The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1891-11-28
WHOSE BUSINESS rs IT?

Z
WHOSE BUSINESS is IT?
/ The following extracts in regard t
the fight being made outside the stat'
against the lottery are taken from tht
Natchez { Miss. Democrat:
/ The New Orleans Times Democra
is considerably stirred and indignant
| ly protests against what it takes to be
outside influence against the great
gambling scheme now being attempt
ed to be saddled upon Louisiana, BY
an extension Of the lottery charter fol-
a term Of twenty-five years.
The Times-Democrat is particularly
severe upon the movement which has
originated in New York, and declares
that these New York movers have
taken their cue from the anti lottery
people Of Louisiana, and says that had
they inquired into the motives that
actuated the latter 'they would have
discovered that the leading motive
with these sham-virtuous saints was
and is the pushing Of an opposition
lottery concern, located in Mexico, OF
whose stock many Of the saints are
holders. They would have discovered
that the object, pure and simple, with
which the cry against the Louisiana
Lottory was originally started, and
with which the agitation has been
chiefly maintained to this hour, was
that these local stockholders of for
eign lottery scheme might be enabled
to down the home Institution, in
which they possess no interest, to the
enrichment Of its alien rival, in which
they were and are greatly interested.
And then perhaps they might have
hesitated before committing them
selves to the overt and active support
of our saints and cranks, and hypo-
critics and schemers Of the anti fac
ton"
This must be queer reading to the
hosts Of good and true Louisianians
who oppose the infamy.
Now let US hear the other side, as
presented by the New York Herald in
defense Of the New York movement
as follows:
"What business is that of ours
Need we meddle with the affairs of
Louisiana? Can't she take care of
herself without our intrusive sympa-
thy Of coincidence? Well, letthe com
.mittee appointed to arouse public
opinion on this subject speak for
themselves. They say: we have the
authl fty Of the lottery that SO per
cent jf the enormous revenue Of
s22,O00,00 received from monthly
and semi-annnal drawings revenue
greater than that of any FIVE average
states in the Union : comes from the
people of this country who live out
side Of Louisiana; and its advocates
urge this fact as argument for its re-
charter BY the people Of that state.
This is one reason why we should be
interested and why this meeting has
been called"
Il this great enslayement effected
Louisiana alone, II would be the moral
duty Of the people in the Union to
seek to prevent It by any means not
inconsistent with the political rights
of q state; but when the people out
side Of the state are induced to CON
tribute SO per cent. in support Of the
scheme, their right to use all legiti-
mate means to suppress the demoral-
izing institution is established and
cannot be questioned.
If, for instance, a citizen Of any
town outside Of Louisiana, say the size
Of Natchez, should draw handsome
prize, in spite of the law prohibiting
the publication Of the drawings, the
Information Of the success of the prize
winner would spread like wildfre, ex-
citing hundreds of others to WOO the
goddess Of chance. In such case
hundreds Of hard learned dollars that
ought to be spent right here to feed
and clothe tie families Of those who
heedsevery dollar they earn are swept
away in the blanks Of the lottery
wheel.
To say that such a community is
not affected, has no right to interfere,
no interest in using such influence as
Hit can command to suppress md war
against the lottery, because forsooth
il is outside Of the state line, is false
and illogical.
A National Event.