The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1884-08-28


II q no doubt unpleasant to contcm-
plate the conversion Of the Stock Ex-
changes Of the world into gigantic gam
ing houses. Nor would any one be SO
incredibly rash as to pronounce asweep-
ing verdict Of condemnation against in
situations which are not only necessary
but indispensable for the business OF the
world. Moral reformers may propose
to put down racing. No one could sug-
gest the abolition OF the Stock Exchange.
Yet the Stock Exchange is more and
more tending to become the gambling
center of the world. No other rival
can for a moment be compared to 1t for
extent, for convenience. for temptation,
for the magnitude of its operations. or.
it may be added, for the wholesale
swindling which has come to be recog-
nized in many quarters as one of the
legitimate tricks of trade. Monaco is
but poor country club beside this
gigantic substitute in which men gam
Bile with all the produce of the world.
The '.leviathan plungers" Of the turf
are but infants compared with the
magnates who corner the harvests OF
continent and starve province in
order TO make a smart deal In futures.
Every one is familiar with the hack
neyed story of the way in which favor
ties for the race course are "nobbled,
how jockeys are bribed to ride to lose,
and all the other pettifogging arts OF
villiany by which oonfederacies OF
roxues contrive to convert horse-racing
into an elaborate mechanism for empty
ing the pockets Of simpletons into the
pockets of knaves. But all these vul-
ger tricks Of the stable boy and the
tout are mere child's play compared
with the colossal frauds OF the Triggers
of markets. The variations in betting
are much less violent than the huctua-
tons in gambling stocks. Take for in
stance, the horses in yesterdays race.
Ossian remained almost at the same
figure from first to last. After the Derby
Highland Chief was quoted for the st.
Leger nine to two. He gradually crept
up in favor to four to one, after tenn
porary fall to five to one, and from four
to one his position improved until it
stood ut two to one on the eve OF the
race. Elzevir started at ten to one in
June and finished at nine to two. Gal
lard began at ten to three and receded
to five to one. The fluctuations in the
prices OF most OF these horses were
much less rapid than the abrupt rise
and fall In Mexican railways, Denvcrs,
and other unfortunate stocks specially
favored by the speculator. Many men
made ..pots of money" no doubt. at
Doncaster yesterday, but how many
rivalled the luck of the tobacconist who
Is said TO have netted ESQ, 900 by specu-
lating for fall in Mexican railway
stock?
The best thing about horse racing -
mode of gambling is that tbs mischief
1t does is confined to the gamblers. Far
otherwise Is it with the gamblers Of the
Bourse. The other day famous cor
nerer, whose exploits had made light
dear In every workman's home in Paris
the whole winter through, committed
suicide in bankers parlor Unfor-
tunately, the whole brotherhood has not
yet followed bis example. They 20 on
making dear by turns light, food. drink
and clothing. They gamble in the nee
essaries OF life, and all mankind pays
their forfeits. Those who imagine that
the betting-ring and the clearinghouse
represent the sum of human depravity
In gambling should read the rcmarka-
BILE article on Making Bread Dear, )"
which appeared in recent number Of the
North american RerfeU. ''The strong
man." says the author. ''now builds
corners instead OF castles, and collects
tribute at the end OF telegraph wire
instead OF chain stretched across the
Rhine. The wealthy criminal classes
have been quick to- seize on the ex-
changes. at the risk of breaking them
down, as the best of all instruments for
depreciation. They are gamblers whose
dice are loaves OF bread, the chances
they take are the chances OF human
life. f" They make bread and meat dear
throughout the world in order to fill
their Golfers with ill-gotten gains
DIR. Farr shows that the death-rate in
England decreases eight per cent when
wheat declines two shillings quarter.
As food grows dear, typhus grows fire.
quent. Scarce bread means more crime.
An increase OF one larceny to every
100, 900 inhabitants comes with every
rise of two farthings in the price OF
wheat in Bavaria. The enemies of the
mon who corner wheat and pork could
wish for no heavier burden on their
souls than that they should be success
full. AS wheat rises, -four rises; and