The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-23

In Don Nc tIuy - w.
Loul6iKI State Ldtdf. MkHeAry a.
poate, sAree stoc1 1hoIdcr the ainsh-
tuition, mas instit6ted suit against the
president. Chas. 7. Howard. and the
directors, for . certain share OF the
|prDflts which he alleges is due him and
has been withheld by them.
In this part Of the suit the public has
little or no interest. But Mfr. da Ponte,
Ia his bill fled In the United States Cir
cult Court, makes allegations which.
| II true, show that the Louisiana Lot
terry" has beth corruptly administer
ed, and that much OF the vast sums
OF money It's. directory have derived
from its denorslizing and corrupting
operations has been expended In buy
Ing up Legislatures, newspapers and
courts; In short, that while It has been
fiourishing upon the earnings Of the
public. IL has laid it's poluting
hand upon all the agencies that
government and civilization have es-
tabtished to protect the interests and
fpromote the welfare Of society, and
dragged them down into the slutn OF Its
own corrupt existence.
The bill or the orator alleges that tho
original capital stock Of the company
was fixed ut one million dollars. divided
into ten thousand shares. That the
directors appropriated $500 shares OF
this stock, for which they never paid q
cent. and that the remaining 5000 shares
were distributed by them as full paid
stock for corrupt purpose. and that not
o dollar of IL was paid for This insti-
tuition thus founded. with no more cash
than was necessary to put It's cor
rupt machinery In motion, the orator
allirms has cleared &3.0O0.000 since
| It came into existence: that the presi-
dent and directors have only account
ed for one half OF this sum, aud that
three hundred thousand dollars have
been paid by them ''for illegal purposes,
such as bribing the members OF the
State Legislature and other State on
GERS, ~ well as for other purposes. +"
"rhe other State officers and other pur-
poses" referred to by the orator. It is q
matter Of public belief. are members Of
the State Judiciary aud the press.
The clear and distinct proposition
EN- bodied la the bill OF the orator is
that the President and directors OF the
Lottery Company have bought up the
| Legislature and courts of the State and
n portion at least Of the newspaper
press This Is a proposition in which
every citizen OF Louisiana has u direct
aud vital interest. Mr.. Da Ponte Il not
therefore merely private litigant. he
Is In reality representing, besides his
| own interest. the interest OF the whole
people, and the public will look to him
and his attorneys to spare no effort to
substantiate the grave charges he has
made against Mr., Howard and his
directors, and whioh>are universally be-
lieved to be true. '7i
Mr.. Heward, through the large means
he controls, II IL said, exercises q great
influence in our politics: he Is said to be
able to stock ward meetings. and in
some Instances to control nominations
in the Democratic party; he has his
agents and followers all over the
city, and there can be no question
that he has become a power, and
very strong power. In New Orleans,
II not in the State. These facts
largely increase the public interest in
the suit aud in the allegations Of Mr..
Da Ponte. IT Mr.. Howard is u power
In the Democratic party, and has been
buying legislatures and courts and pub
lie journals In the interest Of the
company OF which he Is president,
Mr. Howard's power In the. Dem
ocratic party must be broken
down. For II the party thus in
Gucnced obtains the control Of the
State, We will have nothing better to
expect from II than we have received at
the hands OF tho Radical party; II thus
| Influenced IL succeedA to power, it's busi-
ness will be to protect old and create
new monopolies. and to orRanize judi
oiaries and elect legislatures to protect
Its monstrosities. 1t Is a happy thing
that this matter has been broached by
this suit; it Is fortunate that the orator
has large interest in proving his alle-
cations; that ho Is an honorable and
responsible man, and that the cause
Is In the hands Of somo OF
the ablest members OF the New Orleans
bar. We trust all the facts In relation
to the management OF the Lottery Com
pauy will now be brought out. If Sena-
tors and Representatives have been
bought let the fact be exposed If
judges Of our courts have been bribed
let them be held up to public scorn and
| indignation; II newspapers have become
tho tools Of corrupt men lot us know
what papers they are.
| We have no doubt many of the stock
holders Of the Louisiana Lottery in
vested in 1t with honorable motives,
and because they believed that, hon
estly managed, 1t would pay handsome
dividends on the stock. But il the allie
| fynftona NJ Mr. ya pnntasa hjll ro atis :