St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1891-03-14
An Unenyiabie Distinction.
New Delta.

1t was always taken for granted that
the return of the Democracy to power
in Louisiana would be followed by the
abolition of lottery gambling. The
convention OF I879sIook the expected
step. Whatever difference of opinion
there may be as to the precise limit
of life left to the Lottery Company by
the action of that body, it is certain
that the convention did declare that
beyond a given date all lottery enter
prises should be unlawful in this State
The majority of the good people of the
State would have been better pleased
by an immediate prohibition but the
significant fact remains that the lot
terry represents the only business ac-
tually forbidden by the organic law OF
Louisiana.
1t was not necessary in 1879 to ad-
dress any argument to the people to
induce them to adopt this solitary
proscriptive provision, The only op-
position it encountered was on the
ground that it was not sufficiently
summary. The sentiment Of the pub
lie was that the lottery had deserved
death, and the reprieVe was tolerated
only because the ultimate execution
of the monster was regarded as certain.
There was not the slightest intimation
of a doubt as to the justice OF the sem
tence. The evidence upon which the
convention rested was notorious. The
advocates of the lottery did not SO
much as enter denialsof any count in
the Indictment against it. Their
silence was in effect then, as it is now,
confession of guilt.
But it is wonderful that any lottery
man should point with pride to con-
stitutional provision that signalizes
and emphasizes the vicious character
of the establishment he would defend.
Such man would hardly care to call
attention to the origin Of the lottery's
charter; but what greater ground for
pride is to be found in circumstance
that after it had been. sthroughly tried
it was pronounced an insufferable evil
and placed under the ban of constitu-
tional prohibition
The lottery has undergone no change
since 1879. It has not even promised
to mend its ways or to make the small
est restitution. It only makes a
promise promise that cannot be en-
forced-to share the profits of its
iniquity with the State. The highway
man in the dock says to the judge ::
Don't talk to me about moral abstrac-
tions. Your roof leaks and your child
rem are uneducated. Join me and
after l have robbed your family I will
divide with YOU" And after all there
is no guarantee that the State will
not be cheated by its pal. On the
contrary, there is grave reason to
apprehend that Louisiana would
be left with an empty bag to hold.
For the lottery isSnot going out Of
politics. It does nst disguise the5fact
that it is coming in to stay, and to
play for everything in sight. We are
not left to infer SO much from any
thing between the lines it has been
written down in plain black and white.
The lottery proposes to capture the
Democratic primaries and conventions
and to run the State government abso-
lutely. Well, if it can go that far it
can go further. If it can absorb the
Democratic party and force anahdorse-
ment from the people it can modify
the terms of its contract. What could
Louisiana do in such case? What
remedy could it expect from the court?
What relief from the legislature?
Add to this that the lottery will be
driven to depend more and more upon
Louisiana for its revenue. 1t can only
sneak into other States now. The
mails are closed to its advertisements
and tickets, and its agents ply their
trade with the fear of rigorous laws be-
fore their eyes. The whole business is
reprobated in every part of the Union.
It's profits are already much reduced,
and the time is fast approaching when
Louisiana must bear the burden alone.
When that time arrives the lottery
will be ready and able to rue its bar
gain.
On the whole, then there is no good
reason why the deliberate judgment of
1879 should he reversed.
The pension appropriation bill was
passed in the Senate on Thursday. 1t
appropriates for pensions for the year
$133, ,173, ,0S5 for fees and expenses of
examining surgeons $l,500,0O0; for
salaries of eighteen pension agents,
$72, 600 /; and for clerk hire, 500, ,OOO-
a total of more than $135, ,000, 900.
During the discussion, Mr.. Mcpherson
inquired of Mr.. Allison whether the