The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-01-26
LOTTERY LITERATURE.

LVTTEkY LITERATURE.
The literature Of the Lottery Company Il
rapidly accommodating, and II that institution
continues It's series Of cards It will soon b.
able to issue a handsome volume, In which tn,
high morality Of lottery gambling will be ex
pounded, and the necessity Of such CORPORA
lions to the good government OF States SCI
forth. The volume will be filed with pathos
too, which may move to tears 1t will describe
the bitter and relentless prosecutions to which
that great and good public institution anc
charity, the Louisiana State Lottery, has beer
subjected by the New Orleans DEMOCRAT; II
will show that for years and years 1t upheld
the Democratic party in Louisiana all alone
that 1t elected McEnery and established
the Nichols government. and at the same
time exposed the base ingratitude OF the party
to which 1t rendered such services. Really
when we read the Lottery cards In the morn
ing we can hardly repress our tears, and we
feel Inundated to think how cruel and re-
morseless we have been In prosecuting that
| highly pious and truly good institution.
/ But truly good as the Lottery Company Ia,
1t makes mistakes, and a few Of It's mistakes
we must correct. In card No. 0 the Lottery
repeats the assertion that we have no higher
motive in our attacks upon 1t ethan the bitter
personal animosity and malgnity which we
have contracted for some members of the
Company Now, we have positively and ex-
plicitly dsclaimed any such motive and we
repeat now that we have neither anlmosity
nor friendship for any member or members
Of the Lottery Company. Our feelings to-
ward the individuals Of the Company are
those OF utter Indifference Knowingly we
would not wrong or iDiure any one OF them.
Not one OF them can designate any reason
why we should entertain an animosity toward
him or his associates 80 bitter as to have
excited the constant attacks we have made
upon the Lottery. The assertion that person.
al animosity influenced our course is smply
preposterous and ridiculous Our motives
are known to the public. They have been
manifest throughout the three years war we
have waged. We explained them clearly
few days ago. In nearly all enlightened ma
lions. In nearly every State In the Union,
statutes exist prohibiting lottery gambling.
and throughout all civilized countries monop-
olies are regarded as obnoxious and detri-
mental to the public good. There Is a prip-
ciple at the bottom Of all this Legislation wide
as civilization and deep as the moral nature
OF man. II States and nations have placed
the ban upon lottery gambling; II Legislators
and statesmen have combined everywhere to
frame laws for Its prohibition: II wisdom and
experience have shown lotteries to be detri-
mental to the public morals, and monopolies
to the public prosperity and dangerous to
good government. Is 1t not reasonable to pre-
sumo that we attacked the Louisiana State
Lottery lottery and monopoly combined
In the public interest, and on the broad
principle which has led to the extinction OF
such institutions In almost every civilized
country Is 1t not the sheerest idiocy for
the members Of the Lottery Company-with
none OF whom we have ever had either bust
ness or political relations, to persistently ig-
more the real motives of our attacks and at |
tribute them to the impossible one OF personal
This is sufficient as to our mo-
tive.
In card No. 8 the Lottery aflrms that we
have first attacked 1t upon one ground and
then upon another, and charges down with fu-
rious heat upon such Inconsistency. We freely |
concede that we have attacked the concern |
upon different grounds, but we deny the In
consistency. We have attacked the Lottery:
1. On the ground that it Is gigantic monop-
oily. 2. On the ground that it is destructive
Of public morals. 8. On the ground that it |
has exercised O corrupt influence in Louisiana
politics, and In the nature of things must, as
ong as 1t exists, continue to do SO. Now
.hese are all different grounds Of opposition,
put they are not contradictory or inconsistent
grounds OF opposition. The fact is the Louis
ana State Lottery Is great overshadowing
,vil In this State, which for moral, social and
political reasons should be abolished.
lopoly. Even its managers concede that, and
uphold 1t as such. As to It's being subversve
If morality there can scarcely be a dispute
t is little else than primary gambling
school. It's advertisements and its shops
meet the eye Of every man, woman and child
n the State, and hence it excites In every
lass OF the community, the young and the
Did, the rich and the poor, the impure and the
the dangerous and imperious pas
zion for play. Indeed, under the influences of
his institution, the spirit Of gambling has
,harter Of the company Is not repealed,
I the Senate Of this State shall venture to
protect this institution on the ground OF
rested rights, we warn them that before the ex-
oiration Of the fifteen years Its charter has yet
o run our socialsystem will be SO debased and
and we will be SO thoroughly COM
nunity OF icy-players or lottery gamblers
hat the charter will with ease be renewed. No
voice will then be raised againstit; gambling
N lottery tickets will have become matter
# course, moral code and proper social
,ustom. There are gentlemen in the Senate
who have sons and daughters growing up,
Who have nieces and nephews In the
State, young relatives who are to constitute a
portion OF the society Of this State In the next
EN- or fifteen years. Are these gentlemen
Wiling on the ground OF vested rights to
permit an institution to flourish in our midst,
which is gradually undermining the morality
u IL L