St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1890-11-22
SUBSCRIPTION, So A YEAR.
LOTTERIES.
Youths Companion.

Youths Companion.
Lotteries have been condemned il
principle, though they are as yet moi
wholly suppressedin in nearly every coun.
try of Christendom. In most of the
States of the American Union they are
forbidden by. law. In England they
have been prohibited since the reign
of George II, in Belgium they were
suppressed in 1880, and in France they
are nominally forbidden, though the
government has permitted the element
of chance to be introduced in the rails
ing of money for certain se1ni-public
purposes.
The lottery originated in corrup-
tion. 1t was at the beginning simply
a game of chance made use of by the
emperors in the declining days Of Rome
to corrupt and beguile the common
people. It's demoralizing nature was
quickly recognized. The earliest legis-
latiye bodies Of modern Europe pro
tested against royal lotteries, and the
first Assembly OF the French Republic
suppressed them as can invention OF
despotism to make men silent about
their want, by enticing them on
with hope which aggravates their
distress"
The objection to lotteries is based
upon morals as well as upon public ex-
pediency. Lotteries continually incite
the poor, and persons who are not
well-giftedwith the moral sense and
the quality OF self reliance, to depend
upon something else than their own
efforts to take care of themselves.
They lead such persons to neglect the
duties OF industry, arouse the inatinct
Of coyetousness, and stimulate many
evil passions.
Lotteries have been we'll called
schools of public Generalization. They
introduce scandals and corruption in
public life. Such scandals, involving
charges of bribery of legislators, have
lately risen in Louisiana and North
Dakota. The wealth which may in a
very few cases be gained by individuals,
and which is almost always gained by
the proprietors of lotteries, is not ac-
quired by labor or any useful service,
but only at the expense OF others, and
sometimes to the ruin, moral and
financial, OF the persons who patronize
the lottery.
In this country the general govern
ment has not the power to suppress
lotteries in the States, but it may pre-
vent it doing business thro' the United
States mails, and that is what is to be
done by law lately enacted by Con-
gress.
This law makes unlawful and fraudu-
lent all communications through the
mails connected in any way with the
business of lotteries or gift enterprises
Of any kind. It is made misdemean-
or, punishable With q fine Of five hun
dred dollars ard INN Eisonnaent oz one
year. for any one to deposit IN the
mails any letter, card or circular in
any way bearing upon the business OF
lotteries.
No one may lawfully purchase lot
terry ticket through the mails, nor may
any ticket, prize or information be
sent by mail or delivered.
Postmasters have no power under
the law to open letters in order to find
out whether they contain lottery bust
ness, but registered letters, postal
notes and money orders directed to
lotteries or their agents are to be
marked fraudulent" and returned to
their writer's.
Newspapers which contain adver-
tisemcnts of lotteries or lists of prizes
awarded are forbidden to be carried in
the mails under the same penalties as
other communications relating to lot
teries.
In brief, though the government
cannot suppress lotteries in the States,
it may prevent their doing business
through the mails, and undertakes to
do so in this law.
Inasmuch as nearly all the States
have laws of their own which make
open dealing in lottery tickets unlaw-
full, business of this sort has been
largely driven to the United States
mails, taking refuge there under the
inviolability of private communities
tions. The present law is intended to
make the mails no longer cover for
such business.
1t can hardly he doubted that the
enforcement of this law will prevent q
vast amount of the mischief due to
lotteries, even if it does not break them
down. 1t is to be hoped that it will
be followed by the total suppression Of
these demoralizing and hurtful enter
prises in the States where they are
now permitted in one or another form.
He who wastes his time attending
to his neighbor's business must surely
neglect his own"
Notice Of Administrafion.
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