Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-02-28

uOuSc SuOulU DuTu uOWD DeIOT0 Cne policy
expires, he gains the prize; if, however, It
Is a lottery-a game of chance. The real
estate dealer knows not when his real es-
tate will increase OF depreciate in value.
He takes the risk-he CANDLES on the
future-he plays a game of hazard.
In almost every business transaction
there is more or less chance or risk.
These examples from everyday life H.
hazard is immoral and that one is justified
in taking a chance In a lottery provided
justice is not violated. We read in
THE OLD TESTAMENT
that Jonah, being chosen by God to preach
pennance to the wicked Ninevites and I'M
willing to comply with the divine ordi-
nance, e%ndeavored to escape by embarking
In q ship, but God raised a violent storm,
which threatened destruction to the ship.
The sailors cast lots to discover the evil
doer and the lot fell on Jonah. BY his own
request, he vas cast into the sea. where a
in the whales belly three days, after which
time he was spewed upon dry land. He
then humbly submitted to the divine de-
cree and preached pennance to the wicked
city of Ninevah.
The apostles also INDUCED in lotteries or
games of chances. After Judas the be-
trayer Of our Lord had hung himself, 1.-THE
Baraabas, and Maehias-and gave them
lots and the lot fell upon Matthias ard he
numbered with the eleven apostles"
Were the apostles gamblers?
Also the United States senate last fall
operated a lottery in deciding who Of the
North Dakota senators should have the
long and who the short term. Would you,
then call all nuT I1nitpA StQtaC Sanotnrs
gamblers? What about
THE FAMOUS LOTTERY BILL,
that has lately been introduced in the
legislature?
l appear before you-not as its advocate,
nor as its opponent. l consider it a bust
ness proposition, or a political scheme
and believe it should be settled in the
forum of politics and not in the sanctuary
of the church. We have chosen men from
every section of the state, whom we con
sidered IN possession of knowledge, WIS.,
dom and experience, and they should be
fully competent to settle the question.
If some Of the members Of the legisla-
ture should so far forget themselves as to
accept brides for their votes, they should
be brought to justice, but If such charges
cannot be proven and are without founda-
ton, h in the lame of the state whose
reputation is at stake the cry Of fraud and
corruption among her citizens should
cease. A man is considered innocent UNI
til proven guilty.
II the lottery can be guarded against
grlev0uS abuses, then
LET IT COME TO NORTH DAKOTA,
to stimulate an impoverished treasury, to
drive starvation from the homes of our
farmers and tighten the burden of taxa
ton. Let it be located in the promising
young city Of Bismarck and rear for 1t a
bright and glorious future and make it the
grandest city in the northwest.
II the lottery has a demoralizing influ-
ence, let il be rejected.
be proven. Abuses and opprobious
epithets are not proof and carry no con-
victiOn. 1t has been operated in New Or
leans for the last twenty years and If it ex-
ercises such an evil influence upon a COM
munity as some would have us believe,
then New Orleans must be the wickedest
and most demoralized city in the union,
sion. There are at present, l am told, 1879
churches in New Orleans and sixty-five
have been erected since the establishment
OF the lottery. Immoral people 10 not
build churches. Furthermore, while l
have read of the most shocking immorali-
ties II scandals in other cities, l must adj
init that l have not seen evidence of a very
low state of society in this southern me-
tropolis. The lottery advertisements have
been published and people have been pat
1Onizing the lottery for years with no CON-
plants, but all at once it is discovered that
it is the most dangerous institution in the
world. Why this sudden terror?
WITH REGARD TO CHURCH LOTTERIES.
We Catholic priests would be exceeding
ly pleased, I assure you, If we could con-
duct our churches without the aid of lot.
teries. Our churches in this country are
not supported by the state, but must be
erected and maintained by the liberal con-
tributions of the faithful. These contri-
buttons do often not suffice, and hence we
must resort to extraordinary means to
make ends meet. Fairs and lotteries for
the benefit of Catholic churches and schools
and benevolent institutions are being held
throughout the length and breadth of the
land. Will our Protestant ministers brand
all the Catholic bishops and priests as gam
blers and knaves? Surely such a sweep
ing charge would be unjust. Yet this is
the only inference to be drawn from the
rabid sermOns of some of these ministers.
THosE WHO LIVE N GLASS HOUSES
should not throw stones. At the Presby-
terrain fair lately held in this city, a prize
voting affair was conducted between GER
tain members of the legislature as to who
Of them was the most homely. The prize
was a cane, for which,, I am informed, an
exorbitant sum was realized. This was
published in the DAILY TRIBUNE of this
city, and I have never seen or heard it con-
tradicted, hence it must be a fact. And yet
the Presbyterian minister has had the au-
dacity to tell his audience in his church
that he has never tolerated any voting or
priZe-drawing at his fairs. But the worst
part of the matter is that the minister has
denounced this as an immoral means of
making money, and yet he has had the un-
scrupulousness to pocket the money real
lied from his voting business. Where does
logic remain and where conscience?
The Baptist minister of this city, a few
Sundays ago, told his congregation that he
had never been in a Catholic fair in his
life, but Immediately experiencing scruples
Of conscience for having told an untruth,
he avowed in the next breath that he had
attended a Catholic fair, in days gone by,
and there spent five whole dollars. Now I
ask, "How did he spend that money! As
he himself ACKNOWLEDGMENT lotteries
this wholesome confession being made in
proof of his statement that. people become
unreasonably excited and wrought-up
when once interested in lotteries or games
Of chance. As to whether his excitement
was caused by the hope of winning or by
the magnetic touch of the fair young ladies
who surrounded him I ON nof ohlo tn COW