St. Landry democrat., 1886-12-18
The Lottery Question.
Shreveport Times.

In our issue OF Sunday there was re-
produced from the Democratic Review,
OF NatchitOches, an article concerning
the perpetuation of the Louisiana
State Lottery. This article is we'll
worthy OF a careful reading by the peo
pie of the State.
In 1895 the present charter of the
lottery expires. 1t will be difficult to
dislodge this organization from the
constitution before that date, and the
question naturally arises, what action
will the lottery take when its charter is
on the eve OF expiring7 1t is argued
by many that as the lottery will die IA
peaceful and quiet death nine years
hence, it is wise to quietly await the
day OF final dissolution, and thus re-
move this issue from the politics of the
State. This view, We confess, appeals
strongly to us, but we have serious mis-
givings as to the intentions of the lot
terry managers in this matter. Could
we have assurance that the owners OF
lottery stock and the guiding spirits OF
the organization would not apply for a
renewal of the charter, the Times would
advocate a let-alone policy. 1t is true
we have heard it said repeatedly that
the lottery people were DESTROYS of
being removed from the field OF polit-
ical wire pulling and that they were
willing the monopoly should quietly
pass into oblivion in 1895. But there is
nothing definite or tangible in this, aud
those who oppose the lottery are left
with the option of relying upon an IN
substantial promise to gracefully give
mp the ghost in 1895, or OF fighting the
lottery rs it stands to-day. OF course,
il we were left with sucil an option,
there is but one policy to pursue: To
appeal to the people to crush the mo-
nopoly, and wipe it out of existence at
once.
question that we do not think has been
sufficiently dwelt upon by the press of
the State. 1t is this: The lottery as d
gambling institution is quite different
thing from the lottery as Il factor in our
politics. AS Il gambling institutions. it
is subject TO such censure only as we
visit upon the gambling hells of New
Orleans and elsewhere as factor 10
our politics, as debauchlng aud cor
rupting agency OF government, it de-
serves the instant rebuke of every man,
woman aud children the State.
1t is not as a gambling institution
that the lottery does most injury to
Louisiana. It's patrons are men who
are naturally disposed to wager, or
those weaker vessels in society who
usually go to the wall by some means or
other in the struggle for existence. 1t
is not concern for the lottery's patrons,
but concern for good government in
Louisiana that induces us to make war
upon such an institution.
The debauchery of our politics by so
powerful corrupting agency is one of
those distressing signs of the times
which point to final dissolution of the
republic. This is not an overstatement.
1t is the uttelance of plain, every day
fact, which all who reflect must realize.
The lottery, as a factor in our State
politics, must disappear. Will the lot
terry managers hold hands-off'?
The Ouachita Telegraph thinks Gov
ernor McEnery will be IA candidate for
Governor again. We cannot think that
the administration influence in this
State will put Governor McEnery be
fore the people again for this office and
nv rama fa tho hit t.r ia