Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-09-18

pie and State, there are unmitigated
evils that flow in their train--evils that
the directors of the Society could pre-
cent, and which the public sentiment de-
mands should-7so far as their agency at
least is concerned-cease. / allude to
the different gambling operations that
are carried on within the grounds of the
Fair. AS corporation, they have the
power to put the ban of their displeasure
and prohibition upon these violations of
law. But with the full knowledge of
this violation of the statutes of the State
in open daylight, they permit their
grounds to be made the theatre for the
enactment of scenes disgusting to every
chaste mind, every lover of good order,
and every well wisher for the morals of
society.
The directors may say, we reap an i'll
come from this, and the society needs
all the income it can secure, to help pay
the demands upon its treasury for pay
ment of premiums and expenses. But |
ask, what right have these directors to
lease their grounds to parties whose sole
business is to demoralize society, cor
rupt the young, and open the Hood gates
of sin, through which the torrents Of
| crime and destruction may rush unimpe-
ded in their course carrying thousands to
ruin and death? Good men in society
have already enough to contend with, to
|
stay the progress of sin and crime, with
out being retarded in their efforts by our
State Agricultural Society, throwing
open broad the grounds they control for
honorable and legitimate purposes, to
wicked and corrupt men, upon which
they may practice their gambling arts,
i and from the unsophisticated and un-
suspecting, draw.their dishonest support
| for their livelihood in crime. But such
| is the case from year to year. / am
! bold to say, that if this course is to be
| pursued, if the people are to be drawnto
| our fairs to become the prey of gamblers
upon grounds controlled by the society,
! it were better, infinitely so, that the So
ciety disband, and never hold another
fair in the State. And am not alone in
my views and feelings upon this matter.
Thousands of good men and women
! whose children are growing mp to man
/ hood and upon whom they rely for sup
port and aid in their declining years, are
loud in their depunciati0n5 of this i'm
creasing evil, that threatens not only the
welfare of their, own children, and their
| personal welfare and happiness, but the
well-being of our State. -.
+ When the barriers that the State has
raised to stay the progress of crime
among us as a people are broken down,
dishonored and t,ampled under foot by
any body of men--incorporated or
not, it behooves all good men, who wish
we'll to humanity, who would have law
respected and obeyed, to raise their voice
against such a wicked course: Nay,
further Go before the Grand Jury of
: the county, and have such presented for
violations of law and the consequent
infection of untold evils and wrongs up
on the body polite. All, but, says the
director, such evils are sure TO flow in
E large gatherings of the people upon any
. occasion. Such evils as gambling, etc,
will, / am aware, more or less, crowd into
and around large, indiscriminate gather
ings of the people upon holiday occa-
sions: but if so, they pay no premium
to any man or body of men, with the
! sanction of law or otherwise. Grounds
cannot be leased for such purposes by an
individual but in violation of law, and
if this is true in an individual, equally
true is it in any society or body of men
enjoying corporate powers for the tran
saction of any branch of legitimate bust.
ness whatsoever. -..-..a.
The Vermont State Agricultural Soci
ETY. was formed for noble purposes, ant
so long as it confines its action within
. its legitimate sphere, 1t will accomplish
noble results, and be blessing TO the
/ State. But ST. long as it permits grounds
set apart for the accomplishment OF no
bic ends, to be used as the public resor
| of the gambler and the 9windler, it u
doing injustice to the people, and sus
7 tanning the violation of laws passed tC
I promote the happiness and virtue OF thu
people What have said, with propri
, ETY. will also apply to our county fairs
j where these evils are permitted for thu
: sake of gain. | do hope that this en-
couragement to vice will never be again
permitted by our State Agricultural So
ciety, and that our county fairs that ar
: to be holden, will Danish from thei
grounds everything in the form of gam
Y bling, and make their exhibitions
e source, not merely of amusement, bu
! also contribute to the real happiness am
. profit of the people. CANDoR
Middebury, September 10th.