The Colfax chronicle., 1890-06-28

As promised last week We here
with give q few of the reasons
which cause the great opposition
to the recharter Of the lottery COM
pany. Owing to lack of space our
statement has to be put in the
shape of an incomplete synopsis;
but the showing here made is
ample for uncompromising opposi-
ton to any and all lottery schemes
that may be offered, without going
into the minute details or the
lengthy and conclusive discussion
of the subject with which all Of our
people are more or less familiar:
The proposition is to grant to an
individual and his associates and
successors the exclusive privilege
of establishing and maintaining :
lottery in Louisiana for twenty 1--we
yeary, from Jan. l, 1894, and in re-
turn for this exclusive privilege
the State is to receive the sum Of
81, 600, 600, payable in installments
as set fort in the bill and distribu-
ted to the levees, schools, charities,
pensions and drainage and santa
ton of the City of New Orleans as
therein stated. And it is not de-
MED that this is in effect merely an
application on the part of the lot
trey company for an extension OF
its charter.
We have no hesitancy in saying
that this proposition should be re-
jected;' rejected as vicious in its
morals, unsound in economy and cor
rupting and dangerous in politics.
As we view it, stripped of the false
pretenses with which it is clothed,
It is nothing but q bare offer to
buy State and to bribe its people
to enter into an Infamous bargain.
The pretense that it is in aid Of
such worthy objects as levees,
schools, charities, ETC., will deceive
no one; the hypocricy is too ap-
parent; the private fortunes of the
promoters Of the scheme and moi
these worthy public objects, are to
be its bene6ciaries- If the pro
moters of this lottery scheme had
said to us that they wanted . lot
terry for the purpose of making
money for themselves, and they
would pay . good round sum FOL
it, they would at least have rescued
themselves from the charge of
insincerety, and been entitled to be
accorded the virtue of candor, how.
ever shocking the proposition might
be to the moral sense.
! That the maintainance and OPP
eration of lottery is immoral, few
have the hardihood to deny. It u
admitted to be q species of gam
bling, and no one contends but that
gambling is the most pernicious oi
all the varied forms of this vice
because moro widespread and Tar.
reaching, is equally true.
/ We take it then, that no one
denies the immortality of public
lottery. Shall we then sanction
the immortality imbedded in ON
organic law and place the seal oi
our public appreciation upon iti
The people of this State, after de
claring in their Constitution thai
gambling was q vice, laid the In
iuction upon US to "enact laws fol
| it's suppression" Shall we nov
obey that injunction by proposing
to this same people not to suppress
but to establish and protect this
the most baneful of all gambling
Such q course woold seem to NJ
not only disregard of this plair
injunction of tie people, but little
less than q contempt of their ex
pressed wishes. In what an incon
sistent and pitiable attitude vi
would place ourselves by adopting
this proposed amendment with on'
article of the Constitution declaring
the viciousness of gambling, ant
directing the General Assembly t.
suppress il, while another legslised
adopted and protected it in it
worst form. But such is the un.
enviable position We are invited *
occupy before the thinking and en-
lightened world.
But not only are we invited d
legalize gambling, but we an
solicited to share in the spoils. WI
are asked to become, If not . part
lner in terms, at least . beneficiary
of the vice, and to support our