National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-15

tlls sOIl NoUlu clltCluAlll MUMMY lnhl pro-
vision. The greater evils or alleged evils
ignored are the various species ofspeculatlon
which constitute the bulk of business in
nearly all the trade centers Of the United
States.
1twere vain to wrltc In the hope of en-
tightening stupidity so dense as not to per-
ceive the automatic character of what we
have stated. Indeed the advocates of such
legislation as we are considering frankly
admit that what they call "lottcry gam
bling" is of the same class as speculatlons
ON chances in stocks, grain, hog products,
coal oil, and all other commodities which
are used for speculative purposes. 1t is
well known, and not denied, that the ex-
changes in all the great cities are largely
mudeup of fictitious stransactions-sales and
purchases in which no transfer of property
occurs, but on the value Of which at a given
time spectators back their Judgment with
their money.
Throughout all the states of the north
west may be found thousands of broken
merchants and ruined farmers, whose for
tunes have gone to swell the hordes of
heavy operators in Chicago. In the state
of Indiana, for instance, in the cities Of In
dianapolis, Evansville, New Albany, Fort
Wayne, aud Lafayette, such wrecks of once
| prosperous men are numerous. 1t was not
the lottery ticket that seduced them. 1t
would be hard to find an impoverished family
who owe their downfall to mania for specu-
lation IN lotteries. twas the bucket shop in
Chicago and the ticker IN their own towns
that swept away their fortunes.
But who proposes to suppress the news
papers that publish advertisements Of stock,
grain, or hog speculators We say sup
| press, for that is just what the pending
| proposition amounts to. When a news
paper. office is burned to the ground, its
presses, type, and all other portable ap-
pliances destroyed, 1t may bring out the
very next number on time and keep on It's
career as If nothing out of the usual order
had happened; but the exclusion of a news
paper from the mails is lis DEATH Such n
decree would lay the hand Of destruction
on even that intangible property which fire
cannot touch, and which is the most val
liable part of a newspaper establishment.
Hundreds of families in this city have
been robbed by coal oil speculations. Does
anybody propose to put a period to that
class Of business by making war on the
freedom Of the press?
Thousands of ladies and gentlemen in
this city-incuding distinguished states
men in both ends of the capitol-are ac-
customed TO draw their purses at horse
races and try their luck, Shall the news
papers be excluded from the mails for pub.
fishing the advertisements which induce
attendance at the racesY
There is no habit that is stronger or more
prevalent than that of betting, and that Is
what all chance speculatons really are. The
grab-box and rattle of the church fair, the
drawing at Louisville or New Orleans, the
stock exchange Of Wall street, and the pro-
duce exchanges of western cities, all have q
common basis. When the world has been
made truly good, when this nation has be.
come so exalted in urity that its capital
city shall suggest the vision Of the New
Jerusalem that came to st. John on the
island Of Patmos, when the millennial pc
riod shall be only days march away, then
all these varying phases Of common
trait or custom may he condemned. Till
then, however speculation in chances will
go on, and he who desires to risk a dollar
on a part of ticket in lottery will
have the same moral right TO do so that his
rich neighbor will have to bet hundred
thousand that mess pork will he worth SC
much barrel next month
If 1t be the purpose of the friends Of the
pending bill to take the ground that ne
newspaper shall go into the mails whlcl
gives place toadvcrtisemcnts to of an immora
tendency, where will they stop? Aud why
begin ON lotteries II their crusade 10 to bt
halted wematmcly? 1t IS the opinion o
millions of good people that alcoholic
drinks are the greatest enemy to society
Shall newspapers be suppressed--or KEEP
from the mNils--ror advertising wine
whisky, rum, or beer2 Shall the advertise
ments of restaurants be excluded?
There are many honest men who think
the theater Is the gate Of sheol, If thes,
were in majority in Congress, why SHOULD
they not open war on newspapers for pub
fishing amusement advertisements
In fact, there Is no end TO the course nov
contemplated short of absolute destruc
tIcn Of newspapers, for their existence
would be dependent on the eyerchaugiul
opinions Of the majority in Congress. !
were far better to leave the regulation o