St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1891-03-21
IMMIGRATION.
Shreveport Caucasian,

1t is frequently asked why lmm1gfa-
tion from the Northern States does not
more rapidly pour into this section.
Many reasons could be advanced in an
swer to the query. The Northern
farmers have peculiar notions concern
ing Louisiana. A great many imagine
that this State is fiat, swampy, mias-
matte country, subject to frequent
oyerflows, and is more or less under
the influence and control of ring
known as the Louisiana State Lottery
Company, a gambling institution, a
monopoly producing nothing, but, like
an octopus, reaches in every direction
for its deluded victims.
1t is not difficult to convince home
seekers from the North and West that
the general health in Louisiana is
equal to any State in the Union that
it is not miasmatic section, and that
its thousands of acres of rolling, allu-
vial and prairie lands are the most pro-
ductiye and fertile in the world but
how will the excuse offered in explana-
tion for the existence of the lottery
monopoly as a necessity impress the
hOme-Seekers?
As sensible men they must conclude
that a State which, as alleged by lot
teryites, is dependent on gambling
institution for revenue, is not desira-
BILE one in which to make investments,
and naturally keep away. Few men
will be attracted to State in which is
legalized a gambling monopoly that
pollutes the morals and boasts that it
can purchase honor and virtue for a
price.
We have always regarded the lot
terry monopoly concers, operated in
the. interests of millionaires, as the
most dangerous power ever in this
State, and through its indirect bane-
full influence has retarded material
progress. If the existence of the mon
opoly should be continued for another
term of twenty-four years, the State
and the people will be dominated by
the lottery and their hirelings. In
politics and in everything else the
voice of the legalized lottery gambler
will be law, and the men who will re-
sist their pretensions will be treated
with contemptuous disdain, as idiots
wanting in sense and unappreciative
of the fact that Morris is king of Lou
isiana and must be obeyed.
The tempting bait, the bribe offered
by the lottery monopoly to seduce the
people into a support of their scheme,
is indeed alluring but, after all, it is
insignificant when contrasted with the
enormous profits secured through the
sale of their tickets and should be re-
jected on simple business principles.
Any man or corporation would willing
" give away million or more dollars
for the exclusive privilege of mono
poly through which the profits aggre-
gate ten or more millions profit an
nually.
The question, as presented, should
be viewed dispassionately, without
bias or prejudice. Divested of its
hypocritical disguise, the lottery mon
opoly's cloven feet and hands can en-
tice very few to its support. Let us,
as sensible men, look at it squarely in
the face, and not forget that, should
we admit that the State is dependent
on the lottery for revenues to main
tain the public schools, charitable in
stitutions, the levees, ETC., it is suffi-
cient warming to home-seekers to keep
away from Louisiana. No honest, prac-
tical man will come with his family to
live permanently in a State where a
gam bling monopoly holds full sway
through its money power; in State
SO poor that it must have lottery rev.
enue for support.