The Bossier banner., 1891-10-22
Schools Supported by Lottery
Tickets.
From New York Herald |


and quarter dollars for the privilege
of having full swing under protec-
ton of the law.
That is the bribe publicly offered
for the legal right to conduct busi-
ness which is so Infamous that nearly
every other section of the civilized
world interdicts it by heavy penalties.
This million and a quarter will be
exhibited in the support of schools
and charitab bic institutions. That is
to say, a great State in a great Re-
pnblic is asked to base its school sys-
tenn and its various charities on lot
terry ticket as their chief corner stone.
This anomaly would be startling
enough to be incredible were it not
for the fact that the movement is be-
ing pushed with vigor and is more
than likely to succeed. The ques-
ton will be decided at the polls, and
pressure is being brought to bear on
all classes to induce them to give
their assent.
It is not the part of a secular jour
nal to play the role of the moralist,
but lotteries, regarded from the stand.
point of political economy, exercise
an injurious influence on the people
at large. The gambling habit is not
productive of good citizenship and
should not be encouraged. Hard
earned dollars are sunk and no re-
turn for them is made. The hope
of sudden riches, acquired without
giving an equivalent, and as the re-
suit of chance, produces a feverish
excitement which not only ends in dis
appointment but in decentralization.
The securest prosperity of a people
is based on honest toll and honest
wages, aud lottery is to be con.
demned because it gulls the credulous
for the enrichment of the prime NOV
ers in the scheme.
No company of men could afford
to pay million and quarter for the
right to ply their trade, unless even
at that cost they could make large
profits, and that million and quar-
ter, plus the profits, represent the
dollars of poor people who draw
blanks.
Admitting that the whole thing is
corrupt, or, as they call it, neces-
sary evil, its advocates argue as it
doesn't hurt the people of Louisiana
specially, because nine-tenths of the
tickets are bought by the citizens of
other States. If this be true the
fact affords us a strong motive for
denouncing the scheme. If Louisiana
will confne its efforts to undermining
the moral sense of it's own inhabi-
tants that is one thing, and our crit
icism is measurably estopped. But
when it openly declares that it pro-
poses to establish an institution
which is regarded by the great ma
jority in this country as an unmixed
evil and to extend its influence as
widely as possible, we have the right
to make our protest. Other States
make the lottery business an offence
against the order Of society by stat
ute, but Louisiana claims the right
to disregard this law and this public
opinion and to support her schools
with money which is illegally drawn
from all sections of the Republic.
Of course there is no support for
such q proceeding. If we want lot
teries and think them a good thing
we can have them on our own ac.
count. There are men in New York
who would pay a large sum for the
opportunity to run a business of
that kind. But we have steadfastlv
refused and threatened any attempt
to defy our laws with punishment
that fits the crime. But Louisiana
thinks it not wrong to sell lottery
tickets in New York on the sly in
defiance to the wish of the people.
The matter is being argued rather
hotly just now on the banks of the
Lower Mississippi, and we shall