The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-05-24
The Louisiana LOttery's Shame
less Bid.

1t is some slight indication ofwhat
enormous profits the Louisiana Lot
terry must have made when it doubles
its bid to the Legislature, and offers
to the State 100000 year for
twenty-five years for the extension
of its charter. 1t is an old dodge of
thieves to apply some of the money
they steal TO good purposes, William
NJ. Tweed gave away great deal of
money in charity, and is mourned by
many as kind-hearted and generous
benefactor. The trouble was that it
was not his money. So the lottery
offers to give S35O,0OO year to the
public schools and $1,000 to certain
charitable institutions, if the State
will only legalize Its gambling trans
actions.
1t is significant of the extent to
which the public conscience has been
debauched by this long-standing in
iquity that all the newspapers in
New Orleans-the Times Democrat,
the Picdy,t1ae and the StdteS-are adj
vocating the acceptance of the bid of
the lottery. Either they have been
bribed, or the consciences of their
editors have been so perverted that
thew are no longer able to distinguish
right from wrong, One specious
argument for the lottery is that it
brings money into the State from
| vut5iuo in oshor ~vo-ds. that q major.
| ity OF the victims or the lottery are
outside of Louisiana. and so are fair
game. Is it the habit of New Orleans
gentlemen to pick the pockets of gen.
tlemen from other States who come
to their city? Where is the moral
difference between robbing stranger
by cheating at cards or by outright
picking of his pocket and robbing
him by means of bit of pasteboard ?
The State may make gambling legal.
but cannot make it right. 1t might
make murder legal also, arison, or
any other form of iniquity.
The extension of the lottery charter
will require two-thirds vote in both
branches OF the Legislature, and a
majority vote by the people of the
State at the State election Of 1892.
The lottery managers seem to believe
that if the action of the Legislature
is favorable their cause is gained,
This is bad sign, and indicates that
the people of Louisiana, whether by
reason of race or religion or historical
association, are expected by this in
iquitous association to use their in
fluence in favor of legalized gambling.
The necessity of popular vote forms
very convenient excuse for leglsla-
tors who cast their ballots in favor of
the lottery. If the people do not
favor it, they say. our vote will make
no great Observation-Disclosures let us
take our share of the "pie" while it
is going around, and leave the decis-
ion to the people.
The efforts of Gov. Nichols are
now being ably supplemented by an
organization called the Anti-Lottery
League, and they claim to have
secured enough votes in the Honse TO
defeat the scheme there. Let us hope
that this is so, and that the Christian
people of the State and Its honorable
citizens generally will rally to the
aid of GOV, Nichols, and put an effec-
tive quietus on the rnonstrous devil
fish of corruption, which, with its
tenacious and deadly tentaCles reach
ing all over the State. is sucking the
moral life out of the people of Louis
iana.-N. y. Mail and Express.