St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1891-10-17

Now, my friends what is this lotter,
question: Is it a political question? an,
what ! mean by political question, i
this: is it a question: which ought to b.
the subject matter for discussion on polit
ical platforms, and ought to be question
upon which the Democratic party SHOULD
make a deliverance in a declaration t,
the public of the principles which it pro
poses to defend? The great dodge of tn,
lottery promoters is to say:
NO, this is not political question
Why, it is financial question; it is
revenue question" Granted for the SAX,
OF argument. Let US discuss and considel
little. Is not every financial question
pertaining to the support Of the govern
ment, or the taxing of the people directl,
or indirectly, political question? Wha
is the tariff question? Does not that per
tain to the taxing of the people? Is no,
that political question? Do you think
that any political party before the people
OF this country would dare to put up q
platform that did not contain declara
ton on the tariff? What is the sub-treas
ury question? Is not that a political ques.
ton? What is the national bank ques
ton? Is not that political question!
What is the silver question? Is not that
political question? And go down the
list go back into history, has not every
question of taxation that ever has arisen
been
POLITICAL QUESTION?
Was it not a question of taxation that
drove the American people into revolu-
ton and separated them from the mother
country? Was not that political ques-
ton? Was it not a question Of taxation
that brought about the overthrow of the
power Of the British monarchy, and which
cost Charles his head? And was it not
mainly question of taxation, persued
through long series of years, which
brought about the revolution and the de-
struction of the feudal system in France?
So, my friends, when they tell you that it
is not political question they are talking
rot It is essentially political question.
1t is the very center of politics. It is a
question about which no party can come
before the people of this State without a
declaration on the one side or the other.
There is no other question in the State
to-day but that question dividing the peo-
pie: and, therefore, say to you men who
are opposing this thing, be not deceived
by the talk of so-called Democrats who
say 1--WE are straight Democrats and you
can vote as you please on the lottery ques-
clothing. (Applause.) Don't you take
part in any political movement or in any
political club which does not hold up it's
right hand and say it is lottery or anti
lottery. Let these politicians know who
are crawling about through this city try
ing to reach public office by lodging this
question that they can not carry water on
both shoulders and that they have to get
on one side or the other (Applause.)
Now, my friends, what is the
OBJECTION TO LOTTERY?
What is the objection to the support of a
State by lottery? So great, SO over
powering, SO overwhelming, that if the
lottery should consent and agree to erect
a schoolhouse in every square; if they
should consent and agree to put school
teacher over every three of your children
in the city; if they should consent to erect
barriers over which the Mississippi river
should never climb; if they should consent
to support all of the charitable institutions
and even your whole government-I go
they should consent to pave
this city with gold-you could not as free
men, as American citizens, as Democrats,
you could not accept it. (Great applause.)
The support Of State by means OF
lottery means what? The lottery makes
my friends How? 1t makes
money by selling lottery tickets it makes
money by arranging scheme whereby
he lottery is bound to win and the people
Who buy the tickets are bound to lose.
Laughter. A voice: That's very nice for
,he lottery.")
Now let us suppose that we have an
honest lottery to deal with, and l shall
explain to you directly what I mean by
IN honest lottery. mean lottery not
allowed
TO sWINDLE THE PEOPLE;
! lottery which distributes certain por-
ion of all the dollars it takes in in prizes;
mean lottery where the whole profit
hat is made on it goes to the government
md no portion goes to an Intermediary
,ambler between the purchaser of the
icket and the government itself. Let us
uppose that we had a proposition Of that
ort to deal with and that we were asked
0 support a proposition to pay the ex-
enses of the government of the State of
louisiana by means of a lottery. We ask
be question: Where do you get your
aoney? We sell tickets! Very well.
you make profit out of the sale Of the |
are bound to make profit or |
ou could not conductsa lottery. Then |
ONES the question, who buy lottery ticks |
is? Where does the burden Of support /
1g this government come from? DO rich |
buy lottery tickets? Do |
anks, do railroad or insurance compa-
les buy lottery tickets? "a voice: a.Yes.'D
70, he is no such fools 1.-The did he would /
e pauper; he could not be rich man. |
Applause.) tell you, my friends, that
le people
WHO BUY LOTTERY TICKETS
re the poor, the ignorant, the deluded
omen and children, the workingman,
srvants, drunken people (laughter) ali
that great body of men in society who
re unable to count, and to calculate, and
, think and to measure things and de-
,rmine chances, are the people who are