The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-18

oihy place which owes DR.. Parkhurst
gratitude. Would that individual re-
formation might be as popular, FOR only
as he individual l. right, will the COM
monwealth be right. An appeal has been
made to the ministers of the State to
isis in securing the rereal OF the law
which D rmits pool-se!ling md gambling
at Narragansett Park. such appeals
ought never TO be in vain.
Our attention is being directed daily 10
tho importance OF his subject; so fre-
auent, indeed, that fear we arc becom-
ing accustomed TO IL and accept II a n
matter of course. Few are the daily
papers which do not contain an account
of some trusted clerk, treasuror, cashier
or bank president who has "gone wrong"
And the melancholy story Of his disgrace
il all epitomized in two words, "he gam
bled." And many of the mysterious
deaths in morgues and about docks might
be explained BY these two fatal words.
Cannon Farrar SAYS "There Is a gam
bling element in human nature" The
fire kinded by ii is generally fed by the
desire for the sudden acquisition oil
wealth. The old methods of industry,
honesty and frugality are discounted In
this age, when we can send news around
the globe in few minntes, and con ride
more than mile a minute. Hence, the
gaming table, the lottery, dabbling in
options and pool selling.
The principle is no better than that of
theft, for IL A gains, = must lose and
somebody's hard earnings arc passed
wit thout an equiveant. Somebody must
suffer the same as though his money was
stolen from him; como wife aud children
ooII nm
most sordid selfishness can close ones eyes
to the fact.
Gods word prohibits gambling; for
while 1t contains nothing specially con-
cerning the vice, 1t is opposed to all un-
Just gains, and a 'woe" is pronounced
against him "who maketh haste to be
rich"
"a faithful man shall abound With
blessings; but be that maketh haste to be
rich shall not be innocent" Hence gamb-
lers are not Christians. When a gamble
becomes a Christian, he ceases 10 be
GAMBLER.
We ali suffer from this gambling spirit.
Prices are generally regulated by supply
and demand, but when gamblers have
"fixed" the market this general rule does
not apply. With an abundant supply Of
an article in our country, 1t then happens
that we must pay an unreasonable price.
Let us not forget that one OF the factors
i'm our present hard times Is the gambling
spirit.
Most definitions OF gambling contain
the word "chance," but the professional
gambler has eliminated the chance ele-
meni, VIII 10 he plays upon the crcdulity
OF his victim. Ale taxes no chances, even
with the novice.
1t is useless TO disguise the fact, terrible
NJ IL il, that gombing Is avery common
| vice We arc naturally led 10 inquirc
Who IL responsible for this state OF
! things? I Iwill only insinuate what be-
! liev, 60 bo true: Are not the card players
OF society responsible? The foriei,s
| Of progre sive euchrr are synony-
nous with the prizes, or stakes
in gambling. This Il unworthy Of
good society, and l fear hat here is where
the strength OF the vise lies. As young
| men often begiu the downward course Of
| the inobriate with the first glass OF wine
drank in society, and not from any in
! flueEcc Of the wreck in the low dive; so
here they become Initiated into { he ways
/ of gamblers at the scard tables in fash
I ionab homes, and not ia the dens OF the
! vicious.
Civil laws are tbt capitalization Of pub
! lie sentiment. u seems hat sentiment in
our State has crys'nllized into law
! which countenances gamolIng. The pso-
I pie "a this : ate stand as a prioner before
! the bar OF pupl msrsl, 80 the
/ question Is asxsd; Ia thsls a.y leasoa