The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-05
Malarial Poison
Protest Against Horse Racing.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:

~ the EultOr OF the Indianapolis JOuIndi.
Please grant me space in your excel
lent paper to say a word to the good
people of Frankfort and Clinton county,
and to those of other places affected alike.
press and the pulpit ought to stand
together against gambling and gambling
institutions. The writer does not denounce
men; does not ~criticise the character of
men; makes no person a target: does not
imDugn the motives Of men. He believes
in the sovereignty of gentleness. There are
times when the best of men are thought
less: when the best of men do what they
would not do If they saw themselves as
others see them. There are things HARM
less in themselves. which yet are blighting
in their results. There are things which one
man may do with impunity. the same an
other will do to his destruction. OF this
kind. which is a mixture Of harmlessness
and temptation. is the horse race or trot-
ting association which is now seeking en-
trance into Frankfort. The thing itself is
not criminal. 1t is not a crime to develop
speed In a horse; 1t is not a crime to match
one horse against another to test their
speed. 1t is not a crime to reward the
training his horse. 1t is not the relation
of a man to A horse, provided the man
is kind. or the relation of one horse to
sI;mlns,,t that has IS IN bosd i the for els goe 8 me on
to have fast horses and delight in their
running. But the relation of horse to-
horse may be the occasion for men TO noid
the most criminal relation to eacn otner.
What may be a harmless amusement per
Sc may be very degrading per you. And
this Is the history of horse races.
In the present crisis / would give the
alarm, and put Christians at least on their
guard. From the earliest days of civiliza-
ton horse racing has been to
the people who indul re in it. 1t Is a mat
ter OF fact that horss racing cannot be sus-
tanned without gambling. GOOD people VINO
are lovers of fast horses, and, having them,
are inimical to their being IN public races sc
go to witness races. under excitement,
have been tempted and ruined both In for
tune and In character. 1t is a matter OF
fact that good people who have the well
fare of the community at heart regard
horse racing as a curse and hight II with
all powers at their / therefore
appeal to the good people OF fTankIort,
in the name of ~virtuous manhood, In the
name of their children. In the name of the
morality of this beautiful city, and In the
less from this. which in other places has
occasioned so much sin and misery. VIII
we willingly bring to our city that when
the people of Chicago have considered one
of the greatest evils that has ever cursed
their city? Have they not been aroused IN
mass meetings, in prayers and civil courts
TO thrust out OF their rUllSl luiS OitCoSi
of gamblers? 1t is the Tarauin that has
committed rape on the virtues and fortunes
of the unsophisticated. VIII we Willingly
bring to our city that which our n1ple
the point of the bayonet? Did not the peo-
pie of Hammond look upon the race course
In knn their midst n,1,s,,, as fne very iy,o m apr c cit that
that which the people OF New YORK con-
sidered their moral cesspool and caleo on
the Legislature for its expulsion? One OF
o,,r nonors cuOCoSfQ that we NAV yet
match the race course of Terre
Haute. May the heavens weep over
such ambition. There are things
ambition. for example, its Institutions OF
learning. If Terre Haute had a large epi-
a eense in Gl omais AMBITION dorre to emulate that as
in our desire to equal their races. MY
friends. you love your city; IT Is beautiful tnns
of it's people, for its freedom from loud
ness of demeanor, from the staggering,
r IeSe it f %sn it's of e sRorslns ansof peopies You
take pride in your schools and the literary
clubs which our ladies sustain SO eficient-
Your gem. But just imagine all that which
generally attends horse races 70 become
rooted Ts d,, In our tem aofieig sh1 ov east our rre homes.
What a change! Dear friends. do We act
consistently You %criticise your Mayor and
out Of town and putting an end to notort-
Gus characters that may infest hidden
p ? new s gsm;b III the in fafs Gd It a You y indi Sesf.
Iy invite the toughs. the gamblers and men
and women Of unsavory reputation to come
to your town.
Do not understand me to say that pure
men and women do not go to the races. 1
and women who are thoughtless enough
to lend their presence. / am told by those
inside of the ring that our county and
State fairs could not be continued without
are a nest of gambling. Can a Christian
man or woman aid to bring such an insti-
tuition into our city? You will say this in
our city will be a small affair, and will not
between a little rattlesnake and a big one?
Will this cockatrice egg which you now
so industriously nurse forever remain an
egg? Again, / want to say 10 you that l
am speaking this word in all kindness. and
without one personal idea in my heart. 1t
is due from me as a man, a Christian and
citizen. l do IL believing some might be
thoughtless regarding what is becoming in
will not dishonor the name of Christ l
Judge you not. / believe in giving every
man credit for his not having evil motives.
1 believe in the persuasive power Of kind
| Christian citizens demands of US to put up
the red light of danger. l do not believe in
fighting men, but win them by the favor
of Him whose favor is life. / do not be-
lieve in severity against men. but against
that enthrall men. 1 do not believe in
| chastising q man sinking in a miasmic
uuagmire, but would help him out with the
cords of truth, reason and love. i do not
believe in cudgeling a man who, in an I'M
guarded moment, has allowed a serpent to
entwine him. but will rip omen the
serpent. PARRY.
Pastor Presbyterian Church.
| Frankfort, Ind, Oct. i.