St. Landry democrat., 1890-11-22
GleaninSs from a Chapter OH the His
tory Of Lotteries i'll the
United States

~
In reading the comments o. .ADtl-Lot-
terry papers upon the truths Of history
on the subject of lotteries, it is amusing
to observe that they deny that lotteries
in former days were such rs we have
now. They never deng-because highly
moral people, must necessarily have
some regard for truth-the statements
made about the existence md purposes
OF lotteries.
Whether those OF WasnIrgtou's aud
Jettrrson's time were precisely similar
in III respects TO The Louisiana State
Lottery, is quite i~mmategiai, since they
equally depended on chance. 1t is this
feature that is complained Of as being
mineral aud yet, We know that in every
enterprise Of life, we depend more or
less nn chance for results. 1t is this
feature which causes it to be denounced
as gambling. The fairness of the chance
Caunot he seriously complained Of. tor
the reason that everyone taking q ticket
knows fulwell what the chance for win
ming, is. He il therefore not deceived,
nor is lie persuaded. What he docs is
entirely Voluntarily. Tho mode OF
drawing is perfectly fair. Of which fact,
every candid man is satisfied. He an
not seriously doubt it. Such gentlemen
as Gents. Early and Beauregard would
never permit their names tn be used in
any business that is not so conducted.
There is II feature OF this question
which We have seen presented,
! and it is one to which we now desire to
invite attention. lotteries carried on
without the authority of law, or, in cor
PREVENTION Of it, might, with some show
Ut reason, be objected to; but when
sanctioned by the law, and licensed by
the highest power Of q state, nothing
can be justly said against it on the score
of its immortality. Let us illustrate.
We are taught by n Of the command
nients that it is q sin to kill G fellow
IMAM. The laws Of all countries de-
"nn homicide "a G Crims. And set,
when authorized by the state, tho cTimi-
ual feature ceases. When tho sheriff
executes the sentence OF &, court and
hangs Il man, no one attaches censuTe to
l.tnl. and no one ever thinks Of charging
the state with the crime Of hOmicida.
Tie fact that it authorizes it. divests it
Of the criminal feature, and makes it
right. Why does nct this principle a.
ply in the case Of chartered lotteries,
admitting for the sake Of the argument,
that there is something wrong in them.
Lord Bacon held this to be sound rea-
S0ning and gave this as al illustration.
Il" NSe. this too in treating Of lotteries.
But tbs Squirnishncss Of some, about
using lottery money TO educate their
children, is more astonishing than all
their other views taken of the subject.
They ale willing to send their children
IN the public schools, pr0rided there are
net too many obscure, and nnreIned
c"Mnlnn c1iltIren in them, and not ore
ever cares how much of Kate Town
sends money is used in paying the teach
tTs. Willing TO send to the public
Schonis. regardless of how much Of the
teachers pay comes out Of the licensing
Of drinking saloons, and a great number
OF other occupations, which, so far As
the morals of society are concerned, are
i~ncomrarahfy mor injurious than a lot
ieTy Can be, admitting all that is said Of
tt.
Look for a moment at the history of |
lotteries, in their relation to Institutions
of learning. ,
The following were lottery colleges;
Harvard University. Mass. Yale Uni
velsity, Conn. :; University Of Virginia,
Alhermarle College, Va; University Of
Pennsylvania, University Of Michigan,
Of North Carolina, Brown
University, r. l.; Columbia College,
T.; University Of Georgia. William
and Mary College. Va. Hamilton Col
lege, n. Y; Indiana University, st. John
College, Georgetown, D. c.; Williams
College, Mass; College of Charleston,
c.; Amherst College, Mass. Rutgers
College, n. j.; Washington and Jeffcr-
College, Penn; University of Yer
mont, Hampton-Sydney College, Va.
City College. Bait, Ran
Macon College, Va. Dickinson
College, Penn; Franklin and Marshall
College, Penn; Union College, n. Y:
College, n. H.; Newark Col
.egc, Del. Ir%ansylvania College, Ky:
College, Ky.
Now it the reader desires to be fair
With his ideas, lot him look these
squarely in tho face, and then in
fairness, answer the objections of our
Anti friends, as to whether the fact that
school is supported by money derived
rom the gains Of a lottery, should faint
t with immortality 2 Let him reflect
hat, the University of Pennsylvania.
harvard College and Columbia College.
10 the notable lottery colleges of this
oa8try. The first ran a lottery for
years. Harvard vas granted
hTee lottery charters, and was given the
Hvl!ege ot establishing branches, &c.
s 1t not Indeed strange that with all
heir erudlti0n, it never occurred TO
hem that their matriculates were dis
?
Our article is too long and we must
oSe it, We will continue the subject
] future issues.