The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-05-28
THE LOTTERY QUESTION.
CHENEYyILLE,
May Is, 1890. J
Editor Dencc:

an extension of the charter of the Lot
terv Company, there has begun con
siderable discussion among the people
on that subject. There is no question
of doubt that the proposition for
continuation of the Lottery, whether IN
favor of Mr.. Morris or the man who
will give the most money to the State
for the privilege, will become an q. issue s.
among the people separate and distinct
from party considerations.
There is a strong belief among
manv that lottery is a great moral
evil, while upon the other hand there
is prevailing sentiment that there Is
no more immortality in lotteries than
there Is in brokerage or the system OF
exchanges which prevail in our market
cities, through and by which the COM
mercial affairs of the world are con
Quoted, and with this latter class it is
claimed that the great danger to be
apprehended from continuation OF
this lottery charter is its monopoly
feature and the power it Yields In leg
islative affairs. All men will not ven
ture lust here and just now to commit
themselves upon this vital question,
which is so sure to become in the near
future stirring issue among our peo-
pie, because they think it little pre-
mature. There are strong arguments
: used in favor of the lottery by some OF
our leading papers, and the charities
extended and the great relief offered
and given with free hand to our SUIT
fering fellow citizens in the overlooked
districts of the State has certainly en-
r gendered a strong sympathy in favor
| Of the Lottery Company, and gained
it some unfiinching supporters. Ihe
4 opponents of the Lottery may just as
we'll make up their minds that to dc,
feat this powerful corporation they will
n have to marshal their hosts into
C solid phalanx and do battle in dea'
j. earnest. Ii cannot be defeated with
" out struggle, and hard one at that
and as newspapers are considered te
be the moulders of public opinion, i
- will soon be time for those that hav'
u not vet committed themselves to TAX
o position in line and prepare for tn
If fray. The people are waiting ant
o watching to see what the newspaper
!. have to say. They have their OWL
opinions, but private opinions not pub
lialy exaressed, do not reach the mass
l., es like newspaper opinions, and
- looks rather odd for newspapers t
hang fire on a public issue, waiting
I'd see the drift of public opinion. Whe
in the suspicious moment arrives take
10 bold and manly stand and fight it OF
on that line.
H. u. 1t has been suggested and is adv'
~ 7 Gated by some that if the State
D. Louisiana is so much in need Of none
to pay her debt, keep up her leve'
and educate her childlen, and the1
as can be no other means by which
NJ derive sufficient revenue, and v
ht must have lottery, let it belong
H. the State itself and be conducted u
at der the supervision of the State al
let the State derive the benefit of Il
w. ten or fifteen millions apnually, !
nix stead of granting monopoly to NJ
Morris or any other man or compan
Then it is urged that in this case the
est would be too much stealage-that t
a State would be robbed OF the none
an We certainly have enough honestsm
:, in the State to conduct this busine
ny for the State. Hang the first m
the that robs the State out of its dues a
ty that will put stop to it. We m
,en inst as we'll make up our minds, no
ever, that the proposition Of Mr.. Nj
ris is going before the Legislature
III, its present session, and that if the p
sent Legislature refuses to put it
Is Is, fore the people it will be submitted
I'd, the people at the next election TO!
OF General Assembly by Mr.. Morris hi
'ar, self, and there will be no lodging
as irsue. So, taking this view of the
mt uation, we had just as we'll begin
an overhaul our individual moral and
'nt, ligious codes, shake the dust off
feet and determine what we are
ing to do
any This Lottery question is certai
icil' one which demands and should rece
an the most earnest consideration of
ans people. 1t is a question for them
~ consider whether the spasnodlc 1
~" temporary relief offered and given,
TO gether with the one million doll
cent which Mr.. Morris proposes to pay
nually for continuation of the CT
the ter, is of greater concern to them t
one the influences which may be hrou
very to bear in controlling legislation
nelr the affairs Of our government in
future.
It 1t is charged upon Mr.. Morris
br lie says if our present Legislature
= fuses to submit this matter to the
AUS pic he will do it himself at the
anti election and that he will elect
ined Legislature. Now what does
next mean, or what may we infer from
With the vast amount of money W
they have already accumulated,
y So ting it is claimed, from ten to tit