The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-06-17
INTOLERANCE Us. STATESMAN
SHIP-WHICH?

aSot VI uioSueoihS WV iuSs''oA "'sPAS
sionately, appears to have gone where
the woodbine twineth. 1t is brist-
ling mp all along the line, Just as if
the word to commence firing" had
been silently whispered in every ear.
The State is again pronounced in
great peril and. stirring appeals to the
"patriotism" of her devoted sons are
being made in the own vernacular of
the various editors who have under
taken to preach the new inquisitlon
for, the threats of blood letting, of
the Winchester rife, of summary pun
ishment, ETC., in defense of morality"
smack of naught else than a revival
of the methods of the inqnisition, when
to kill, quarter, burn, drown OF starve
out heretics, in the name of God and
Faith, was to gain free pass to the
kingdom of heaven.
These things we're in fashion seve-
raj centuries ago, in the days of Phil
ip the Second and of the famous Duke
of Alva, but they are no longer so in
the 10th century; especially in free
America, where every man is supposed
to have the right to exercise his free.
dom of opinion and action, so long as
he obeys the laws and does not inter
fere with his neigLbor.
L must be acknowledged however
that in the good old State of Louisi.
ana, so many occasions have arisen
the past three or decades, for the
employment Of the gun and toma-
hawk, that some of our people are
getting used to that way OF settling
public issues. But verify, we've done
quite enough for glory, and unless We
want to acquire the reputation abroad
of having an. Unsuitable bankering
after blood letting, we had better
change our tune and give the ballot
box a chance.
| What's all the fuss about, anyhowl
| We see nothing involved in it but
a business proposition, pure and sim
pie. 1t is that privilege be accord.
ed to continue for e5 years the lottery
in Louisiana, which, according to the
testimony of its most violent oppo.
nents, has not interfered one jot with
the progress or prosperity of the State,
during the entire % years of its exis'
tence. For this privilege, the State
is offered not $4,000 as heretofore
bnt 81 100000 per annum.
1t is a question tLat addresses itself
very seriously to the taxpayer. II
says to him: DO you prefer to pay
that 81, 100000 annually to the State
when yon already have as much taxa.
ton to meet as you can well pay, OF
would you rather see this sum levied
upon the amounts that people who
invest in lottery tickets will send tc
Havana or SOME other seaport, if you
prohibit the Louisiana lottery?
The man who has the best right tc
complain and to grow red in the face
and does not, is the man whose anti
lottery neighbor tells him that Will,
nobody is compelled to buy lottery
tickets yet, he intends to vote agains
the amendment and by SO doing i'm
pose heavier load of taxation npor
him.
To cap the climax, we find THU
same neighbor threatening to do aw
full things to those of his neighbor,
who prefer to see buyers of lottery
contribute to the support of the State
than go down deeper into thei
pockets!
The absurdity Of the attempt t,
plunge the State into turmoil and ex
element over this plain, unsentimen
tai, business issue, is so palpable tina
the good sense of the people mus
soon frown it down.
But the combination between tn
aspirants for public place among tn
Farmers Alliance and the moyin!
spirits of tho outgoing State admins
tration has nothing but the anti-lo,
terry card to play, and they're playin
it not upon the reason of the people
but upon their passions and pre-
udices.
Ministers of the gospel at the Mort
} held that slavery was an abominabl
sin and minister's of the same chm
ehes, at the South, held that the ii
ftitution was sanctioned by the Bib