The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-11-14
A National LotterY2

Mr.. EDITOR with your permission, / will lay
hefore your readers a few thoughts on the present
financial necessities of the country. and a sugges-
ton of how to supply them. There are a great
many things that we see might be done, If we had
the means at command Of government. but which
it is hopeless to expect will ever be accomplished
as things go now. I refer to such needed public
works for the development of these naturally
favored isles, as the making of good roads and
bridges, deepening and constructing harbors for
shipping, and works of irrigation. Could we be
enabled to go extensively into this sort of public
Improvements, the islands would at once take an
Immense stride forward in material prosperity, and
population would be attracted bitber. Without
them, our progress must be at a snail's pace, and
from the present outlook. in a retrograde direction
even.
In listening to the general talk about the pro-
posed national loan OF a million of dollars. i find
that opinions vary as to the probability of its &C
complishment. Many laugh contemptuously at the
idea, and but few seem s~anguine of its SUGGEST
But, let me ask, why not try a NATIONAL LOTTERY
whereby to raise funds for national improvements
l imagine l hear, on the mere mention OF the word.
a chorus of cries OF holy horror at the suggestion
of what will be characterized as highly immoral
"a nothing more nor less than gambling.
Looking at the subject calmly, we may judge Of
the proposition more fairly, and find that our pref
udices have most to do with our opposition to the
lottery system. The principle of a lottery is coeval
with human society, and has the sanction of Holy
Scripture. in numberless instances. According to
Webster, a lot (from which comes lottery is that
which, in human speech is called chance, hazard
fortune, but, in strictness of language, is the de-
termination of Providence.
Lotteries. in their highest application, are institu-
tons for raising the revenue of a country by grant
ing TO those who voluntarily contribute the chance
of obtaining a rrversion of part Of the money col
lected. The practice may be traced back to a
very ancient period. In 1880, the Lotto" Of
Florence was established for the necessities OF the
state, and the example was quickly followed
throughout Europe. The first lottery established
in England was drawn in 1869. 1t consisted Of
5000 lots, which were sold at los. each. The
prizes were pieces of plate and the profits were
devoted to the repair of certain harbors in the
kingdom. In 1912 a lottery was granted in behalf
of the Virginia Company and in 1880 the same
privilege was accorded to a contractor who under
took to supply London with water. The 6rst par
liamentary lottery was Instituted in 1909, and
from this period till 1924, the passing of a lottery
bill was in the programme of every session. Since
that year. lotteries have been forbidden in England
by law. Since 1874 artunions have hourished
(being tolerated) in Britain, and they are founded
on the lottery principle, like the gift enterprises Of
the United States. Leans have been raised by the
State through lotteries in Austria, Denmark, Baden
and Prussia.
To come down to our present times, and our
nearest neigbbors. Everybody who reads the Cal
iforniA papers will remember the "Gift Enter
prise " Of the San Francisco Mercantile Library
Association, some two years ago, and how that
very worthy institntion-one Of the noblest Of the