St. Landry democrat., 1890-04-26
A Liberal Offer.
NV ORLEANS. April Il. IsM

Nbw ORLEANS, April II. 1890
EDITOR DEHoCRAT-At the approaching ses
sion of the Legislature of this State, | shaI
submit proposition for the privilege of main
tanning lottery in Louisiana. For this priv
ilege will offer to pay the State, quarterly il
advance, the sum of S500000 per aunun, OF
Sl25oo 600 for the franchise for twenty five
years. This annual license of half a million
dollars, wonld propose 10 have devoted: one
third to The public sc Dol system of the State
ono third to existing charitable institutions
and such others as may be created and the
remaining third to the construction, mainteu.
suGe and repairs of levees. | trnst that ron
wiiI give this proposition calm consideration
and let the people oil the State know your
views Oh the subject. Ii Is quesi ion which
members of the press should consider, | think,
without prejudice Of any kind, looking only to
abe best interests Of the State
Yours truly, JOHN A. MORRIS
The liberal offer of Mr.. John A. Nor
lis, of the 18th instant, published in the
New Orleans papers, in which he makes
the muniiicent offer OF S500,O0O annually
to enable our beloved state to eXtricate
herself from the financial embarass-
ments that surround her, certainly de-
serves more than passing notice. No
reasonable man of right thinking turn
of mind could for moment fail to re-
cOgnlze the Importance of accepting
this offer.
The State Of Louisiana, as she stands
to-day, is almost disgrace to the gal
axy OF states that embeIlish our nation
al flag. Oppressed with debt aud Grip
Piled ID her finances, the necessity con-
fronts the people OF being compelled to
submit to an enormous taxation Or to
accept help from some other source.
The sentimental opposition that has
existed against the renewal of the Lot
tery charter must yield to reason and to
the best interests of our state. Some
say it will be detrimental to the rising
youth of our state. Can thing be det-
rimentnl to the rising youth which at
once offers to them an opportunity OF
emerging from the darkness of igBo
rance and becoming good, useful and
intelligent citizens? The recent torrents
that have been rushing madIy through
our mighty river endangering the prop
erty, aud III some instances the lives, of |
our people show too plainly that with |
the resources in the control of our state |
She has been able to make but a feeble |
resistance. The sad requiem is floating |
through the air of devastated homes
and suffering families, caused by the
rnsh OF waters and the utter inability of |
the constituted authorities to success
fully oppose the same. Wew who live in
dile COIHtIy KNOW tHaG ever dBu anon
s0me poor creature, whose mind has |
become clouded by some mental disease,
knocks al the portals of our parish jails
to gain admittance there, and after the
customary Introduction is pronounced
by the competent tribunal, a notice is
sent to Jackson that we have another
unfortunate to send to the asylum and
the answer often comes back that there
is no room. and the poor wretch in many
Instances is left to perish in the narrow
enclosures of parish Jail, for the reason
that our state cannot afford to keep up
and maintain a proper place for these
poor suffering creatures.
What we want now is practical, i'm
mediate and substantial aid.
What do we care for sympathy and
sentiment Does it build your levees2
Does it educate your childreng Does it
to the wants of your insane2
An eminent divine in delivering nm elo-
luent sermon. by way of illustrating the
difference between sentimental and
practical aid, pictured boat about to
Founder near some pier. Many people
lifted mp their eyes to heaven and in .
agony wringing their hands wished that
i was in their power TO save some of
those who We're about to sink TO the
bottom OF the sea. Some one in that
crowd. taking In the situation at q