St. Landry democrat., 1891-07-25
The Question.

Shreveport Times.
The question which the citizens or Louisiana
should consider in regard to voting pro OF con
upon the proposed revenue amendment anu &C
companying extension OF the lottery cnarieI,
is, will the amount received prove beueLcia, ~
the public good of the State, or Will inc lot-
tery's existence within the State prove demon
aliZlDg to the good morals OF Its people anu
attempt to control the politics OF It's govern
ment. Those opposing the acceptance OF the
offered revenue can not deny that the State
needs far more revenue than 1t at present pos
scsses for the proper sllstenancc OF me culi..d-
ton facilities to be ai1ordcd lhe cnlluieh' ioi
the protection of the lcVees, and for the IN
creased facilities which the public hospitals
and charitable institutions are al present UNABLE
to afford the sick and destitute.
IT cannot also be trIthfully denied that the
present rate OF taxation is all that the people
can stand, and that it is even now III many
eases oppressive. 1t can not be disputed that
even if the receipt of 81 ,250,000 per annum may
not serve at first to relieve the burden of the
taXpayer, It will at least prove of advantage
to the purposes for which it Is to be expended,
and at least save an increase OF taxation lor
the needed extension of these public improve
nIcnts. and by placing them upon better loot
Ing, tend ultimately to the reduction OF the
general taxation necessary for Their usefulness
and maintenance. 1t cannot therefore be de-
MED but what an increased revenue OF over
81 100000 i'll twenty-five years to state, en-
tirey independent of any taxation, must prove
beneficial to the objects for which 1t IS specl1l-
cally intended, and VIII serve III tltat amount
to promote their usefulness. Taking, there
fore for granted that this point Will be con
coded, it remains to investigate the assertions
that the existence of the lottery Will prove
contra bonos mores demoraizng our people,
and wherein it has any interest per Sc In tne
politics of the State. mere assertion that
ANYTHING is pelncious to good morals or de
mOraliZng i'll its influence is not evidence Dut
only the ipse diXit of the opposition. 1T must
be proven before il can be justly regarded as a
fact by all honest, conscientious and nnprGll-
diced people, and III this, as i'll any other case
of accusation, the onus of proof dcvOlves upon
| the prosecution. Unless they can make out
their case beyond question OF reasonable
doubt it falls to the ground, and the accused is
| given the benefit Of the doubt. Now the Lou
| isiana State lottery has been in existence Tor
! over twenty years. In what respect can the
! ants claim and prove that the people OF the
| State to-day are corrupt and immoral! are
! they not as honest, pure and honorable to-day
| as they We're before the present lottery came
! into existence, when If one wished TO purchase
| lottery ticket lie could buy one or the havana
! lottery which were sold openly throughout the
| State, but which paid no license for the beneht
| OF State, improvements and charities! Has
| there been any increase OF crime Ill the state
! since then, and if it can be said and proven
| that there is, i'll what respect can 1t be proven
to have been caused especially by the Loulsl
| ana lottery? That the lottery has any desire
| to control politics is absurd, and is only made
| by those who wish to work political ENDS
| through whatever sentiment may exist opp0s
| ing it on moral grounds. What object could II
| have i'll ndulgiug in political fights! 1t Is no,
seeking office, bur to make money out OF Its
| business, for which it offers an immense IL
cense, and cares nothing about who is elected
provided it is permitted to attend to its OWL
business of making money for its stockholders
| 1t could only have any interest in a political
| fight i'll case one faction should seek TO annu
| its charter, and would then naturally defend
| its interests by supporting the other, as w0ulc
any other corporation or chartered institution
whatever their business. Common sense WOulC
indicate this to be the case, and we think the
ants will have hard work to prove that we are
an immoral people, Or that the lottery controls
our politics.