The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-07-16

doubtedly be sought to be brought before
it, would he fraught with danger aud
disaster 7 warned the General Assem-
bly, as to what in my opinion would be
the inevitable result of such Equalization,
not only upon the material welfare and
prosperity of our people, but upon their
social and political condition, and not
only upon the honor and good name, but
upon the peace of the State. was not
in error as to the bringing forward of a
proposition for lottery privileges. The
bill which has been submitted to me for
executive approval, and which I now re-
turn, evidences that fact and the couclu-
sions reached upon it up to the present
time by the General Assembly. 1t be-
comes now my duty to urge by way of
executive objection what / have hereto
fore urged under Act No. II of tho Con-
stitution by way of executive counsel.
Taking up that portion Of my message
alluded to which had reference to the lot
terry question generally, make it part Of
this, my present message, and the reasons
therein brought forward against favor
able consideration of any lottery PROPOSE
ton are now presented as direct objec-
tions made by he to the bill presented to
ME. Ny views as heretofore expressed,
not only remain unchanged, but my con-
viction has deepencd and strengthened
during the session of the General Assem-
bly,. If in the discussion of this lottery
question i'll my message l failed to do so
in connection with the financial cOndi-
ton of the State, it is because in my
opinion, in point of fact there was no &C.
casion for so doing. The persistent eff
forts which have been made to present
Louisiana as pauper, unable by and
through her own legitimate resources to
sustain and carry ont the duties of her
Statehood are utterly without foundation.
The reports Of the Treasurer aud Auditor
of the State show this. The reports of
the Board of Administrators of the va
riOus charitable and educational or other
public institutions and those of the va
rious committees of this very General AS
sembly sent to examine into the situation
and condition of these institutions, all
show that the State and tho different Pa
rishes of this State were never since the
late war in better condition than they are
to day; moving forward to an era of as
sured prosperity, suddenly the dark shad-
ow of deep disgrace is thrown across
their path, and the honor of Louisiana
maintained i'll the past OH the field and in
the council by the patriotism and the
valor and the sacrifices of her sons living
and dead is to he furnished forever; her
position among her sister States to be
tested, not by what she has becn-exaitcd
and justly proud but in tho dust ae the
degenerate partner in gambling corpo
ration, designed, organized and to be
carried out not for her good or her adj.
vancement, but as l have before said for
the personal and selfish interests of Il
hand full of men, many of them connect
ed with the darkest days of the recon-
struction period. l repeat it is for them
and to them we are selling out our birth
right fof n mess of pottage
Who are the SIX unnamed men who are
to join with seventh and known one to
constitute the new lottery company =
How comes it that We are not informed
IS to their Identity and tabled to know
their antecedents and fix their record
There is world of meaning in that 81
lence. In the most tritling affairs of life
men seek to know with whom they deal.
How comes it that i'll Il matter of this im-
portanee the General Assembly has been
willing up to now to close its eyes and
move blIndly in the dark l call upon
it to pause before it takes ly that
step and plunges this State into untold
troubled Is there nothing significant in
the vote by which the bill passed! The
exact two-thirds vote in each house and
nothing deeply significant in twelve of
the votes Of the House and four of the
votes of the Senate by which that exact
was reached I Is not the flu
ture foreshadowedf To me it most GER
tainly is. say to this General Assembly
in all earnestness that should this meas
IRE he passed wo will enter upon a period
of strife such as has never been seen be-
fore in Louisiana. and should this con-
templated corporation ever be forced
upon us, there will be an era of corrup-
ton and degradation beside which the
era of reconstruction will appear as one
Of honor and happiness. And let me say
to you that should this measure be adopt
ed and carried out, in my opinion no
good will ever come of the money which
We will receive as the price of our honor
md our liberty. Extiavagance, profit
.acy and corruption will as assuredly
ollow the receipt as night follows day.
feel thoroughly satisfied that the ef-
ect of the hdoption of the measure will
,e that while the six mill tax would he
ept up there will be an immediate fall
ny off in the legislative appropriations
or charitable and other purposes for
;hich this money will have been direct.
d to be applied, and wondrous CORES
onding increase of the application of
he general fund to the payment of the