The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-09-17
GAMBLE NOT.

The vice of alcoholism is more prevalent
at the East than at the West; that Is, ex-
cess in the use Of alcohol is to the super
fetal observation more common in New
England than upon the Pacific coast.
The explanation of this fact, if it be fact,
is due something to the difference of eli
mate and something to the fact that Cali
fornia claret of fair quality is cheap. and
the use OF claret and lager beer has re-
duced the consumption of ardent spirits.
Francis Murphy testiiies that intemper-
ance Is decreasing in the United States.
Statistics show that we consume far less
ardent spirits than we did twenty years
ago and good deal more lager beer and
native wines.
While intemperance is decreasing in
America, the vice of gambling. far more
dangerous social evil. Is certainly not de-
creasing and in its various forms is prob
ably ON the increase. We have called
than intemperance because II is a sin of
the spirit rather than a sin OF the blood,
and therefore more ineurable aud soul
destroying, The vice of gambling Is mar
ried to cupidity and therefore more diff
cult TO cure than intemperanee, which
grows out of sociality and conviviality and
has no relation TO cupiiity. To the pre-
tense that men gamble. not from cupidity,
but for amusement and excitement, we
answer that in answer 20 this spe-
eioas plea We heard witty gambler
answer. Jones, when you cheated Smith
the other night at poker. did you do IL for
amusement or excitement?' Weneed not
foot ourselves. the fascination that gam
bling IN ali ITS forms exercises over man
kind IS because 1t inilames their cupldity;
their irrepsesSible desire to get something
for nothing. There Is always hope for a
man who IL Incorporate; there is small
hope for gambler, because IL he is An nm
successful gambler he is always inSanelv
eager TO ''get even with the game" and
IL he is a successful gambler all the moral
warmth of his nature has been chilled and
the spring of personal integrity dried ur.
The vice of gambling soon becomes a
hone disease. compared with which in
temperance IL skin disease. The oldest
and most experienced observers of the
history of defaleations, embesxlement..
iorgeriss and breaches Of trust agree that
~ pcr cent OF them date back to the
gambling vice. which is peculiarly the
vice Of the sober man. whose sobriety
commands the confidence Of his employers
and the community. LISA popular fAIlscv
20 believe THAI there are 40 sober seoun-
drels, when as = matter of fact 20 psr
cent Of the really great and most
harmful scoandregs. the sccundrels who
not only ruin themselves bat rob hun.
dreds Of others are sober sconndsels: thex
are obliged to be sober or they would have
no opportunity 10 rob their trusts, since
sohTie'y. not ia;emperanoe, invite. Pc
cantsry trust Ntuety FER cent Of these
sober. competent rnsn. who have from ten
20 twenty year. Of sobriety and tdeli,v
behind thsm, have been dragged from their
raoral meorings by the vice of gam hing
which Is peculiarly the vice Of she sober
COO. scif-contsinsd men. These men
generally pride themselves on their
coolpsss, sohrieiy and nerve aud
they begin by riskinE their own
money; when .ha; is gore they risk
sheirempIoyef's sad the ultimate result Is,
81 course, always exposure. though not al.
ways legal punishment OF course. there
u ne difference between the man who
gams'.es At poker, faro or roulette. with
bis ewa or anosher's money, and q mAa
Who essah'es On sraArEsn in Wall street
O. IA the sasAs PsL Ii - sambling. aad
whether lac wins ~ loses. he Is the victim
q soai-issss0ying vsoe that utterly anfts
aim fer legitimate business OF foE any Of