The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-21
The Louisiana state r.otsery.
srro,, INC New orleans pIca,une Of juno is.hl

--
The Ionisiana State Lottery.
iron ,hc New Orleans Pica,use Of juno lsts.l
TO THE prBLIc.
The persistent attacks which have been
made ON the Louisiana State Lottery, in
which it has been characterized IS a swim
die, render it proper that we should make
the following statement, as it Is well known
that we superlntend The grand drawings OF
that lottery. which take place semi-an.
nuaily:
In regard to the motives and purposes
which have prompted those attacks we have
no comment to make; but as. II It DC true
] that the said lottery Is swindle, we cannot
expect TO escape a part OF the outum when
should properly attach to it, and there would
be no possible excuse for our longer retain-
ing our connection with 1t, we cannot re-
main silent.
we may first observe that charges, how
ever persisted IN. do not constitute guilt,
nor does denunciatiop, however bitter,
amount to proof.
We believe that comparison between tho
schemes Of the Louisiana State Lottery and
those OF any other lottery will show thaf
the former are as liberal as those of~any lot
terry that is honestly conducted; and when
those schemes are made public, showing
the number and price of tickets and the
amount OF money to be distributed,
with the mode OF distributing it, any
intelligent person can estimate the
chances of the ticket-hoders. Fraudu-
lent Iotteries-that is, lotteries in which
it is intended that no prizes shall be drawn
or paid-may presentschemes that are appa-
ren,ly more liberal. for in them the ticket
holder has no chance whatever. When the
schemes OF the Louisiana State Lottery are
made known there are but three ways IN
which swindle can be rerpetrated: l. BY
o delusiye and dishonest drawing. 3. By the
PRONUNCIATION OF drawing different from
that which actually takes place. g. BY a re-
fusal or failure to pay the prizes drawn.
We are not aware that either OF these
things has been charged against the Louisi-
ana State Lottery, but il either has been
charged or insinllated, it cannot, in our
opinion, be sustained by proof or by any
probable grounds for. believing the truth OF
the charge. The drawings which have been
superintended BY Us have been made under
our exclusive control and management in
all their details, and we have taken such
precautions rs to prevent the possibility OF
deception in any respect. We have like
wise taken especial care to see that the draw
ings we Superintended were Published eX-
actly as they.took place.
We venture to assert that it has rarely, II
ever, happened, in the case OF any lottery
drawn in this or any other country, that
such especia. pains and precautions have
been taken in the preparations for and con-
duct Of the drawings as we have adopted.
we have many reasons for believing that
the other drawings Of this lottery which we
have not superintendent have been conduct
ed with entire fairness, and the results cor
Tectly published.
We will here state that il in the drawings
we have surerintended it has happened that
most OF the large prizes have been drawn
by the Lottery Company itself. it is owing
10 the fact that not near half OF the tickets
have been sold.
II lottery is fairly drawn, and the prizes
are paid in full as drawn, it makes no Diff
ference with the individual ticket-holder
whether the Lottery Company is the owner
of the other tickets besides his own, or
whether they are held by other individuals.
The managers for this Lottery Company
have evnced in all the dealings we have
had with them the determination to conduct
their business on legitimate, fair, and hon.
est principles, as it is undoubtedly their in
terest to do, and we have neither discovered
sincerity.
II the objections to this lottery are founded
on the idea that all lotteries are, from their
nature, necessarily demoralizing and dis
honest, we have no disposition to discuss
the question, but will merely say that they
have been sanctioned and defended by men
of the most eminent character, and among
others by the author Of the Declaration OF
independence in a letter written by him a
few years before his death. The Congress
OF the United States, during the admins
rration OF Mr.. Madison, and with his APP
proval. authorized lotteries in the District
of Columbia for the Improvement OF wash
ington city, and at some time or other they
have been authorized by the legislatures OF
most OF the States. II they are BOW pro-
hibited In most Of the States, we imagine
that it is owing principally to the TACT that
the privilege has been abused when I'M
Drovidently and indiscriminately granted.
For the opinions OF those who, from
sincere religious or moral convictions, OBJ
iect to all lotteries, because they regard
them as having immoral tendencies, we have
great respect; but, as we do not share their
scrupleS, and our experience and observa-
tion have convinced US that, from the in
nate propensity OF men to take chances and
risks, lotteries cannot be etfectually prohib-
tied by law, but will exist, in some form or
other, in spite OF the most rigid penal en-
actmentS, we have had no scruples about
undertaking to see that the drawings OF the
principal schemes of the Louisiana State
Lottery ARE fairly conducted and pro-
mulgated, in order to give assurance
TO the tichet-holders that they are
honestly dealt with. We found that lot
terry in existence under charter Whicn
has some fifteen years yet to run, and
which has the force and effect OF q con-
tract that is irrepealable, as we believe.
Under these circumstances, for us 10 I'M
dertake to see that its drawings were falriy
conducted could do no injury to the pubic
interest or morals, whatever might be the
abstract merits of the general question; and,
as our obligations to see fair play are TO the
company. as well as to individuals, for Us to
remain Silent whenuni ust charges are made
against it which reflect on Us indirectly, II
not directly, would argue degree OF moral
as well as physical cowardice Of which we
trust no zone will suspect is.
As 10 the objection that, the Louisiana
State Lottery is q monopoly, We do no see
that it is a very serious one, but arc OF
opinion that it is for the better that the
charter confers monopoly. II lotteries are
all great evils, then it is better that they
should exist as monopolies than that the
right to conduct them should be general.
When the privilege is coafned to few OF
to single corporation 1t is more likely to
n kI n hos