St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-05-17
The state Legislature VS.. The
La. state Lottery CO.

I
renewing the charter of tho Louisan
,o State Lottery. We did not go farthe
N than to say in substance that it was en-
n titled to serious reflection on the pa.
4. of the people of Louisiana. We notic
It that they are taking it mp. In som
ID parishes We discover organized and out
s. spoken opposition. We are sonewba
20 panied to see 10y reports that division o
a opinion exists in tho ranks of the Far
a mcrs' Alliance. We hope aud trust thi.
may be healed in time to prevent serious
consequences to it's unity.
Among the churches, that is, among
the commandments of the different de-
: nominations, there exist great diversity
t Of opinion on the, subject. This, OF it.
< self, is proof that the proposition is not
: so diabolicat as some would represent
it. This is yet recognized as toleraby
i free country where opinion may be pro-
] claimed without serious consequences
whatever sentimental Intolerance may
, incline good people to say or do.
Since we find the masses everywhere
giving expression to their views we
hesitate rot to proclaim our own. We
favor Mr.. Morris proposition. 1t con-
taIns Or comprises the principle upon
which we believe the present legisIa-
ture should act. We incline to believe
that tho Lottery Company can well
afford to be even more liberal than Mr.
Morris proposes. Of course, We are not
fully posted touching the financial ca
paclty of the company. 1t may be that
we are inclined to exaggerate the wealth
| anu income of that corporation. But,
be this as it may, we favor the pIopo-
sitiOn.
AS our present legislators were not
elected upon this Issue, and as it is fair
to presume that very many of them will |
hesitate before acting in matter of so
much gravity, in the absence of any
generally known public sentiment, we
believe they would best serve their con-
stituents by legislatiyely submitting
the proposition to them at the next
election. They eau then determine for
themselves on the issne made and cam
vassed whether the company shall be
recllartercd or not
lt is not necessary here and at this
time to dwell upon the fact familiar to ]
every property owner, that our bur +
thens are already as heavy as the con- ,
stItutlon can tolerate, and that tue
main purposes OF government arc, to a
sad extent, uDrealized. If the people c
could derive mole advantages, more aid +
from the lottery than they at present r
do, the fact that so much help could be J
found within reach, under legal sane !,
ton, would have good effect. 1t '
would, in fact, make the Lottery Com 3
pany valuable adjunct OF the State ;
government. We are net veil infol med Il
as to the gross assessments upon the ;,
people in the form Of taxes, but we do A
know that such an annuity as Mr., Nor Ii
is offers sould prove quite bonanza p
% the tax paying people. 1t would, IL
lslde from this, convert our eieemosy- VI
lary institutions into adequately useful N
etreats for the unfortunate of our race. =, a.
Who, under the present stringency, are Q.
We believe it is now con- b
eded that the State legce funds are in u u
dequate for the purposes for which III
hey are exacted; that private contri- CI
utions are entirely inadequate and RI
hat increased facilities must needs Of
ome from some source. We cannot in sa :,
lease tue taxes, and, il we could, it III.
'ould be oppressive to do so. Volun- th
iEy assistance is all We cap look to, or an
elief from the Federal Government, ed
Of course, the only succor it could be pa
expected to give would be limited to Sta
ne protection of our most valuable 'ni
nds from overflow. But if it, con- ths
ary TO old democratic platforms and lie
,ticles Of party faith. would UNDER Or q,
Ike to build the levees on the Missis- as
ppi river it would be great relief, aud col G,
70 funds the State is now and has bel
'retofore been using and throwing VIII
way on them could be appropriated to b., =
'blic schools and the different asylums tha
e have. sell aell
Five hundred thousand dollars per roa
mum jndiciously applied to these das. iIss
uld but have desirable effect. There be
no such thing as Improvement in our Q
ho0l system, in asyiums, charity hos oe'
tails, &c, if We are to depend npon -
xatiou for it. Mr.. Morris proposition p
yes the people an opportunity to be- + J
me self-supportiDg and debtless with ol
t increasing their burthens. We take = ~he 1a
stock in mere sentiment on the sub exp
t. All We desire is that the legisla- 70 70 e 6
e may submit the proposition to the fen. fene
1ple. 1t they wish to have tile COM N
ny recbartered on the terms proposed all 81 ItI i
y have the right to say SO, and, ii il al
y reject il. Mr.. Morris and his coad- said aid
ors in the lottery business must ,npn' ,;pnn
etly submit to their decision. The Pa
position is too important to be chok- b.n bp
to death by the fear of the legisla- dent
5 to trust those who sent them to to d
legislature. tract as e
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