
We know that horse-men will
turn up their noses WHEN we say,
that too much prominence is given
to horse racing in our fairs. The
other departments are almost neg
lected for the want OF sufficient en-
couragement, and hundreds of men
and women are kept away because
of this prominence. Let them stay
| away, is answered. No, that is not
correct. Our fairs should be man.
aged in such a way as to encourage
everybody to come. Every depart.
ment should be fully represented