The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-11-23
Gambling at the Elkton Fair Grounds.

| EDITOR "CECiL VINCE
Dear SIR: There appeared in the last
issue of the Cc"H Democrat. an editorial
culogistic Of the racing men, who have for
twenty-siX days piled their craft at the Elkton
fair grounds. With what rainbow tints the
racing fraternity is beautined, Their good
| qualities are cXtolIed. Faults seemingly they
have none. What Il revelation tkcre has
been in public sentiment. Many persons, we
are informed. who at first decried and de-
nounced them. have now only words Or
praise and commentator. What hos wrought
the change! We answer: The almighty
dollar Who is strong enough to withstand
greed Of gain? 1t seems that the first eXpec-
tation was. that these men would he drunken
! brutcs. whose delight it would be to insult
women upon the streets, and to make the
life and property OF Tho citizens OF Ekton
unsafe. But they are found to be n well
dressed, well behaved body of men. They
are willing to pay good prices for board
and accommodation. The business of the
town has been benefited. The tradcs-mcn
rub their hands together gIcefully, and say
Our receipts are SO many dollars larger
than before. Why this is perfect bonanza
for Us, nld we wish i. might become per-
mancnt.' This is the view taken by that
part of the people who look only at one
phase or the financial side of the matter.
How about the moral side of it Have the
advocates Of true morality been silent? The
The pulpit Of the town, 80 far AS we have
heard, has been fearless and outspoken in
its reproofs. rebukcs AMI dcnunciations.
All honor 20 the men who have the courage
of their convictions, and who propose to
tread the path of duty without
taking thought us to whether their course
will meet with popular approval or not. The
growth of public sentiment i'll the United
States has brought the downfall of those vast
lottery schemes that in former years flooded
the country with pernicious and tempting
offers OF great wealth for Il few dollars in
vested To acquire money for which you
have given no adequate return is the aim
and object of those who attend the races
The bats offered there are to cupidity. self
ishncss and to all those traits that degrade
and debase humanity. Here boys and yonng
men take the initial steps in gambling so
accommodating are these gentlemen of the
turf that it is not always necessary to attend
the races. They hunt up their victims, and
persuade them to try their luck, investing
the money for them, and allowing them to
win ut first simply to fasrinate and lead
them on. The legislature will soon be in
session, and it is rumorel that an effort will
be made to extend the time OF the pool sell
ing from thirty days once a year to sixty days
twice year. We do NOT know the attitude
OF the delegates from the county upon this
subject, but we do know that there will
upon them. The question then that confronts
the people of Cecil county is. how will we
meet this issue? Shall we keep quiet and
drift with the tide? | think | hear the
answer coming up from every direction,
mo. nov We will rise in the might of our
manhood and crush out the great evil
that stands rs a menace to the peace and
well being Of our people. Let US have petit
tons from every district asking that pool
selling he abolished. In his concluding par
did no moral injury. There are two ways in
which this can be explained. First the
people of this county live upon such high
moral plane that they are above and beyond
temptation, or they are so depraved that there
are no lower depths into which they can de-
scend. Take your choice of views il you
believe in that editorial. ]. j. McCAULEY.