South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-01-15

ne attention OF the people OF the
United States has been remarkably
attracted to the subject Of gambling
in general by the efforts Of The Louis
lana Lottery Co., TO secure . renewal
Of its charter.
This gigantic corporation has 90
thoroughly debauched the pubiic
morale IN the country generally, and
its own Sta'e 10 particular. that they
are now assfnR With some probability
Of ruccess . Constitutional, provis-
ion to put their. infamous business
beyond the power Of . resctiou In
the minds IT the people which m CHIT
express seIf through salutsry ls~s
In that intere.t Al 60. d men and
women are interested In the issue,
and many efforts are making, DO, b
outside ard inside Of ihs Safe Of
Lou siana, to .. cure the owe rtbriw OF
the company finally and for ever.
1t sss matter of prile 70 every
Amer can. or ought to be, that the
government has taken a decided
stsud In defence Of pubic morris,
by refusing tie use OF the mail Ter
vice tn he company in the Irosecu.
ton OF its. unboIy traffic, and Mr..
wsnam.ker 10 exerting 81! his power
TO iiforcc the laws on The subject.
The immoral quslity in al gamb-
ling lies in the gaining Of something
Tor nothing anil this SIM, le test viii
clearly xpose all and everv sophistry
that can be used to justify any form
of the diabo!ical 1 rsctice.
The hi2hwayman, who laws the
traveller Oh the highwsy under tribute
at the point Of o revolver, gets come .
thing for nothing. and violates the
obligation o earn his bread in the
sweat OF his face : but he makes u
manly exhibition Of courage, and has
that 10 plead for bic lawiessi ess.
The ,h.Cf. who steals to satisfy bis
cupidiiy, at least m y Lave it plead ed
for him that in SO doing, ho does
not corIup the morals of o. hers, nv
whe!tinR the appetite for the fearful
exci' ement OF the various forms OF
games Of hazard,
This passion of gambling, grows
perhaps more rapidly than any other
vice and generally seeks 10 keep it's
own fires steady and furiJus by re-
sor ing TO stimulants, and the two
react mos. disastrous y on each 9th. .
et 10 compass the ruin Of the help
less victim.
Let Us Try the test on some Of tLc
practices resorsed to by people OF
acknowledged respec, ability. Many
OF the operations of church fairs, In
this ctucible, yield dirty residuum
OF gains Tor naught, ard are as inn
moral as any other form of gam bling.
The practice Of betting, whicu is so
common in almost every community
rests on the same slippery foundation
He who bets and wins on tue wei, ht
OF hcg. CT The spe ed of horse, or
on The issue Of an election has out
witted his neighbor, and taken his
money for nothing; and lin addition,
has left the vile leaven of q PERM.
cinus example tn tester in the minds
OF The young till it bears i,s deadly
fruit.
The lottery rests on the same basis
exactly. IL, however, has the ques
tionable grace of tariff to rcom-
mend II to the lovers OF that method
OF protection to those who do not, or
ought not to need it. IL realizes til e
full price CT ell articles distribute d
TO the purchasers Of tickets, and
then gives them out at a kind OF
bszard to few favored ones, while
the great macs of the puic,asers
have nothing for their money uuS
aching hears that hasten TO cure
their disappointment by larger pur-
cbases In the dangerous faith that
luck caunot be against them AL
ways.
Let Us all hope that the lottery
will be reducad 10 it's deserved de-
feat as soon ss possible.
Is brings feeling Of pride to the
heart OF syery citizen OF this great
republic TO know that such men as
Senator Gibson and many Others in
high places are working for it's de.
struction.
The following will encourage those
who hope for the publication of the
public morals: