The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-11-21
AgrirnHnraL
+. H. HosKINs, Newport, VT. Editor.
Gambling.

recently printed an excellent article upon
gambling, extracts from which were re-
published in this paper. 1t was strongly
written, but was specially remarkable for
its omission to reprobate the worst and
most dangerous form of gambling in
rural communities. About every kind
but horsegambling came in for strong
condemnation, yet right in the city where
the Mirror is printed there had been but
recently exhibited, under the auspices of
two so-called agricultural societies, the
most disreputable kind of horse-gambling,
characterized, as the Mirror itself &C.
knowledged, by gross cheating also. We
do not believe that the writer of the MIR
ror's article on gambling was ignorant of,
or Indifferent to, these disgraceful facts.
We think, indeed, that the article, as
written, had strong paragraph upon
this very subject, which was excised by
the editors scissors. But why should
the editor do so ? Well, he was interested
in supporting and promoting the horse
gambling referred to, and, of course, he
would not allow himself to be condemned,
even by implication, in his own news
paper.
There has been long and strong effort
made in New England to establish horse
gambling as reputable institution. So
called leading citizens are actively con-
cerned in it. They are most of them OF
the "success.is aduty" class of politi-
clans, End many of them, aiming at the
power of respectability, are also directly
or indirectly connected with churches.
Their whole influence, and it is not small,
is used to muzzle the organs of public
opinion and morality, the press and the
pulpit, upon this question, just as the
rum power, where it is power, aims at
the same thing. Our readers saw it
when Colonel Riddle wrote his BULLDOG
ing letter to the Rev. DR.. Spalding, ed
itor of the New Hampshire Journal, in.
forming him that his paper must not pub
lish any more articles of ours condemna-
tory of the society which, at Manchester,
not only gave such illustrations of the
evils of this kind of gambling, but also
rented the best part of its grounds to the
lowest kind of gamblers and liquor sell
ers, to entrap and plumber the visitors of
its exhibition.
DR.. Spalding is a good man, but he
was so overborne or misled by Colonel
Riddles missive that he wrote perempto-
rily that "this kind of thing must be
stopped mot the rascality, but our
comments upon it,-and we suppose it
has been, in the Journal, which we don't
see and don't want to see. We have no
respect for religious newspaper that
dares not allow the truth regarding great
public sins to appear in its columns, for
fear of the wrath of the sinners. 1t does
not appear to us to be the part of any
Christian to fear what man can do to him,
and certainly not of Christian editor.
This horse gambling, we say, is the
great demoralizing element among the
rural population, and the agricultural
fairs have been seized upon to popularize
and support it. The press and pulpit are
both muzzed on the subject, so far as it
can be done. Ho wever it may be with
other publications, we are proud to be-
ieve that the WATCHMAN cannot be
muzzled, that it will do its whole duty to
the public in this matter, as in all others.
Its strong and independent management
is already distinguishing it above the
other newspapers of Vermont, and giving
it prominence and influence honorable
to the state. Betting upon horse-racing,
made popular by the alliance of the horse
gamblers with the management of agri.
cultural societies, leads to all other forms
of betting, and these to indulgence in
every game of chance for money. Moth
ing destroys our young men more rapidly,
or leads sooner to dishonoring crime. 1t
strikes our "best families" as ruth.
lessly as, and even more than, the humber
ones. Drunkenness goes with it. The
rum-shop is the headquarters of gambling
everywhere, for rum drinking prepares
the victim for plucking. Where betting
upon horses is allowed, betting upon
election is regarded with liberation, OF
course, notwithstanding laws disfranchis
ing citizens for this offense. The Green
field, Mass, correspondent of the Spring
field Republican, says in this connection
Betting has been INDUCED in much
more than usual, so that good many
votes would be lost, if they were chal
lenged for betting on the election result
One local safe has drawer pretty vel
filled with money, put up in this way
while the local stores are likely to be
emptied of hats, boots, ETC., to pay fol-
election bets. 1t is not often that this
betting fever runs 30 high that it affects
the education directly of the SCHOOLGIRL
dren, but such seems to have been the
fact in one family this week. A little
girl told her mother that her teacher sale
she must have reader the next day ant
the teacher was a good deal amazed tn,
next morning to have the little lass say
Mamma sauo that 7 can5t baya anntb a,