The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-07-18
LOUISIANA LOTTERY.
BILL RETURNED WITHOUT THE
GOVERNORS SIGNATURE.

Gov. Nich0lls Upholds tho Interests of tho
State Agafnst Those of q Few Dishunor-
able Men-The Measure Will Continue
Z Have His Most Determined Opposl-
tion-The Message.
Gov. Nichols has returned to the house
without approval the now famous lottery
bill. In his veto message, which Is Of
great length, he refers to his message at
the opening of the session, anticipating
this legislation, and urging its instant re-
lection, for various reasons then set forth.
In his present message he says:
My views, heretofore expressed, not
only remain unchanged, but my convic-
tions have deepened and strengthened.
The persistent efforts which nave been
made to represent Louisiana as a pnuper,
unable by and through her own legitimate
resources to sustnin and carry out
the duties of her statehood, are
without foundation. The state and
the different parishes of this state
were never since the late war in n better
condition than they are to-day. and they
are moving forward to Oh era of assured
prosperity. Suddenly the dark shadow
of II deep disgrace is thrown across their
path and tho honor of Louisiana, main
tanned in the past on the field and in couo-
Gil by the patriotism and valor and sncri.
fees of her sons, living and dead, is to be
furnished forever; her position among her
sister states to be attested not by what she
has been but as a degenerate partner in q
gambling corporation, designed or managed
to be carried out not for her good or her
advancement, but, as 1 have before said.
for the personal and selfish interests of A
handful of men, many of them connected
with the darkest dayo of the reconstruction
period. I repeat, it is for them md to
them We are selling out our birthright for
a mess Of pottage.
"Who are the six unnamed men who are
to join with q seventh aud known one to
constitute o new lottery company? How
does it come that We are not informed as
to their identity and enabled to know their
antecedents and fix their records? Th. re
is a world of mcaning i'll that silence. In
the most tritiing affairs of life men sick to
know with whom they deal. How comes it
that in q matter of this Importance the gem
eral assembly has been willing up to now
to close its eyes and move blindly in tho
dark. l call upon it to pause before 1t
takes finally that step and plung.s the
state into untold trouble. Is there moth.
ing significant in the face of the two-thirds
vote by which this bill passed?
Il say to this general assembly in all
earnestness that should this measure be
passed We will enter upon q period of
strife, such as never has been soon before
in Louisiana, and, should this coMtem-
plated corporation ever be formed, upon
an era of corruption and degradation, be-
side which the era of reconstruction will
appear as n of honor and happiness.
And let me say to you that should this
measure he adopted and carried out, i'll my
opinion no good will ever come of tie
money which we will receive as the price
of our honor and our liberty. Extrava-
gance, profligacy and corruption will as as
suredly follow the receipt as night follows
day. 1 believe that ut the end of twenty.
five years we will not only find con-
stitutional bonds outstanding to the
utmost limit of the funding law, but / be-
lieye there will DO an additional immense
interest bearing debt which by that tine
will be by act acknowledged and provided
for MS to interest, but not as to principal;
and that in those twenty-five years n vast
amount of interest will DO paid out un-
necessarily, unproftably and illegally.
And in whose hands will those interest
bonds be found time will develop. At the
end of twenty years there will be the same
claim of the poverty of Louisiana and the
same claim on its behalf for the continued
existence of the lottery"
Gov. Nichols concludes with q most ur-
gent protest against this assumed condition
of the poverty of the state and says the
measure will continue to have his most de-
termined opposition.