The Bossier banner., 1890-08-14
Democratic Anti-Lottery Con-
vention.

VI LHeiG dAo414tSlGSbOO OOuJ VI pdb11oG1S
citizens of our State who assembled
as an Anti Lottery Convention in
Baton Rouge on 7th instant We
regret that our space is so limited
that we can say so little about the
men who esteem the honor of their
! State above dirty dollars, or of the
measures they recommend to pre-
serve unsullied the escutcheon OF
Louisiana:
Whereas, it is meet and proper
that this convention, consisting of
959 delegates, representing fifty
three Of the ffty-nine parishes of our
State, and representing the Democ.
racy of this commonwealth, should
upon this occasion give emphatic ut
terance to its political faith, as well
as its opinion of the proposition to
fasten upon us by constitutional
amendment for twenty-five years the
gambling lottery corporation of John
A. Morris and his associates; there
fore be it
Resolved, That we declare our al
legiance to the Democratic party and
reaffirm our faith in its time-honor-
ed principles, that equal rights be Sc
cured to all and special privileges
granted to none; that the State must
control its governmental affairs for
the welfare and happiness of all its
citizens, free from control or inter
ference of monopolies or trusts of
any kind; that it will combat at all
times vice and corruption, and will
forever oppose its perpetuation in
our organic law: that, according to
to all accepted authority, restraint of
public evil in every form is under the
police power Of the State, and should
not be made the subject of barter or
contract; that it would be disgrace
full TO continue recognition of lottery
gambling in our organic law.
Resolved further, That the accep-
tance of the proposition of John A.
Morris would subject our State per-
manently to- the contempt of all our
sister States that as faithful sons of
Louisiana and true Democrats we
will by, all legitimate means resist
the fastening of such a stigma upon
our beloved commonwealth, to which
end we, the members of this Demo-
cratic anti-lottery convention of
Louisiana, do now solemnly pledge
ourselves
Resolved, That in our opposition
to the continuation of lotteries in
this State we are but carrying out
the wishes of the people of Louisia-
ma as expressed in the present con
stitution, and reiterat!ng the doc
trlnes proclaimed by the Democratic
party Of this State, voiced by Gov.
McEnery in his message to the Leg
islature in 1882, which was embodied
in the platform of the party in Dec
ember, 1883.
"The constitution declares gam
bling to be vice, yet it encourages
that vice in its worst form, not only
melting to breaches of faith and en-
bezzlement in the effort to get. rich
on the turn of wheel, but demorali-
zing society, corrupting politics and
impeding Legislation"
And by Governor Nichols, when
he said: eff the idea recently ad-
vanced, that the presence among US
of lottery is a boon and blessing
were entertained seriously, and real
ly by any large part of our popula-
ton, we would not be entitled to rate
very high in the scale of civilization,
or of morality, either private OF pub
lie. That institution ought to be
destroyed on both political and NOR
al grounds. Lotteries not only fall |
under the classification of gambling,
but gambling of the very worst des-
Resolved, That we pronounce as
untrue the statements that the fnan-
cial condition of the State is such
that we cannot support our govern
ment and educate our children; and
declare that the public revenues are
steadily increasing and are larger
than at any time for the last decade,
and are ample for the maintenance
Of the government honestly admins
tered. The aid which needed to per
iect our levee system, we feel assur-
I'd, will be given by the general gov
ernment, and given the more freely
md readily if we do not violate our
moral obligations by fostering a pi-
'atleal gambling concern to pray
lpon the rest of the Union.
Resolved, That we denounce the
lctlon of the majority of the Legisla-
ure at the session of 1890 in rela-
ION to the lottery question. In vot-
ng down a resolution to investigate
harges of bribery, in persistent ef-
orts to further the ends of the lot |
cry clique headed by John A. Nor ;
is, they have forfeited the confidence
t the people and subjected us to the
cornful reproaches of the nation. c