Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-03-01

! they went TO pieces. some 81 then
were unable to answer our inquiries
while the intelligent had to hurt thei
cause with truthful answers or els,
dodge the questions
Danger of Too Paternal Government,
There is such a thing as government
becoming too paternal. Governor
Roberts was perhaps over-serupulou4
when he deprecated the policy that
furnishes warning of n1rthers, or sup
plies German carp to the people, but
the line must he drawn somewhere,
and there is an excellent opportunity
TO draw ii at the bill now pending in
the senate for the protectection of the
people from the Establishments and
vanities of lotteries. The lottery is
| assumed 10 be a fraudulent institution,
and the assumption. no doubt, is not
far out Of the way. 1t would seem
that in carrying out its paternal mis-
sion of standing between the people
and the wicked lotteries the govern
ment would direct its energies to
crushing out the gambling devices
! put the axe to the root OF the evil
! The government, however, confesses
that it cannot do this, especially
where lottery owes its existence TO
charter obtained from state. In
this case it mus. be let alone and all
the government can do is to forbid IL
the use of the mails. 1T is proposed
now, to go step further and endeavor
TO prevent the lotteries from placing
their ulluring schemes befor a gullible
public. The newspaper publisher, it
is found, will print the lottery adver-
tisements as long us he is paid for so
doing. He does not trouble himself
whether the reader is gulled or not.
The idea nov is 10 bring leverage to
bear on the publisher which viii force
him to cease printing the lottery
notices and schemes, This is to be
done by refusing his paper the use of
the mals. A bill to this eject has
actually been reported favorably to the
senate. This, we insist, is altogether
too paternal it establishes preceden.
that may become perniciOus in its ten
denotes and results. II the govern
ment is going to declare that a lottery
advertisement shall constitute sutii-
cient cause TO exclude newspaper
from mail privileges, there is 10 tell
ing where it will stop. 1t is mis-
chievous step, this proposed bill, and
il should DO scotehed. 1t will estab-
fish a pernicious principle. Every
publisher will concede that the GOV
eminent has the right and IL Ii its
duty to exclude from the mails papers
obscene or immoral mater
OF advertisements. Papers that are |
reputable in their conduct VIII and do |
applaud such policy. But il is to be
doubted even granting that lotteries |
ARE humbugs, that the government is |
called upon TO exercise its paternal |
authority TO the extent contemplated
by the lottery advertisement bill. The
loss to publishers, by depri-
vation of these advertisements, il a
mere title and cuts no figure in the
case; there are plenty of other hum
rugs to advertise. Ii Is simply and
purely the principle involved. With
quail propriety aul truth the govern
nent might say tue pistol is a danger
,us weapon, which it Is unlawful to
AIRY; the pistol is curse to society
md should be suppressed. We will
orbid the use Of the mails to any
newspaper publishing the advertise.
nents of pistols for sale especially
Fhere they are "nickel-plated - seven
larreled aud solf-cocking, and offered
q premiums to the sub. cribers of such
'apers. Or, 1t may he assumed, with
'osolute propriety and truth, that deal
ny in stocks and futures, whether of
otton, grain, pork, etc, in gambling.
Id OF the worst kind. Tho govern
nent might shy we will exclude from
ne mails any newspaper publishing ,,
hese advertisements, offers or circu- /,
airs OF brokers' or the daily Geographic t
eports OF transactions and quotations I
stocks and futures. such an as. :
umption and policy would be as an !,
ropriate and defenslble as the propo.
ION TO exclude because of lottery !,
advertisements. 1t is an over.zealous :
nd uncalled for measure. and IL the o
ehate does It's duty It viii vote Il Il
own, II II passes the publisher who a
49, pluck enough to 90 into the courts g
~ demonstrate that such legislation y
unconstitutional. Senator Maxev q
Is pleasant To note. had the common II
'nse u sign the minority report and
aus enter his protect against this mis- -
lievous assumption OF paternal pow. n
i and duties. -