The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-19
PROSTITUTION OF THE MAIL SER.
WOE.

A special to tho DEMOCRAT from Washing
ton, dated March ts, informed Che public that
the Louisiana Lottery Company had com
bined with other lottery companies In the
United States to dispute, In the courts, the
constitutionalty OF the law of Congress pro
hibiting the circulation through the mails Of
lottery and indecent matter, and that theeom-
bination was also moving, through Beast
Butler, to have the law repealed. In the same
issue Of the DEMOCRAT, in which this special
appeared, we printed an extract from the Gin
cnnaH Enquirer, stating that Chas. L. How
ard had employed Mr.. Moulton, brother-in-
law OF John Sherman, to interfere to prevent
the Issue of orders detrimental to the lottery
business.
Thus it will be seen that the Lottery Com
pany, having bought enough members OF the
Louisiana Legislature to prevent the repeal OF
Its Ubiquitous charter or of the Infamous act
No. Of 1874, has now turned Its attention to the
movement OF the Federal authorities against
Its prostitution Of the mail service. Nor does
It appear that the managers OF this concern
have lost any Of that sagacity in selecting
their instruments for working cut their
purposes which was SO conspicuously
displayed by them In the manipulation OF
the remarkable Legislature Of 1868. They
have selected Mr. Monlton the brother-in-law
OF the Secretary Of the Treasury. Eliza Pink
ston Sherman, at a very large SALARY, to pre-
vent the issue Of orders for the enforcement
Of very wise and salutary law, aud they
have, no doubt. well creased Gen. Ben Butler,
to induce him to undertake the repeal Of the
obnoxious" United States statute which for
bids the circulation Of lottery and other indie
cent matter through the mails.
Whether this scheme will succeed or not 1t
liz impossible to tell. But when lottery
monopoly runs political parties first one and
then the other-pulls down and sets up State
governments at It's own sweet will and controls
legislatures against the interests and will Of
pine-tenths Of the people Of the State, we do
not feel great deal Of confidence even in the
power of Federal laws to prevail against 1t,
or in the virtue of Congress to resist its
Establishments.
We are not entirely disappointed, however,
and we hope that before Ben Butler, the
brother-in-law OF Eliza Pinkston Sherman,
and the lottery combination are permitted to
override or repeal the law, a vigorous oppo-
sition will be made by the Louisiana members
Of Congress.
The Lottery Companyis a grieyous evil and
burden to this State. Its influence has been
powerful enough In this Legislature to thwart
oil the measures which are nearest the pub
Lie heart; 1t controls the postolice depart
ment of this great city, and renders 1t a mere
adjunct to its vast gambling operations.
Through its extensive use of the mails, in
nication with the people in the country dis
tricts, many Of whom, led astray and fascina
ted by Its glowing circulars and schemes,
spend all their means In its delusive ven
lures; rob their families and swindle their
legitimate creditors. It is stretching It's fin
gers into every community In the State, and
In measure organizing the laboring classes
by exciting them with barren hopes of win
ming prizes; it is educating, in the city, men,
women and children to gamble, and daily
tempting servants, collectors and clerks
to swindle their employers. 1t is, in fact,
corrupting every circle of society, de-
bauching our politics and our law-making.
viii any member Of Congress who has any
seif-respect vote to repeal a wise and salu-
tary law, the rigid enforcement Of VIII ich
would necessarily cripple, if not destroy, this
gigantic evil, this monopoly of the business
of debauching the young and demoralizing
our people and our politics? We trust not
We trust that the power Of the Lottery Com
pany is not as potent in Washington as it has
proved to be in the capital Of Louisiana; we
trust that the law will be permitted to stand
as it is, and that it will be henceforth rigidly
enforced.