The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-02-14
ABOUT LOTTERIES.
They Introduce Scandals and Cor
ruption in Public Life.
Originally They We're Simply Games OF
Chance Devised to Keep Down the
People of Rome-Thelr Total
Suppression a Necessity.


wholly suppressed, in nearly every
country in Christendom- In most OF the
States of the American Union they are
forbidden by law. In England they
have been prohibited since the reign OF
George H.; in Belgium they We're sup
pressed in 1880, and in France they are
nominally forbidden, though the Coy
eminent has permitted the element OF
chance to be introduced in the raising
of money for certain somi-public pur-
poses.
The lottery originated in corruption,
says the Youths Companion. tt was at
the beginning simply a game of chance
made use of by the Emperors in the de-
clining days of Rome to corrupt and be-
guile the common people. Its aomoral-
izing nature was quickly recognized.
The earliest Legislative bodies of mod
ern Europe protested against royal lot
teries, and the fest Assembly of the
French Republic suppressed them us
t'an invention Of despotism to mako
men silent about their want, by entic~
ing them on with Il hope which aggra~
Yates their distrass.'
The objection to lotteries is based
upon morals as We'll as upon public ex-
pediency. Lotteries continually incite
the poor, and persons who are not we'll
gifted with the moral sonse and the
quality Of self-rcliance, to depend upon
something else than their own efforts to
take care OF themselves. They lead
such persons to neglect the duties Of in-
dustry, arouse the instinct OF coyetous-
ness and stimulate many evil passions.
Lotteries have boon we'll called
schools Of public decentralization. They
introduce scandals and corruption in
public life. Such scandals, involving
charges OF bribery of Legislators, have
lately risen in Louisiana and North Da-
kotsa. Tho wealth which may in a very
few cases be gained by indiv idua]s, and
which is almost always gained by the
proprietors Of lotteries, is not acquired
by labor or amy useful service, but only
at the expense OF others, and sometimes
to the ruin, moral and financial, OF the
persons who pat1onize tho lottery.
In this country the general Govern
ment has not the power to suppress lot
tcries in the States, but it may prevent
their doing business through The United
States mails, ard that is what is to DO
done by law lately enacted by Con-
gross.
This law makes unlawful and fraudu-
lent all communications through the
mails connected in any way with the
| business Of lotteries Or gift enterprises
of any kind. 1t is made q nlisdemeanor,
ic1n I,I la. nf n,
dollars and ilnprisonment for one year,
for amy one to deposit in the mails amy
letter, card or circular in any way bear
ing upon the business OF lotteries.
No one may lawfully purchase a lot
terry ticket through the mails, nor may
any ticket, prize or information be sent
by mail or delivered.
Fostmasto1s have no power under the
law TO open letters in order to find out
whether they contain lottery business,
bat registered letters, postal notes and
money orders directed to lotteries Or
their agcn ts are to be marked ''fraudu-
lent" and returned TO their writer's.
Newspapers which contain advertiser
menta of lotteries or lists CT prizes
awarded arc forbidden to be carried in
the mails under The same penalties as
other communications relating to lot
teries.
In brief, though the Government CAN
not suppress lotteries in the States, it
may prevent their doing business
through the mails, and undcrJ takes TO do
so in this law.
1nasmuch as nearly ali the States have
laws Of their own which make open
dealing in lottery tickets unlawful,
business OF this sort has been largely
dr ven to the United States mails, TAX
ing refuge there under the inviolability
OF private communications. The present
law is intended to make the mails no
longer a cover for such business.
1t can hardly be doubted That the en-
forcement of this law will prevent a
vast amount Of tho mischief due to lot
teries, even if it does not break them
down. It is TO be hoped that il will DO
followed by tho total suppression of
these demoralizing and hurtful enter
prisas in tho States where they are now
permitted in one or another form.