The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-04-17
TUESDAY, APRIL II, 1883.
THE LOUISIANA LOTTERY.

As Haunting and ostentatious memorial to
vice as is known in any history is the Loulsi-
ana State lottery. 1t is now just 50 years
since that commonwealth had a en.orable
struggle to suppress, or recover, grant
somewhat similar, held by one Gregory. But
it was a legitimate lottery, with legitimate re-
straints, and not charter Of fraud, as this.
The Legislature of Louisiana repealed 1t in
August. 1898, the act to take effect on Janu-
ary l, 1894, but with its limited opportunities,
which bore no comparison to those of the lot
terry Of to- day, it yet dehed the judicial power
and far on in the forties still kept its stalls
open, and still sold its tickets on the streets of
New Orleans. 1t was, however, finally sup
pressed, and more than a quarter of century
afterward one of its clerks appeared among
the negroes Of the Louisiana Legislature and
procured the unconditional charter which now
holds that State, as in vice.
In that very year (IS34) a struggle was in
progress in Pennsylvania for the suppression
Of lotteries by means of a society organized
for that purpose. From an old reports
sued in I837-we quote the Introductory pass
age, which gives birds eye view of the
beauties of the lottery as an institution
wherever it prevails
fla ommlItee were appointed by each of
the State Legislatures to ascertain from living
witnesses the effects of lotteries within their
respective jurisdictions mass of private dis
tress and public injury would be brought to
light the magnitude OF which 1t is difficult TO
conceive. We should witness the severance of
the closest anG dearest connections Of life, the
violation of the sacred VOWS OF wedlock, and
the disruption of the tender ties Of consan-
guinity and nature. Woe would meet our gaze
in the various forms of hopeless bankruptcy
cherries and unmitigated penury, incurabe
iutemperance and Infamous vice But il may
be well for the reputation of the country that
some of these dread consequences may still be
concealed The colors Of the picture would be
too somber-the scene, in its collected deform-
fty. too hideous for exposure to the open day
In attempting, therefore, a miniature sketch
from private sources OF the results which this
engine of human misery and debasement has
effected. we shall do all that is within our
power in ranging and grouping together few
examples under appropriate heads.
1t was related by Hon. E. W.
Robertson, of Louisiana, in an able speech
delivered in the U. S. House of Representa-
tives, at its recent session, that on the night Of
a drawing of great foreign lottery there were
over 20 suicides ofholders Of unlucky tickets
In his argument that gentleman exposed the
outrageous character Of the charter OF the
Louisiana infamy in the following sentences
1 challenge the world to produce legisla
ton more infamous than the above. Tn,
records of no government in ancient OF modern
times contain law more atrociOus In every
feature or so complete an abdication Of the
law-making power. The human mind car
scarce realize the grant Of such unlimited
power as is conferred by this statute. II Is
permit to nhict every injury 10 the propert,
and liberty of the citizen by the utterly IRE
sponsible agency of a soulless corporation. NJ