Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1873-06-27
GAMBLING AND ROBBERY.

GAMBLING AND ROBBERY.
Nothing so saps the manhood of individu-
ais, or demoralizes every safeguard of socie-
ty, as the possibility of acquiring money
largely without rendering an equivalent in
useful labor. Public policy, as well as
regard for good morals and religion, requires
that such possibilities should be destroyed or
limited in every possible way by legal en-
actments. We hear rising again the ominous
cry of the French revolutionists, that "prop-
orty is robbery" and the fact that large
proportion Of the property. Of the country
has been acquired without any equivalent
rendered, gives these mob watch-words all
the power they can ever possess. No party
in America can make Roadway against pop
ular intelligence. that holds wealth acquired
as the consequence Of valuable services to
mankind-such wealth as is held by the Is
teys and Fairbankses of Vermont, the Girls
wods Of New York, the McCormicks Of II.
linois, the Bigelows and Ameses of Massa-
chusetts, and other great inventors, or the
great merchants and manufacturers Of the
country-to be robbery 1t is too well
known that the services Of such men add
vastly more to the general wealth than to
their individual fortunes and that it is emf
nently for the interest of society that talents
and skill such as theirs should be encouraged
for the benefit of all.
But it is very different with the fortunes
acquired by spectators like Jim Fisk, Jay
Gould, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Daniel
Drew or their humber imitators on Wall
and State streets, in faro banks, or at the
card table. The property in their possession
has been plundered from the pockets of those
who made it by the labor of their heads and
hands. They are public robbers, moro dan.
gerous, because their example is more de.
moralizing, than the professional burglars
and pickpockets whom an army of police.
men is maintained to look after.
That example! All it has penetrated to
every hamlet in the land lit has entered
into every section of society; has dared to
ensconco itself in the very sanctuary of the
Christian church, as the money-changers Of
Jerusalem seated themselves at the doors OF
the temple, making, as the Lord said, His
Fathers House den of thieves. This has
been done by the liberation and popularza-
tion Of the gambling spirit.
Everywhere we see indications Of the prev.
alcnce Of this spirit. You cannot take a
journey on the cars but the temptation to
gamble is offered to you, and to your chill.
drcn with you, in the form of prize pack.
ages" Of candy or other merchandise You
can hardly take up newspaper, or take
your mail from the post office, without meet
ing like temptations in the advertisements OF
circulars OF gift enterprises or lotteries
thinly disguised under some ostcnsible pur
pose Of bcnevolcnce or public benefit. Il
is astonishing and Notwithstanding to see thu
extent Of this Generalization. From tn,
very pulpits out of which illuminate denun
! citation Of dancing and card.playing fol
amusement and recreation merely, We hea
read announcements of church fairs wher
grab.bags, fsh.ponds, prizo-cakes, and doz
en- other devices of the devil plant in youth
| full breasts that lust of unearncJ gain which
7 is the very essence Of gambling, and tho frs
element of all fraud, robbery and murder.
We read, every little while, Of the raids o
the police in the great cities upon the far
! banks, ana of the arrest, ining and incarcer
7 alton OF tho gamblers and their victims
Yet what huge hypocricy, fit to make Satal
8 "grin horribly a ghastly smile,' to do this
y when in the very center Of business in cacl
e city is found at least one street devoted en-
: tirely to gambling in the most open way am
{ on the most unrestricted scale, carried OF
/ and participated in by men Of the utmos
3 social respectability, by public officials mer
] chants, bankers, and their clerks, many O
g whom are regarded as pillars Of Chrstia
$ societies,-societies worshipping often j
/ splendid churches built with money game
k by gaming, and ministercd to by clergyme
: who not only fail to denounce the sins Q
d their congregations, but who do not hesitat
n themselves to make their little ventures upo
+ the rise and fall of stocks, Of gold, or tn
: public securities. Yet we turn up our eye
n and noses in piOus horror when we rea
i about the poor little cock-hghtiDg priests {
Mexico,-just as we do, with infanticid
l. all around us, when we hear Of the sam
C thing in heather" lands.
n Is this pretty harsh writing for the editC
It of an agricultural and family newspaper
g as our friend of the Montpelier Argus cal
l. us, intmating that those words define OF
70 utmost limits Perhaps SO, but We woul
IF like to ask where ia human society rests II
N hope Of an effort to reform these evils il n
Of among the intelligent and comparatively Vi
s. tainted agricultural population of this coul
t. try2 Even in the villages, gambling,
x decorous, is not discrelitable, aud if indec
a rOus, and even when accompanied with pi