St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-03-13
Communicated
Mr.. EDITOR :

| | admit the correctness of what tho
Hon. K. p. Hunter says-in his commu-
nication to the Louisiana Democrat
quoted in your issue of the 9Th OF
February last,-Was attempted to be
done in regard to the Louisiana State
Lottery during our last session and
agree fully with him in his desire to
have it eliminated from the politics OF
the State but | am at variance with
him on one point: am one of the let
it alone policy; and | here submit the
facts; which that policy is founded:
A few days before my departure for
Baton Rouge in 1884, / met my friend
c. B. A. in Opelous who in conversa-
ton on Legislative topics made the re
mark to ME: And the Lottery you'll go
for it. wont you? My answer was :
That did not see much sense in man
butting his head against brick wall,
in order to knock it down. | knew al
ready then, to certain extent, Tie
power If that Co. us IA political factol.
| had been made to feel it rather sharp
| iy during the canvass, but | had no idea
| that it's strength aud power Wer found
| ed on such grounds as Is claimed foI It,
| While the bill tn kill the Lottery Co
! WAS pending. and we were about to
| take the final vote, several nt the
| House members came to consult with
me on the cou,sa the, would pursue ::
| Some claimed it as Il contract Ga which
we had 40 right to infringe, Others
| told me they would not vote to affect
the company's rights, because it Was
the main dependence of the Charity
Hospital in New Orleans. While adj
uniting they might feel justitiable i'll
their cause, would not myself, sacrifice
my moral principles for the sake OF
charity.
The fact that the Democratic Sta'e
Cor ntion which nominated the pres
ent State officers, adopted especially a
plank in their platform pledging the
abolition OF the Lottery Co; that
every Democratic member elected to
tacitly pledged to that policy; and that
with the overw helming minority,
(eght to ten or fifteen) which they
controlled in the house, they have
ANONYMOUSLY failed TO make their
pledge good to the people, make it, it
seems to me of bad taste for prominent
members uf that party to clamUr SO
much abont that company.
met the next day after the Lottery
bill had been defea!ed in the house in
"a, a senator, who's first remark OH
meeting me was: All my fine fellow
What have you dune7 Surprised at
his abrupt question | asked him
When? Yesterday on that Lottery
bill. told him had acted just as
would expect him tn do on such Il mat
ter. This senator stands high in the
e.timation of both factions of the
Democratic party in this State; in the
estimation OF all Republican factions
and in fhx. fJun .lss nf u-hsts,s
and blacks of all classes; and to me
lie is what | consider one Of the pet
sons of Louisiana.
Howard, if it had not been for How
ards money Nichols Government
caulh never have withstand; and we
could have got rid of Packard and
Kellogg aud all the Radical TRIBES
Badly as the bill was served on the |
House, it is certain it would have
Jared worse in the Senate. All the
above facts, we'll considered, make
it clear to my mind, that any attempt |
made to- kill that gigantic Dragon oi |
Il thousand heads, before it's limited |
life is ex',ireh, will only serve TO
bring in broader relief the extent OF |
The political corruption in this State. |
am actualed through no sympathy for
that company. I feel as ketnIy the
disgrace OF that institution upon our
State, as any man living, but what
can we do about its One of my
greatest wishes is to have it eliminated |
from the politics of the State; for
just as long as it remains the factor
that it is now OH the politics of the
State, just SO long will it be useless to
attempt any serions reforms, for How
ards trained forces will also be at the
Of other moneyed institu-
tons.
But bad as the effect of Howard's
Lottery Co. is on the morals Of the
State, its effect is only passive.
None of it's privileges force any one
to patronage it against his will; and
those who patrOnize it must have
money which they are free to risk at
any other game OF chance. Brit there,
are laws on our Statute book ju t as
more oppressive aud ty-
to which large class must
submit unless they have money, and
! reap % ito which the Hon. 4. 2.
gives bis full appreciation.
| repeat again that my desire is to
rave the Howard Lottery Company
Eliminated from the POLITICS Of The
State, and if any one knows of other
Jlans to secure that end, let them
make it known, that we may act in
CD the matter at onr next
meeting, or else for goodness, sake
ct US leave it alone.
AUREL ARNAUD.
March 9th, 1886.