The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-11
VI,


Vice has been defined to be a chronic
and habituai trausgrcs OF the moral
law. Ia those who are vicious. the
wrong-doinr has become deliberate and
continuous wicSedncss. When 70 this les
added the fact that the vice is actually
made "a Profession business whereby 20
secure The means of living and that It's
object Is TO make as many other men
vicious as possible we have an idea of
the meaning Of he word "Y.cious" as
applied 20 the professional gambler.
We have heard ana read OF some Of
these men as If they were heroes. Their
smiable qualities have been dcscautoi ON
by those who could not understand
moral principle. or who wished 20 curry
their favor. but TO thoughtful person
Of ordinary morality, the gambler i'm ans
shape. and above all the professional
gambler from the operator of % policy
shop ia a back alley % The Prince Of
Monte CARLOS am enemy 10 his species.
The foundation of This vice is puf-
pose 10 live luXgrIuusly ANA IDLY ON The
labor Of others Now, wncu this pass
sionate desire thus To- get other mems
goods possesses a man. be becomes very
dangerous 10 society L. is the same
spirit that makes fnc thief. though there
are gamblers who would resent the ANAL
ogy. The fact is. however. tho whole
spirit Of The business is degrading and
ccrrupting. ana ruiuous to- the men then-
selves who fan into tho snarcs. and heart
breaking TO their families.
IL is noticeable shat the professional
gambler generally hourishcs. though all
ways under the ostrac.sm OF those who
abhor his trade ~ the chances in his
games were even, the gambler could not
run his business The odds mast be
against the man who plays with him.
How great these odds are depends chief
IT, and som,tim entirely. upon the
grace. mercy. and virtue OF the gambler,
Viewed in any light. tho gambling vice
contains such elements Of injury 10 the
individual affected by E. and is SO lar
reaching Ga its degrading effect on SO
ciety. that AN who would themselves
live by honest work. and Who wish 90
bring their children up TO be honest and
Industrious. shoIld unite TO dcnouncc and
root out the nurseries and harhors where
this Vice is propagatei ana fostcrcl.
IL is useless 10 say men VIII eamhls.
True And men VIII steal, and commit
murder. and DO many other wicked things.
but these things are nor made right by
tina; fact. There is good lyne ANA
much happiness for every mau VINO VIII
learn 90 labor truly ami do h.s duty n
his sphere " lie. But the gambler DONE
want TO work. lie prefers the career OF
u parasite. VINO feeds on other men
and whose interest it is 70 have men
desert their families. 1--we rcclossly. and
throw their own and other peoples money
70 the dogs. where hc can pick 10 zap.
Row. The Times knows this. AND TO
knowing. 1t feels a is plain duty 20
speak out. because thls beautiful city of
Richmond was becoming more and more
corrupted. The negro crap-shooter has
been marked prey for official diligence
but the eilael ,aloons. where rampant
vice cut a great dash. were exempt.
Now. II any gambling Is 90 bc allowed.
there should be- no discrimination. III
thc cav. authorities ought rot TO execute
the law against this vice. because men
WIZ DO 70. then lot the humble gambler
ply his trade unmoios'ed. and let all the
negroes carry their hard earnings 90 The
policy-shops. and leave their families to
suffer at home
But the Overwhelming majority of The
people Of Richmond are moral and rclisl-
Gus. and moral question has only TO be
stated plainly to insure an attentive
audience and a right judgment.
II there are Any more important func-