The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-03-28

character, and at the outset ropes OF
the difference in the proclivities Of ths
! man mature enough to follow his owr
will, and the youthful creduiity of boy.
hood. If the sins 1t brought in its train
were many and black, this one reform
It seems to us, would go far to eras-
ing them and palliating their presence.
But there is much more.
Men will gamble. You may pile legis-
lation into your statute books as high
as the Himalayas, and still the Anglo
Saxon delight for backing an opin-
ion" will crop out In a thousand forms.
Were you to make gambling a crime,
punishable by death you could not
stamp It out. Many cities round us in
the world, both on this continent and
In Europe, cities where civilization has
found its highest and proudest niche,
cities that point with pride to their po-
sition among the municipalities of the
earth, have shaken off the fetters of
custom, and have licensed the hitherto
termed crimes" of gambling and pros
titution.
And what does this amount to? You
have probably seen at one time or an
other in your life big body Of water
damned up by a concrete wall
stretched across Its outlet. 1t is con-
fined, chained in and locked up, but
Irrevocably? No. For in that wall are
sluice holes that allow a constant
stream to filter through, small and in
significant In appearance. but big
enough to relieve the terrific pressure
and prevent catastrophe and ter
rible food. Do you see the parallel?
The body of water is the procllvity of
mankind. The concrete wall is the
barrier of justice, religion and moral
ity. The sluice holes are the means by
which that same wall of justice, ack-
nowledges that even its mighty power
must provide safety valve for the
still greater power Of human nature.
And such an ordinance as this one we
are discussing represents the safety
valve.
It will restrict gambling down to mu-
nicipal supervision. 1t will control its
results, inasmuch as the city will be
bound to keep daily watch on the
methods employed, and will thus pre-
vent swindling. 1t will keep boys from
tumbllng into ruin, and it will place us
on level with the leading cities of the
world In the race for the supremacy of
perfect civilization. The increased rev.
enue It will bring to the city, while a
potent factor that cannot be over
looked, does not enter into our argu-
ment in the smallest degree. Were |
this the only thing the ordinance had |
to recommend 1t, no assistance Of ours |
would be employed on its side, for the |
financial consideration in a question |
like this is the least weighty, and the
most contemplate of all.
The Astorlan has been in existence
for twenty years. During that time,
its policy, guided by different hands
and minds, has changed, Its principles,
never. From the time of its founda-
Ion 1t has always been found on the
side of morality and of municipal and
private honor, and this thing that we
advocate today keeps us in the old hon
est path. 1t is an advocacy that
springs from conviction and careful
Investigation, due to the Importance of
he subject and the duty we owe our
,ity. There may be alterations and
,hanges Of detail to be made in the
Measure, that will improve its useful
less vastly. That is for the council to
lecide. But the principle of the thing,
he germ of Its object, is, we firmly be-
ieve, healthy and ennobling.
JOHN R. RATHoM.