The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-10-20
THE ALEXANDRIA sWINDLE.

1t is gratifying to find the secular pres;
applying faithful lash to this Ubiquitous af
fair. Just where the swindle belongs has
not yet been ascertained; but we know thai
all lotteries are essentially gambling con.
Germs, and exceedingly injurious in their
moral effects. We hope that the next Leg
islature instead of spreading over any of them
it's shelteripg wing, will uproot them in every
form and shape, The following from the
Lexington Gagsas expresses sentiments
which are held by ninetenths of the people
of Virginia. Wherever the vice appears, al
Church fairs. or elsewhere, give it "whiI
of scorpions"
"The recent scheme for providing home
for INDECENT women by means of grand
lottery has suddenly come to grief. This
Alexandria lottery went before the people
of Virginia and the whole country, endorsed
by the Governor of the State, and other
gentleman of public position. Many per-
sons were thus tempted to put their money
into the concern, assured of a just, full and
proper management. What has been the
result? A set of New York sharpers have
become possessed of all the money, and the
bewildered officers of the " Montpelier Hu.
name Association are trying to discover the
tricks that are vain and the ways that are
peculiar With the New York sports. Seve-
raj lessons are to be learned from the sud-
den collapse of the grand charitable scheme :
Let. Public officers have no right to use
the influence given them by the State in or
der 20 advance the Interest of any associa-
ZION whatever, especially one carried on in
such q questionable manner as this vas
When citizen accepts an Office at the hands
sof the people, he surrenders his individuality
And becomes part of the State; and whether
be governor, legislator, or magistrate, his
and his name belong to the State, and
es5idden to use it for private purposes
as he is forbidden to quander other
trusts committed to his keeping; his
or the time is sacred to the State
inese Government has removed the
3 Of Canton from Office on account of
neotion with lottery.
Why will men invest money in lot
ckets Leaving out of view the moral
eligious question altogether, as mere
ass matter it never pays. Lotteries
been unusually abundant since the war,
j they have been kept up by the insane
desire of men to become suddenly wealthy.
Each holder of ticket is confident he has
the lucky number and will soon be in full
enjoyment of the capital prize. Why is it we
40 often see men who have met with no mis-
fortune in business, men who have never
suffered losses, yet reduced to beggary?
We say such and such an one never lived
extravagantly, and yet he is bankrupt; he
must have gambled. IT'S too often true
Led astray by the sanguine temperament of
being lucky, and making haste to be rich,
generally come to beggary and ruin
is an Italian prOverb that says, He
ives by hope will die by hunger. y
can be no doubt Of it, if his hopes are
Id in lottery. The best rule of life
Itraot our desires to our present con-
and live within our means. 1t is time
pttery business was put an end to; it
vsded the churches, and the very foun-
Of religion are polluted With its unholy
,nce. Is it any wonder men of the
indulge in such business when they
.ches built, pastors supported, mis-
es cent to heather, and benevolent OBJ
advanced by the same means which they
use to acquire wealth :"