, 1888-02-15
PROTEST oVERMUCm.D

The Laramie Boomerang comes to the
rescue of the gambling bill. 1t does not
do so very gracefully or very convincingly,
but it does so ~iuently and dilfuscly.
Gambling is not only an evil but q
crime, it says. Through regulation the
community at large receives some benefit
from the losses accruing to the individual,
all of which is self. evident The next
proposition advanced is that gambling can
now be eradicated because better men are
being chosen for officers and the public
sentiment against gambling has grown
stronger. On the general question of
whether or not gambling can be abolished
by law without precipitating far greater
evils than now exist, there is room for an
honest difference OF opinion. The Boom
erun0 does not appear to think so, and
proceeding from this basis launches into a
long TRADE against the Cheyenne papers
which it accuses OF all sorts of
shortcomings, winding up with the
specific charge that in this par.
ticular instance they have been
bribed by the gamblers. Charges of this
kind are banded about with entirely too
much frequency by the press, with 4 nat
ural result OF lowering the moral tone and
throwing forth the impression to the pub
lie that every newspaper can be influenced
In its sincercst convictions By a bribc. If
the gentlemen of the press will stop to
consider the question they will readily see
that nothing could be more disastrous to
their " success as opponents or leaders
OF public thought than a general impress
sion Of this sort. Until there exists some
good specific reasons no mans motives
should be rccklessy impugned. We have
Just as much right to hold our " opinion
on the merit Of Mr.. Holidays bill as the
Boomerang has to hold It's opinion, and
VIC viii venture the assertion that We have
investigated the question Just as closely
and disinterestedly.
The next proposition advanced Is
unique. Cheyenne Is Jealous Of Laramie,
though f0r wha, reason the boomerang
has Derlected To state
As 4 city. 1t says, Laramie Is more law
abiding. orderly. quiet and free from all
that can exert an unhealthy influence on
youth than any other city in Wyoming.
We say tins without fear Of successful
contradiction.
Laramie has protested It's morality so
long that We begin 10 scent a Peuasnifian
flavor to IL Cheyenne has never Dragged
Of its morals, hence the charge of by
pOcrisy can never be laid at its doom.
And yet who has ever heard Of half
naked kEriats Eildly disporting them
selves in gambling houses here, madly
revealing IN l~ascIvIUus Ounces and openly
plying their trades OF progresses Who
has ever tHkGn 4 mayor Of this town into
! hurdy rurdy to sec a city marshal
leading dances OF this description and
vine will say FOR q moment that our un
protesting morality would not be sufficient
" shocked to fire his Official head into the
wRste basket without ceremony If he had
been discovered? Laramie morality or
immortality is an e-ztraneous issue. Il
hRs been introduced into this question by
The Laramie people themselves and the
deeper they go into II the move painful
Ihe result Is.
Al 10 Laramie E moral. -hev are per
maps no wurse than tnasa existing else
where II the TERRITORY, hui they are Ger
runiy nc better.