National Republican., 1883-07-30

mostly efTccted-more so than any other by
this terrible poverty producing evil.
We hear Of lotteries first in Rome. During
any public entertainment tickets were thrown
out marked with the names of certain prizes.
Tho holder on presenting the Same to the
proper officer received the prize indicated
upon the ticket The ancient Spaniards also
possessed lottery schemes. One was called
the Jar of Fortune" 1t consisted Of jar
I filled with tickets most Of which were blanks
las now. We find the lottery in Germany
and France the latter during the reign OF
Francis l. Money lotteries were established
in France in 1880, but owing to their evil in-
fluences were abolished some time later.
In Florence tickets were placed in large
wheel which was drawn about the streets by
charity boys
The lottery called the Blanc Royal was
patronized in France by the government to
the extent of 100000 francs. In 1869 the
people of England became so interested in
lotteries that all kinds of business and trades
were carried on by means Of lottery tickets,
| but this was suppressed, apparently so, under
! the reign of Queen Anne but was still con-
tinued by the government and wealthy in
dividuals for many years afterward. The
| British museum and many other fine public
buildings were erected by means of the
money obtained from the sale of lottery
! tickets. These secret sales were finally
! abolished.
! In Americas early days court and school
houses were built from the proceeds Of lottery
! tickets. Pennsylvania was the first state to
abolish the sale of tickets on account of cheat
ing and robbing the poorer classes, although
the state subsequently sanctioned their sale,
! but about thirty years ago abolished it for
the second time. Lotteries arc now running
in the states of Kentucky and Louisiana.
Their agents are in every state in the
union. Flaming and attractive advertisements
! nj I'm
press should lend itself to the steal is to be de-
plored. On account of its fraudulency 1t
should be discOuntenanccd by all good citi-
zens. favored few are the lucky ones. The
majority are swindled. On the grant given
by Pennsylvania to the canal company, a
swindling brought into existence some years
ago, the profits in q short time amounted to
S33,OOO,000 which was 1000 por cent more
than was originally appropriated for the con-
cern.
Every lottery scheme is raised by money
| put up by large number of credulous per-
sons The agent or originator gots the most
of it. The guilt resting upon those who buy
the tickets is great, but it is nothing COM
pared with the guilt of those who institute
and carry out this systematic robbery. 1t is
a species of gambling which 1uins all who
venture in it. The speaker painted in n
| graphic manner the fendish joy of the schemer
and the wretchedness of the victim. This
|
| for wealth.
/ God only intended man to seek wealth by
the means given him--that is, by the sweat
of his brow. Experience teaches us that the
best and most honest men are those who
work slowly and steadily for whatever they
can or may have in this world. The lottery
adventure is an alluring bait, everyone who
purchases ticket expects TO draw prize, and
is filled with visionary and extravagant
hopes until the time arrives. If he loses,
which is the case almost always, he becomes
discontented morose, and in time loses his bet
ter qualities, and leads vague and indoent
life. The infatuation is so great that often a
man will reduce his family to poverty to
crafty this sinful habit. The speaker gave
number Of very interesting anecdotes con-
cerning the evil effects and dreadful conse-
quences of dealing in lottery tickets.
lie warned all young men against the evil
which surrounds them, and informed them
that if they wanted honor and happiness in
stead of misery, poverty, dishonor, aud death,
shun this loathsome traffic. Dedicate your
selves to God. good name is rather to be
chosen than great riches. If you would have
i.vfior and happiness here and peace and rest
in the world to come, serve God and not
mammon.