St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1891-11-14
TRYING TO BRIBE A STATE.
From New York World.

lana next April, and the chief issue in the
canvass that will soon be under way is the
constitutional amendment which provides
for renewal of the charter of the Louis
lana Lottery Company for a period Of
twenty-five years. 1t is strange thing to
see the people of proud commonwealth
dividing upon the question whether they
will give an infamous and pernieious
gambling concern the sanction of con-
tract with the State for mutual profit.
Public sentiment in Louisiana is already
sadly debauched by the operations Of the
lottery in New Orleans since 1868, but if
the naked proposition were presented of
renewing the charter OF the company by
law or by constitutional amendment there
is no doubt that it would be defeated.
The company has acquired much influence
and would not scruple to use corrupt
means to affect the action of the Legisla-
ture and of the voters, but it would not
hope to prevail but for the enormous bribe
which it offers to the State itself in the
contract which the people are asked to
ratify.
The lottery was one of the infamous
creations of the Reconstruction" govern
ment of Louisiana in 1868, and the new
constitution, adopted in 1879, decreed that
all such institutions should cease to exist
after the expiration of its charter in 1898.
As the time of its doom drew near, the
company set to work, not merely to get rid
of the prohibition, but to secure in the
State for new lease of life. and it offered
to pay into the public treasury the annual
sum Of $1,250,0O0 for twenty-five years.
To make this huge bribe more enticing,
the purposes for which the revenue should
be used are specified. To the people who
live in the dread of the, oyerfows of the
Mississippi, the prospect is held out OF an
sPCSn frr
Another $780, 900 is to go to tile support OF
public schools, $4,000 for the support OF
public charities, $4,000 for pensions to
Confederate veterans, 100000 for improy-
ing the drainage of the city of New Or
leans, and $250,000 is to be turned over to
the general fund of the State. Here is an
appeal to sordid sentiment craftily de-
signed to secure support from all classes
of citizens who desire the benefit of the
expenditure of these sums without having
to contribute directly to them by taxation
and this is the chief reliance of the lot
terry company for obtaining support for its
scheme Nobody can defend the lottery
itself as an institution, or deny the injury
that is done by its operation, and all argu-
ments for the constitutional amendment
are based upon the public benefits to be
derived from its corruption fund.
This puts the State of Louisiana in q
humiliating position, which should make
it, il it Yields to the vile enticement. the
scorn of all civilized people. 1t has OF
late taken pride in its growing prosperity
and its hopeful prospects. 1t is amply
able to provide from the resources of its
people, contributed by honorable taxation
for the support of its schools, its charita-
BILE institutions, its public works and ils
general administration, and the character
and self-respect of its people would be
fostered by reliance upon their public
spirit and patriotism for the maintenance
Of all public interests. And yet the organs
of public opinion are STOPPING to the grove
ling pretense that the State can not carry
on its government without accepting aid
| from gambling concern that draws lrs
revenues from the weakness and vicious
cupidity of the people. This would bt
sufficiently degrading if the lottery Were
regarded as an agency for drawing money
by such vile means from the people OF the
State who were to enjoy the .supposeC
benefit, but the lowest depth Of depravec
moral sense is reached when it is arguec
| that by this infamous device the State O
Louisiana will be able to draw a large
share of its revenues from the people O
| the rest of the country by panderlng tt
| the gambling spirit and playing upon thu
| hopes of the poor, the ignorant, and thu
reckless throughout the land. Nothing
could be more shameless than the avoWa
| involved in these arguments, ana yer the.
are used by nearly all the newspapers o
the State, by public men of both parties
| and by citizens who deem themselves res
pectable. -.
The contest against the lottery is carried
on chiefly by the Anti-lottery League
which has been foced to establish news
paper of its own in New Orleans in orde
to reach the people with its appeals AM
arguments so thoroughly has the pres
been subsidized by the corrupting concern
/ There is hope of arraying the great mas
Of respectable and thinking people agains g.
the insidious evil that MANAGES the State
but there is large ignorant and vena
element in the body polite upon whiel VI g
the lottery company will work with all 1t
power. The sentiment of the country a
/ large is undoubtedly strong against tn
lottery and all its works, but it is to 3
feared that it can not exert any great in
fiuenee upon the action Of the people
Louisiana in this matter. Lit i n might, ha hhe,
i State into an appreciation OF the degrad
ing position it is in danger a .,, Of takin akin
/ among the CommonWealths Of this umoI
o,,5 os,,oi,a,, eo,,,o eense of seff-resnect