The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1891-09-12

Ii CH0 ODlecG OF any association lis
wrong, nothing can make it right.
Surely the author of "Monopole" would
not perpetuate wrong by granting it a
monopoly! Under which of these heads
does the Lottery belong? Put it under
either, and aside from every other ques-
ton, it is wrong because it is a monop-
oily, His hypothesis of "good moncp-
olies" being exploded, the remainder Of
his article, of which this hypothesis was
the, foundation, falls to the ground. But
to go the whole length with this cleri-
cal advocated of fnonopolies, I will notice
his other division of monopolies into
"public and private" Here is a dis
tinction withouta difference! His def
milton Of a ''private monopoly is some
what unique and literally translated
would read thus: ga private monop-
oily is one which is acquired by ruse,
fraud Or violence, and is useful only to
the possessor." And further on, as an
example of a "private monopoly" he
cites ''men who, for a long term of
years, and by the of means more or less
reprehensible, hold in their hands all
the votes ofa State, and keep the mon-
opoly of the lucrative offices.o After
exhausting his vocabulary in denoun-
cling this species of lottery, he passes
TO his eulogism of the Louisiana State.
LOTTERY, amid spasmodic exclamations
Of "Viola What consistency Had
he attempted to describe the methods
and aims of the company which is seek
ing a reeharter to-day, he could not
have done SO more truly, more concise
~. Does this gentleman, who leaves
the pulpit to espouse the cause of a
gambling institution, know that for a
'long term of years and by means all
together reprehensiblen the Lottery
Company controlled the votes of our
legislators? Does he in his d~isinterest-
ed authorship know that it bribea its.
way before the people and that it is
now attempting ITO holdin it's hands the
vote OF aStatel "Foila w' Does he
know that this institution, which he SO
valiantly upholds, is striving Ito keep
the monopoly of the lucrative, offices"
II he does not, let him read the Mar
shall letter. Does he he know that his
native country after trying lotteries in
every shape and style-was finally forced
to wipe them out? If be knew these
things, where is the difference between
the private monopoly" which he con-
denans, and the public Ii. e. the Louis
lana Lottery which he upholds z
"Voilam Surely "Monepoleu measured
the intelligence OF this community with
a short rule, If he supposed they could
be gulled by such inconsistent sophis-
try. If he would reason he should ac-
himself with the facts and de-.
duce logically. Then his "Voila's y
would be more effective. In conclusion
let me notice two remarkable state
ments which will show to- what ex-
the writer went. ;.
Gone ~singletime this lottery infugne-
ed the legislature, but then 1T had a per
feet right TODD So" Hero is one man in
the State who is not a citizen OF the
country, and whe has nothing whatever
at stake in this campaign, who dares to
come out in public prints and boldly
declare that bribery is right and justi-
Is a man, who advocates. such
principle, competent to tell the hon
voters of this parish what is. best
for them 7 Again we read" at was not
political question, it was an affair of
personal interest, renewal of their char
If any thing were needed to1
expose the ignorance of the author On
this subject this would do it,, Will
tMonopole" tell us, after thinking
about it a little, that this lottery ques-
ton is bot and never has been a.
political question: The 4.personalin-
terest' to which he SO glibly refers,
effects the Interest" of the people Of
this State, and as such, 1t is, has, sheen,
Ind will be, nothing p1ore or less than
political question as long as the peo-