St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1890-11-15

answer for his crimes. III all these
cases we agree with Edmund Burke
'.that the rules OF morality may be
suspended in behalf of its own prin-
ciples." Such cases however lie upon
the very border land Of morals the
line of deanarcation between what is
right and wrong is often shadowy and
dime and the best and purest men
may differ in conduct, according as
they see one way or the other You
perceive that I have recourse to funda-
mental principles in this defense; !
do not quibble; the issue is met
squareiy and am happy to believe
that the standard OF ethics applied IN
practical life sanctions these princi-
pies, though they may not square with
the nice and visionary morality of the
pro-lottery press, one Of the peculiari-
ties Of which is that it is afflicted with
such an obliquity Of moral vision that
the incest deviations by anti-lotterv
men from even doubtful moral princi-
pies are readily detected and exposed
while they appear totally blind to the
moral guilt of those who defeat q
bribery resolution, or of that larger
number who advocate measure which
establishes a scheme for widespread
and public gambling for quarter of
century through the agency of a cor
poration which 'sbestrides the narrow
State like a colossus" darkens the
land with its maglignant presence and
whose intriguing hand in politics
virtually wrests from our people their
political autonomy. For 70 profes-
sion Of the principles enunciated in
these communications, am prepared
and willing to assume all responsibility.
My views in the abstract may be dis
approved by some, but ! scarcely be-
lieve that popular condemnation will
bevisited upon man when he exerts
himself by tongue and pen in what he
honestly believes is the joint service of
his friends and country.
The Baton Rouge Advocate. This
paper makes an extract from my letter
in which it. was said that Governor
Nichols and Judge White we're not
only justifiable in accepting the lot
tery's voluntary and unconditional
contribution, but that Judged from the
standpoint of an enthusiastic and
ardent opponent of the lottery, they
were in duty bound not to allow the
opportunity to pass nnimproved of OBJ
tanning those positions of power and
authority where they might be able to
fustrate the possible treachery OF the
lottery in making an effort to secure a
new lease OF life in spite of the declara-
ton of its chief that no such attempt
would .be made. It seems that those
views have startled" the editor Of the
Baton Rouge Advocate. Tho princi-
pies upon which base my defense of
Governor Nichols and Judge White
may be novel, but preceding portions
OF this communication it seems to me
show clearly enough that their moral
soundness can scarcely be controvertei.
They are not as the Baton Rouge Ad-
vocate says contrary to all precon-
cieyed IDEAS" they are in harmony
with the practice of mankind in similar
circumstances. It is the captious
spirit of the pro-lottery press when
considering anything in defense Of
Nichols and White which renders
these principles unsatisfactory The
editor of the Baton Rouge Advocate
laments my want of ethical culture !"
and speaks rather like medieval
monk writing a moral treatise than
after the fashion of a journalist in the
swift current Of the nineteenth cen
tury. He argues for ethical culture"
with wealth of scholastic refinement
which reminds the reader of the
casuistry of the middle ages. You
would think you we're reading the
moral speculations Of a transcendental
philosopher WHO occupies his learned
leisure with meditation on the which
ness of the whence. 1t may be that /
am so mentally and morally obtuse
that / cannot nose out immoral prin-
ciples as infallibly as the Advocate can,
and / would like en- passant to ask the
Advocate in virtue OF what consis-
tency it can attack Governor Nichols,
Judge White and their defenders for a
woefnl lack Of ethical culture whilst
the Advocate itself expressly approves,
or tacitly approves by failure to con-
denim, the vote of the lottery majority
in Senate and House by which the in
vestigation OF charges of bribery was
defeated? In the minds of many peo-
pie these charges were not without
foundation /; the defeat OF the resoIu-
ton leaves no room for doubt that
some were corrupted / cannot see
much ethical culture" in the con-
donation in approving the compound
ing OF felony which this infamous vote
virtually was. Anti-Lottery men are
lectured severely for want of "ethical
culture" for defending public men in
a course which is Inanifestly resulting
in the public good, and lectured too by
lottery journals who have no word of
condemnation OF q vote which com
founds felony and which sets a pre-
cedent absolutely destructive of free
government. Popular government is
a farce if this vote go unrebuked. 1t
aims deadly blow at the very heart
OF the republic. Through the corrupt
motives OF some and the inexplicable
weakness Of others, the lottery men in
the legislature committed an act
which merits the sternest and most
emphathic rebuke of free people. /
know no political crime so subversive
of all the recognized principles of free
government as this vote. It stands
without a parallel. The hot indigna-
tion it should cause should be cabled
in the flight Of five and twenty years.