St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1891-12-12
TRYING TO BRIBE A STATE.
From New York World.

From New York World.
There is to be State election in Louis
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 period OF
twenty-five years. It is a strange thing to
see the people of proud commonwealth
dividing upon the question whether they
will give an infamous and pernlclous
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 1858, but II
the naked proposition were presented OF
renewing the charter of the company Dy
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 Leglsla-
ture and of the voters, but it would not
hope to prevail but for the enormous bribe
contract which the people are asked to
ratify. ne
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
after the expiration of its charter in 1888.
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
constitution an actual contract with the
State for new lease of life. and it offered
to pay into the public treasury the annual
sum Of $1,250,00O 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 oyerhows of the
Mississippi, the prospect is held out OF an
annual expenditure of $350,000 for levees.
Another $35O,OOO is to go to the support of
public schools $15000O for the support of
public charities, $4,000 for pensions to
Confederate veterans, 100000 for improv-
ing the drainage of the city of New Or
leans, and S25OOOO 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
to contribute directly to them by taxation,
and this is the chief reliance of the lot
tery 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 a
humiliating position. which should make
it, if it Yields to the vile enticement the
SC scorn Of ali civilized people. It 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 It's
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 vet 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 a gambling concern that draws its
revenues from the weakness and vicious
cupidity of the people. This would be
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 supposed
benefit. but the lowest depth of depraved
moral sense is reached when it is argued
that by this infamous device the State of
Louisiana will be able to draw large
share of its revenues from the people of