St. Landry democrat., 1879-07-19
Discussion of the EOftery Qucs-
tEOHR.
From the n. o. Democrat, July 10th
Delegate Robertson said

was not satisfactory and complete. |
now hold in my hand 4 remuneration by
the lessees of that company, which l
say is genuine, and which must settle
the question so far as this part Of it is
concerned.
How much more than this can You
ask? The company, through its dlrcc--
tors, has made II remuneration, winch OF
itself, is sufficient, and now the lcssecs
come i'll and accept this act.
You may say that the remuneration
takes place in the future. lansWer that
it does, but Immediately on the adoption
of this constitution, | know that the
company is sincere in this remuneration,
because they prefer to do this, get rld
of strife and quietly pursue their busl-
ness rather than retain the monopoly
feature and be forever engaged III war
and contention. And now, Mr.. Prcsi-
dent, | desire to address ii lew PLAIN
words of sober common sense to this
Convention, and will begin by asking
if you defeat this measure and succeed
in abOlishing lotteries by the consutu-
ton, do you get rid of the sale of lottery
tickets in this State The experience OF
over thirty years answers in the mega
tive. Then what is the result? This
great so called immortality will continue
in spite OF your prohibitions rs it has
always done, and it will continue with
ont benefit to the State.
Is it the part OF wisdom, is it states
manship to permit this condition OF
affairs TO exist There is not a reflect
ing man in this hail who will not an
swer no. It it must exist, as it always
has existed, let us obtain from it all the
good we can; like the sale or ardent
spirits while it goes on, let lis at least
make it bear its part i'll the malntcnance
of good government. W hat would you
think of the gentleman Of New Orleans,
who has spoken so cloqnently on the
subject, il he were from his scat to move
on this day to abolish licenses on bar
rooms and coffee houses throughout the
State. Mr. President, he will not do it,
he dare not advise such ii step; and yet,
I would ask is not licenced rum drink
ing an evil which is a thousandfold
worse than buying a chance at the wheel
of fortune?
And yet from this terrible curse the
State derives Il revenue OF quarter OF
Il million and the general government
of millions. From it are sustained your
charities, your institutions OF learning,
your whole machinery OF government,
and as you cannot stop it. OF course it is
better the part of wisdom that "a revenue
should be derived from it. Now, sir,
the two cases are parallel. Admit lot
teries are an evil, you cannot and never
have prevented them and you never
will. Then, casting aside all mere sen
timent, and looking at the matter as
plain, sensible men, is it not the part 0f
wisdom to take this evil and make the
most of it, as we do OF whisky selling,
and force it to support our charities,
our institutions of learning, and, il pose
sible, our Whole State. 1t meyH will
only be honest to themselves and dare
to sneak their convictions, there will
not be ten negative voices in the house.
Sir, this lottery brings money to this
State from all portions Of the country !;
its suDport is not local. 1t brings and
expends thousands here where it takes
one away. 1t has spent its money on
your churches, your cemeteries, y0nr
public buildings, your hospitals, your
private charities nay, slrs, 1t has sup
ported, almost singly and alone, the
tottering pillars OF your trembling gov
ernment. These things we all know,
and vet, in obedience to mere sentiment,
we would tear down this strength to
our State; we would be rid OF this
source of revenue and foolisiliy imperll
the very existence of some OF our sub
FINEST charities.
/ said, sir, that this institution had
supported the tottering pillars OF our
government. Sir, this is the solemn
truth, and appeal for its substantiation
to the knowledge of the gentleman from
jackson, of the gentleman from Cala-
well, of the gentleman from EaS fell
ciana, and Of the distinguished gentle
man from Webster This is a delicate
subject, and | regret to be. forced to
sneak of it, but in gindlcat!on OF my
course and as a matter OF simple JUSTICE
I rciterate what have said heretofore,
that this government owes its very, eX-
isteuce to this company, and without
It's timely help you, sir, would not Nc" @
occupy the seat you fill well. Inc
ELOQUENT gentleman from New Orleans
nor anv other delegate would be here,
and this Convention for Louisiana's
final redemption would be mere dream
of a wild imagination. Yes, sir; in our
darkest hours, when we were SO needy
and praying, longing for help and could
not get it, this company came forward
with the sineWs OF war and placed us on
our feet, and now we, the same Demo-
cratic party, which so speedily, so thank
fully embraced that help, would now in
the day of our might turn and strike
down the arm that bore us up by its
own single power, and we do this in the
face of the distinct understanding that
we should not interfere with this in
stitution. must say il we persist in
this course and effect bis purpose Of
crushing to death cur former friend in
adversely, there will not be on all the
pages Of history an instance of ingrati-
tude so, glaring, SO utterly inconsistenb
with every sentiment of honor and
with all the finer feelings OF humanity.
Delegate Kidd said he did not intend
to have said word about this matter.
1t was delicate subject, but since it
had been alluded to he would state
what lie knew about it. He was one
of the members of the Nichols Legis-
lature, and helped to authorize a COM
mittee of assaEen with plenary powers to
raise money For the support OF the gov
ernment. When all other means had
failed the committee had recourse to
the Lottery Company. and had received
the money necessary TO keep the gov
ernment together, some forty-tiye. or
fifty thousand dollars. 1t was the firm
understanding of those who had a
knowledge Of the facts that the COM
snany was not to be sinterfered with in
consideration of the timely relief which
Mt bestowed. Now that the Democrats
Rere III power, aud in power by the
leans Of this company, it conid not be
Expected Of those who willingly and
received as help that they
|sh ou4Enow, in the day of their power,
SursSd smite the hand that helped
sand that, too, in opposition to the
m nOwn understanding. He had his
notions of right and wrong, and if he
should vote against gty tf rs eanne eompahy - now ~
denounced by every law OF honor and
ligilt.