Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-06

not Ine wheat ring, Tor which MIR. HodgsOn
seems to have kind regard.
ATHLETIC SPORTS.
To great extent the religious world has
set its face against an indulgence in nearly
all of the popular sports of the day. Games
of chance have received merited condemna-
ton from the pulpit, and games in which
chance plays only an unimportant part have
also been spoken of as pernicious and de-
basing. Cards, billiards, horse racing, boat
ing, ball-playing, and all manner of other
sports, have been denounced as sinful in
themselves, and as tending to promote dis
solute habits, gambling and debauchery.
The SUNDAY GLOBE has not been wholly in
sympathy with the clergy on this subject.
Recognizing as it has done that there is
much force to the objection to these sports,
1t has felt that the condemnation was too
broad, and that all of the sports mentioned
were harmless in themselves, and to be en-
couraged if not perverted. Cards afford a
means of relaxation in the home circle or
the social gathering; billiards is harmless
game, requiring great skill, GOODNESS and
( geometrlc accuracy; horse-racing is not hurt
ful, for there is nothing wrong in display
Of speed between two or more finely spirited
animals, while boating, ball-playing and rifle
practice are strengthening to the physical
frame and calculated to develop many
manly qualities. We believe that men of
culture and gentility, Christians and sinners
alike, can indulge in any or all of these
sports without detriment to his moral or
physical nature, and we have all along been
inclined to encourage the effort manifested
for several years past among sporting men
to raise these sports to high level, and
make them worthy of the coun-
tenance and support of clergymen and
gentlemen of every grade. billiard
table in home is an attraction to the youth.
It tends to keep them off the street and away
from the saloons. Nor is public exhibi-
ton or match to be condemned as long as it
is made test of skill between experts.
So with horse race or rowing match.
Both are absolutely harmless as long as they
are properly conducted, and ought to be
encouraged by gentlemen and patronized by
ladies.
But we regret to observe that of late many
OF these sports have been passing under a
cloud which threatens to destroy them and
| render them worthy of all the condemnation
that has been heaped upon them A few
billiardists have striven to make the game
respectable, but the majority have endeav-
ored to surround it with all the allurements
of vice. AS publicly played it has become a
gambling game,and not a fair gambling game
at that. Matches are made between skilled
players and ''sold," to use sporting term,
whenever those outside of the ring have been
lnveigled into risking their money in wagers
so with horse-racing. few tracks have
rigidly excluded the gambling element, but
the majority allow it full swing. Even boat
ing has become contaminated with the con-
tag1on, and instead of being manly strife
for the mastery at the oar it has degenerated
to the level of the gaming table. The three
or four races that have recently taken place
at the East between Hanlan and his COM
petitors have done more to bring boating
into disrepute than anything else that has
occurred since the sport first was recognized
as attractive. And so with other popular di-
versions. They have all fallen more or less
under the baleful influence of the pool-room,
and are manipulated in the interest and for
the benefit of the gambling fraternity.
We hold that public athletic sports are a
positive benefit to a nation, and ought to re-
ceive the encouragement Ct all classes of the
community. But this encouragement can
not be had nor expected so long as they are
conducted as at present. There is nothing
debasing in any of the sports we have named
if they are managed as they ought to be, but
if they are turned over to the gamblers and
made means of encouraging that most rep
rehensible of all vices, they will deserve and
receive the severest censure. It behooves
those interested in their maintenance to
make an earnest effort to elevate the stand
ard of their surroundings, and make the
billiard room, the race track and the ball
ground every way reputable resorts for men
and women of responsibility and refinement
This cannot be done without strong, de-
termined effort, for the gamblers will not re-
lax their hold without struggle. But if
athletic sports are to become popular in this
country they must be made respectable.
When this result shall be attained the Sun.
DAY GLOBE will come to their defense and
sustain them with all its great influence.
But until that time we must be allowed the
privilege of criticising and condemning
their conduct in the interests of public
morality.
Internal Revenue Statistics.
The collector of internal revenue, in ac-
cordance with instructions from Commits