New-York tribune., 1879-11-13
THE VHEEL OF FORTUNE.

Ouce more there IL TO be an effort made TO put
down lotteries in tEis city The folly Of investing
money in them has been mathematically demon
strated over and over again. Great arIthmeticans
have thought it worth while to 90 carefully over
the whole ground, and to show if ticket-holders
had even decent chance of winning that there
would be no lotteries because there could be none
since the insolvency of their managers would
be speedy and inevitable. Yet in spite of this as well
as OF the Introduction of the law and tho mild spas
modic hostility OF the police the business has gone
on in this city bringing great emOluments TO its pro-
moters. and equal misery and misfortune to its vic
Tins. II has used the mails freely If it were
legitimate enterprise. Ii has deuded Numbers not
only into improv idence but defalcation. 1t has
sometimes been driven into holes and corners, but
never for long. Now another effort has been set
afoot to prevent it from abusing the privileges of
the Post Office. raid has been made upon the Off
ces and policy-shOps, under the authority
of the United States Courts, and through
the dextcrity Of Federal detectives. Many
arrests have been made. bail has been given, trials
will follow, and there seems to be sufficient evil
dence TO convict. Yet. asked If there IL any posi-
bity that the traffic Will be given UP. we
should respond by asking If oil the fools
and knaves. the pigeons and rocks, are
dead The best to be hoped Is that the
bad business be much embarrassed, and
that those who conduct it may occasionally be
caught and castiga,ed So far as sales in the city
are concerned. the Government can do little ex-
cept by convincing those who are intelligent enough
TO be convinced that the traffic Is dishonest one.
and that whoever yields TO its temptations is more
than likely TO be swlndled.
The evils attendant upon lotteries are already so
fully recognized, that it seems hardly necessary to
set them forth. Some feeble attempts to reviye
them in Great Britain lately provoked storm OF
Indignation. similar effort to secure their sane
ton by statute in this State would be hooted down.
Kentucky and Louisiana cannot hold out forever
against the general opinion of the country;
and when it has no legallzed lotteries the
work Of keeping the traffic under in this
city Will be much simplihed. Already the
Constitution of twenty-slx States expressly
forbds the Legislature to authorize them.
How far rales at church fairs and art unions have
tended TO reconcile the public mind and conscience
TO other forms Of gambling 1t ght be wholesome
TO inquire. The law covers the whole ground and
ought 10 be respected by those who profess to be
law-abiding citizens. If good people gamble for
good purposes, bad people will follow the example
with no good purposes to plead. The commercial
community specially interested in keeping the lot
terry mania under ban-as much is in the sup
preston of gambling hells. The last bank clerk who
has proved faithless in this neighborhood was
great patron OF the truly lucky offices No man,
unless fool enough to throw his money into the
river or the fire. would go buying lottery tickets
If he could be made to comprehend the faulty of
so doing. Pennsylvania formerly had a special So
ciety for the suppression Of lotteries, which did
good work In securing their abolition in that State.
We are not that q similar society would be use
less now and here.