St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-05-31
LEAVE IT TO THE PEOPLE.

Tie constitution Of this State prohibits all
lotteries after the last day in December 1894.
The Lottery Company, desiring to prolon2
their charter. offer to pay The State million
dollars Il yenr for the period Of twenty five
wears for such extended franchise. They are
now paving under their contract with tho
State fifty thousand dollars per Rnnnm. This
contract is recognized and ratified in article
i61 OF the constitution, which likewise tixes
the termination of the contract by prohibit
ing all lotteries.
This prohibition can he removed only by an
amendment to the constitution which requires
proposition by The General Assembly and con-
tirnati0n by the people at the next general
election. which will lie held in April, 1892. 1t
is probable that n bill involving such amend
nent will be submitted at the coming session
of tho legislature. This will, no doubt, give
rise to much discussion covering the whole
range OF matters connected with lotteries.
their tendencies and effects, their pnblie Opiu.
ion al home and abroad. and their social. po-
litical and economic bearings in their widest
scope.
Yet, I apprehcnd that the only question with
each senator and representative will he wheth
or il is his duty to leave the whole matter to
the people to decide by their votes for OF
against the amendment, or to refuse to give
them that privilege Here is an offer Of 4 mil.
lion of dollars n gear IN the State, for schools,
levees ard charitiea, or for whatever else a
government may require; shall he give the
people chance 10 say whether 1hey will &C
cept it or reject IT, or shall he take all the res
possibility to himself and tell his constituents
thht they shall not have 4 chance to decide
the question for themselves! lie may have
better opportunities for acquiring infarma-
tion than The people. who have chosen him as
their agent, but lie need not assume to know
what they want hotter than they do them
selves, in Il matter OF such enormous impor-
fappR IIp NAyp apfflPI nniuinnq
matters relating to public morals, but he need
not act on the presumption that the people
are any less moral than himself. A PROPOSE
lion is offered to take off IL large part OF the
load of taxes shall not the taxpayers have
a chance to say whether they will accept it
or not +! An offer is made that will secure
good schools for twice the annual period that
they arc now open shall the parents, mostly
poor have chance to say whether they are
in favor OF accepting the offer or not Shall
the people who live behind levees and depend
upon their being well maintained for subss-
tence and protection, have chance to ac
cept or refuse two or three hundred thousand
dollars year as help TO keep mp these hui
W alks against the ruthless floods Of the Miss
issippif A mnnificent offer is made that will
relieve the unfortunate and build MP our over
crowded institutions Of charity-will the leg
whether they may take the offer or reject it
This offer is one that would have immeasnra-
BILE effect npon the States financial stability
and credit--cannot those who value the
States solyency and integrity, have chance
to accept it it they so desire viii the gen.
eral assembly assume the nut h0rity and the
responsibility to reject this offer finally or will
they leave tue decision to the people.
If a member were to vote for bill propos
ing an amendment TO The constitution, which
would extend the lottery charter on the pro-
posed terms. he wonld still be at liberty to
oppose it before the people and conld do 50
with consistency. To propose an amendment
on which the people in 1892 can yntc yea or
nay is not saying that They onght TO accept or
reject it it is only giving the people, who are
ali interc stea a chance 10 say what they think
about it. Many would vote against it, DO
doHbt. Public opinion is not settled Gu the
matter. Many WHO do not favor lotteries in
the abstract. are yet not prepared tn reject so
large Il tangible, certain and regular accession
TO The States resources All would like to
say by their votes, what they think about it.
Let the general assembly submit the aues
ton in such terms, TINT The people can decide
The constitution teaches the manner in which
are to be made Let it be borne
in mind that proposing Tie amendment is the
exclusive business OF the Legislature, while
its acceptance, or rejection ia the exclusive
business Of the sovereign people; the PROPOSE
tion of an amendment is barely recognition
of the right of he people to decide upon it,
while it is in no way declaration for 0.
against it.
IL is not party question, and it may there.
fore lie made subject of discussion before
the people without detliment TO candidates
and without ENHANCEMENT with other issues.
Il seems best hat it should be submitted thus
entirely distinct ami separate from all other
questions, instead of being submitted by some
future constitutional convention rs part OF u
new constitution. Ifpresented separately as
TN amendment. its adoption. Or defeat will
| iapnse of 1t defnitiEely, E. w. HALsEY.