The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-03-01
NEW JERSEYS GROWING DIS
GRACE

Ne'curk Ereniag Netes Ind Dena.) FED. 23d
With such haste as to dsabuse the mind
OF the idea that the House Of Assembly is
a deliberatiVe body, and with vote SO
decisive as to suggest the power Of more
persuasive and more substantial influence
than moral judgment. and with degree
Of turpltude that will stagger the people
OF New Jersey, three gambling bills pre-
pared by professional blacklegs passed the
Lower House of the Legislature yesterday
The three bills which were hurried
through the House with such nnflinching
support, and with such little regard for the
principles of morals which legislative
bodies are supposed to represent, are the
most infamous OF any yet devised to make
gambling In the State popular, and to en-
courage blackguardism and blacklegism a
mong the people. From all indications
1t would seem that the Senate Of New
Jersey, submitting easily to the same in
fiuences that swayed the House, and turn
ing its back upon principles necessary to
the maintenance of public morality and re-
spect fer law, will give its endorsement to
these measures and thereby announce to
the world that the State of New Jersey,
through its representatives, is willing not
only to legalize, but to encourage and to
nourish the NEST dangerous and, at the
same time, the most active colleges Of
criminals devised 10 this age
In all previous attempts TO sanction pool
selling, endeavors have been made TO sat
lsfy public opposition by the introduction
of clauses which would make the State Of
New Jersey beneficiary of the gambling
dens. Heretofore 1t has always been pro.
vided in the bills presented for passage
that the State should receive certain large
income for licensing the gamblers and for
closing Its eye TO the daily iniquities which
characterize the poolselling dens which
constitute the only attraction Of the race.
courses which now disgrace the terri
tory OF the State. In the three bills
which have received the approval Of the
majority OF the members OF the Assem-
bly,, and which the Senate is quite likely
to adopt as proper measures, very little
consideration is given TO the State. The
gamblers inside the Legislature and out
side that body, with the knowledge OF the
men they have to deal with, have intro
duced three bills whose many purposes are
shamefully criminal and wickedly cunning
10 their scheme, not only TO make the people
Of New Jersey people who sanction gam
bling, but they have so devised these bills
that gambling may be carried on anywhere
and 10 any part Of the State, simply by
the forfeit of q small sum Of money, and
further they have so drawn these enact
ments that the tricky aud notoriously
crooked gambling institutions will enjoy
all the privileges which racecourses Of
higher order and decently conducted may
enjoy. They are so slyly devised that the
blackleg owners and blackleg jockeys Of
the VIGOROUSLY criminal tracks will be per
mitted to intrude themselves and their tac-
Ties upon the tracks which are conducted
with more respectf for the prophecies OF life
and with a greater regard for the senti
inents Of honesty from which their presence
| is now denied.
The bills are the most damnable that
have ever dsgraced the fair name Of the
Commonwealth. The men who have vot-
ed for them should be marked aud should
be declared for all time from any patticip-
ancy in any public office; for men who
are capable of delivering the State to the
blacklegs of New Jersey are so deficient
in their moral instincts, aud so weak in
their appreciation of the moral foundation
necessary to stable government, that they
are utterly unfit to serve in any rcpresen-
tative capacity.
The hope OF New Jersey now lies with
Governor Werts; the pledges of this capa-
BILE Executive made voluntarily on his as
sumption Of office, and his performances
since his Induction into the Executive
chair give great promise that when these
three denominations come to him for his APP
provai ne viii spurn them as things intend
ed to undermine the morals of the people,
and will consign them to the limbo OF
things held 10 contempt.