The Louisiana Democrat., 1891-11-18
SENATOR GIBSON'S FALLA-
CIOUS THEORY.

ClOOS n LOxAs
Now, the lottery contributes moth
ing fellow-c citizens, to the wealth OF a
people. 1t supplies no service to the
wealth of a people. 1t supplies no
service to people. A railroad sup
plies service. 1t carries your goods
to market. The mechanic supplies
service, the lawye, supplies a service,
the doctor service, every laboring
man contributes something by his
brain or his hand to the capital of
country; but the lottery does nothing
of that kind. 1t does not contribute
one Bollar in the wealth of this State
not a dollar -[Senator Gibson's
Algiers Speech.
When Doctor Palmer gave utter
ance to ezactlysthe lsfme::spropositi0n
as stated above at a. Grand Opera
House meeting some time since no
particular attention was paid to the
fallacy enunciated. But such a state.
ment from a man like Senator Gibson,
one who has had ..to deal with practi-
cal matters-and event practical poll
tics for thirty years, would..Eindicate
that he is endeavoring to ride over
the preseu. bitter campaign::by saying
but little and by COUGHING that little
in abstruse phrases.
That a lottery does not produce
wealth in the sense, or in the same
way as does a laborer who raises
cane, cotton or corn, or as a mechanic
who constructs an ergine, a wagon or
buggy, is unquestionably true.
| Neither does Senator Gibson, DR..
Palmer, the professional man or the
merchant. But to say that those
composing such callings do not fill a
useful sphere in society would be as
serting that which is not fact.
The Winter race meetings here dc
not produce wealth in the way that
the employment Of the men and hor'
ses engaged would if put to work in
raising agricultural products. But nc
one acquainted with the facts will
deny that these race meetings bring a
large amount of money to the city,
which is distributed 10 various ways,
aud adds to the actual wealth Of the
city.
The statement that the lottery com.
pany to be formed when the pending
revenue amendment is adopted will
not contribute one dollar to the wealth
OF this State is wholly fsllacious. -
One million and a qnurter dollars pei
annum is good deal Of money, and
tho payment Of thiS Sum to tho 6tatt
10 case the amendment carries is al
certain as any financial or commercial
transaction can be. There is no eva.
ding it even if Morris and bis asso.
ciates desired to wreck their financial
standing, for the amendment itself
provides for the bond and other safe
guards.
When a portion: Of this money ii
placed in levee embankments ant
used in improving thel:draiuage O.
New Orleans will not an actual, posi-
tive wealth be added directly to th'
property protected from overflow ant
the real estate of the larger portion o
the city of New Orlaans7 1t can no
be argued that the money so expedde'
comes primarily from the resources o
Louisiana, for the opponents Of tn
amendment themselves admit that bu
few lottery tickets are sold in th
country, and concede that most of th
business of the company is recure'
from abroad.
Nut only will the adoption of thi
amendment add s3l, 500, ,0ooadircctl
to tho wealth Of tho commonwealth
but the increase IN real estate value
thac will follow must necessarily fa
oxceed this sum, for even Senate
Gibson will admit that q plantatto
securely protected from food is muc
more valuable than one that is moi
He must also admit that q great des
, of city real estate that is now valne
! less-that pays nothing to the treasu
ry in the way Of taxes-can be re
claimed and given both a commeroia
and taxing valne.
There IS no more unsound reason
ing than that advanced by the Sena
tor. Nor is it now. The planter
and FARMERS have used it against thei
merchants, brokers and other middle