St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-11-01
ON THE wANE.

/
When the Louisiana Legislatar,
adjourned early in July last, thsr,
was no section Of the State NOR,
thoroughly, rabid, vindictivs and
o'tte- upon the lottery issue thar
Lincoln parish. The hot-bed O,
Anti-ism was the pretty little tow
OF Ruston, the parish seat. So in.
tense and unreleutinx was the op.
iPosition to the revenue amendment
that the Baptist Chronicle, the hero
OF the s'B. Lear" episode, in which
the Catholics Of the State were
roundly denounced, moved from
Shreveport to find . more congenial
atmosphere in the little hill town,
where reason seemed to have lost
sway and passion taken ito place.
Lincoln IS the home parish Of Hon.
NJ. Stalhngs, who saw ct, in the ex-
ercise OF his best judgment to vote
to submit to the people Of the State
for adoption. or rejection, the
amendment providing for the pay
ment to the State Of 81, 25C 900 per
annum for a lottery license.
At the time of which We speak.
public feeling was so bitter that
churches met and Farmers' ALI
ances convened for the special pur-
pose Of expelling from their midst
their representative in the Legisla-
ture. He was even warned that his
residence in that section of country
was no longer acceptable to the
people and that prudence would
dictate his early departure. But
Stallings went quietly to his home
and remained there. Meanwhile,
the Ruston Caligraph, the only sec
ular newspaper then published in
the parish, growing weary Of the
fanaticism which had been exhibit
ed by the Ants, insisted that the
revenue proposition should be con-
sidered on its merits and not be
consigned to the realm Of things i'm
famous and venal by nature. 1t
was not urged that all voters should
accept what is known - the lottery
but that they should
give it calm, careful and respectful
consideration. But the feeling Of |
the Ants was 80 bitter that they |
could not brook the expression Of
even 80 just and equitable an opin-
ion. They banded together and
through their efforts IN Anti-Lot-
tery newspaper was established,
known Is the Progressive Age.
For come weeks subsequent the
Anti fire seemed to burn with un-
luenched fury, but - time passed
he passions Of the people began
o cool and men began to think.
fierce denunciation gave way to
.alm reason and the revenue amend
nent came to be considered solely
lpon it merits. Men who had
,rown frantic . few months before i
t the very mention Of lottery, |
ow wondered that they had ever 8
iven utterance to violent threats I
nd bitter denunciations Of those [
tho had simply submitted to their I
eople the question Of licensing or 9
efusing to license lottery in this b
tate. For the past two months
,ings have been 90 quiet in Lin t
DIN parish and in the town of e
uston that even the Ants were q
lrprised at the moderation Of the b
eople. The local magnates Of the Il
nti-Lottery League, alarmed At I
'e course affairs had taken, deter O
ined to call another meeting Of G
cir league. In the last issue of 81
e Progressive Age the clan was q
ked to meet on . specific date. nd
We are somewhat surprised in Ii
is connection to find in the Pro- lii
essive Age of the 18th instant 81
following utterance, which tells ~
own tale: "A
We hope the Parish League will CT
t fail t. see the call Of the presi- n,
mt for . meeting at the court ).
use to-day. It has been . long ~
ne since there has been . meeting, q
d It is said interest in the Anti tn
ttery move has xaned and died, vi
d that some have even deserted I.
Z ranks and gone over to the en-
y. This We do not believe, for ~
think the opponents Of the lot be
y, in this parish at least, were in
uated BY principles Of honesty m
| patriotism. II they were, IN
y would hardly desert the -
lse they had 50 enthusiastically
'oused unless they had discov- pr
d they were in error. There is thu
kind Of doubt but that the blaze -.