New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-07
TIE LOTTERY MUST GO.

II nav be that good people have been littie
premature in suppOSing that the LOUISIANA Lot
terv was killed by the supreme CONT DECISION
The letter announcing that the owners would
refuse to accept a renewal of the franchise even
if it should be granted by Louisiana on terms
they had asked is not regarded by opponents
Of the lottery As final disposition of the matter
They reason that the lottery ring now has control
Of the whole Democratic machinery IN the Htatc
and of all the officers of election. that II can
easily elect or count in tools # - own, unless
a desperate resistance i continued. Altcr thc
ring had elected such Legislature 1t would be
easy fer it to contiive new terms. and possibly
some new form of lottery by which the decision
Of the Supreme Court could he cyaleh ~ lclNu
for some years until another decision could be
reached. and meanwhile the state would not
even get the benefit Of the great revenue which
the lottery people propose TO pay for renewal
of the franchise.
The resistance might with reason be placed
upon broader grounds. 1t might with proprey
be argued that tho men who were willing 10 up
hold this shameful continuance for plundcnng
tho public. and 10 have the Sntc become Il >haror
in the crime by pockcting a large part OF the
nrotts. ought not 70 be trusted to govern the
State in any event or on any prtcyt Whether
they call themselves Democrats or Republicans.
whether they believe in one SGT Of political prin-
cpoS or in another, they are unworthy oi Inc
confidence Of the people and should no be sui
fcrcd TO make and administer laws for >iaic
Of the Union. If the anti-lOttcy people would
out their opposition on this ground. and pledge
themselves not to Sustain for state Office OF a
scat in the Legislature any mln Who has been
willing - uphold the lottery when II was, a itlc
conrts declare. an offence against dcccncy and
public welfare. they would give better proof Of
their sincerity.
Nor is il quite in order 70 plead, as some do,
that other vicious institutions, noi essentially
different in a moral aspect from the lotteries are
sustained and sheltered by Louisiana or by other
States. The Cotton Exchange j. not, IL some
saw. merely another kind of lottery or gambling
shop: il came into existence and continues To
exist a. convenience for legitimate
trade. however much its facilities have
boen abused 50 Of various commercial and
produce Exchanges throughout the country
whose rule, do tolerate the buying and selling
Of options and futures for gambling purposes
only. The institutions exist for . legitimate
nurposa. If the abuses of their facilities are
contrary 10 public morals and welfare thcS,
can be suppressed without destroying the tx
changes themselves Whether the abuse has be-
come such an evil that II should be suppressed
by rigorous laws i, a separate question with
which the people of the several states and d the
United states must deal when II j. presented 10
them. But if their minds IRE no. Yet decided
regarding the morality and the need Of restrict
inc these commercial Transactions, that Is not IN
the least reason for hesitation about the lottery.
Progress must move Of necessity step hy step.
II cannot always bc logical. II cannot defer az
crc,svo action against one vice hcc;luSe some
body believe, that another vice still unchacnged
is equally hurtful. True reform makes progress
where if can. and whenever the public mind IS
prparcd TO sustain IT, The lottery Is ripe fvr
extinction to-day Tho same moral sense which
SURPRISES it will then be all the more rc'olutc
and hopeful in assailing any other institution or
practice that is found hostile 10 the public. wei
| fare.