Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-11-01
GAMBLING.

Gambling is a vice that has been
practiced in all generations. 1t has
existed at all stages of society, from
the condition Of the rudest savage, to
that of the most enlightened civiliza-
ton. At the same time. it has been
as universally condemned, despised
and punished. The savage looked
upon this vice as tending to effemi-
nacy. 1t absorbed the time of young
men, kept them from the chase, and
the exercise and training that were
necessary to their highest preparation
for war. In some civilized nations,
on account of its connection with
trickery, it was placed upon a level
with obtaining money under false
p~retenses, and as tending to treach-
cry, breaches of the peace, and even
robbery and murder. And at the
present time, when human actions are
subjected to conscientious tests, it is
adjudged to be not only an immoral
ity, but a felony worthy of incarcer-
alton.
In all times gambling has been
resorted to with two views. On the
one side, there IS desire for gain
without exertion, and, on the other,
wish for recreation. SIT is the busi-
ness of the idle. and the idleness of
the busy ;"and both usually pay dearly
for whatever relief from vacancy or
WEAKNESS they obtain.
Lawmakers have from time to time
exhausted ingenuity in their efforts
to prevent gambling. For this pur-
pose they have lowered ordinary rules
of evidence, and permitted executive
officers to exercise unusual powers,
admitting at all hours of the forcible
invasion of private and public houses,
and have held the keepers of taverns
and the n and renters of build
ings responsible for gaming within
them with their knowledge or consent.
1t has been decided in this State
that cards themselves are n of the
prohibited gambling devices, and that
the game of poker is a game Of
both chance and skill, and, there
fore, comes within the pervue of oul
criminal laws, and is punishable az .
felony.
One would think that such law!
ought to have annihilated gambling
before this. They would have dou'
so, had they been properly enforced
But the gamblers have employed
means to escape their operation
Fortunately. their arts have beel
unearthed and an aroused and wei
directed popular sentiment, under tn
guidance of politicians and moralists
demands the enforcement of all tn
means our Legislators have provide
to suppress this vice, and the enact
ment of more stringent laws shout
present statutes prove inadequate.
In any of Jul larger towns, an
most of our small ones, it can b
easily seen that consequences c
gambling are the same now as the
were eve of old. Like the loafer {
tramp, the professional gambler hs
no visible means of livelihood, an(
if he has, it is but a pretense or cloal
He can be seen on the streets an
corners with the idlers of the cit
looking for his prey. These he 81
cures either from among infatuated
industrious men who have contracte
the habit of seeking recreation at tt
card table, or from foolish young me
who get spending money from equal
foolish parents who, instead of brin'
ing them up to industry and thrift
allow them, from want of prop
oversight, to acquire the ruino,
habits of laziness and vice.
Gambling, unfortunately, has n
been confined to its room and den
There is not a department which Il
spirit Of gambling has not invade
and demoralized. There is scar
an incident that is not made an o
portunity for wagering. Games
skill ere perverted; the speed of
horse the activity or skill Of a mai
yer the weight of a pig is enoue
for a stake. 1t comes upon the hu
tings, invades the sanctity of t
ballot-box, and prevents the electl,
Of the most honest and capable +
Office. 1t revels in the lottery.
brings public institutions into CO
tempt. and makes them a by-wor
1t taps telegraphs, invents message
takes charge of our exchanges al
converts them into options. 1t rails
and depresses the value Of stocks al
commodities. 1t defeats the expe
tation of labor, cheats enterprise
its reward, robs the widow, %icorruI
morals, ruins youth, %impoverish
families, debauches virtue and brin
fathers and mothers in sorrow
their graves. In short. it is ar u
mitigated curse without a redeemi
characteristic of any sort, a~ffixing
individuals infatuated with it a sti
ma that al eve be got rid
Once a gambler, always a gamble
is the time honored proverb.
the public estimation there are f
reformations. Such is the fascinati
of cards that some players, Ii
LOOKUP, have died with them in tn
hands. Nothing but the grim me
ster could stop their game. 1t