The Monitor-register., 1897-03-05
Not a True Son Of His Father.


COL Fred Grant, New York police
| commissioner, is reported in an interview
in The World, as being in favor of legal
izing gambling and the social vice. 1t
st ems incredible that one who might have
familiarizad himself with the history of
such regulations in England, India and
other countries and the rapid growth of
vice under legaliZation, should wish to set
back the dial of experiment hundred
years or more in this country We
would like to ask Colonel Grant what
objections there would be from his stand
point, to legalizing theft and murder
We would ask also what system of
ethics influences him to believe that vices
allowed good latitude can more easily
be held in check than if they are for
hidden entirely ? If thistles are allowed
to grow in certain corners of the field are
they more easily controlled than under
war of determination If God had said,
"Thou shalt not kill three days in the
| week." would there be less killing or
would it be better for the people than
under the command, "Tbou shalt not
kill ?" Christian ethics teach no such
doctrine.
Men who reason thus start from wrong
premises, viz, that these evils are
necessary, that the passion for drink, for
gambling, for other evil thirgs must be
and will be grati6ed and, therefore,
| would better be made legal. If this be
| true. then God knew not man when he
spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. Colonel
Grant makes his belief that these things
''can not be stopped entirely" reason
for giving them permission to exist. In
other words, consent to an evil, let it
| grow, foster it, protect it, because there
| always have been and always will be
some who will indulge in it. Such
reasoning would have led General Ulysses
8. Grant to provide for desertion from
the army under certain protective
"chance for their lives" conditions.
1t brings flush of shame to read such
propositions as the following from any
one, and much more from the son of one
of our greatest generals.
Colonel Grant is reported as saying:
"I do not believe in trying to stop Sun
day liquor-selling, gambling and the
social evil. completely. would like to
do SO; but it is impossible.
"The disorderly houses should be
strictly regulated and copfiued to one
district of the city.
''Snce it is human nature to gamble,
and people must do it, and will do it,
they should be protected and given a
square game-a chance for their lives, as
it were. Police regulation will do this
imperfectly, it is true, but still it will
be great improvement upon the present
conditions. If, however, we could have
a system of legalized gambling, it would
be great blessing to the community. A
public lottery, run by the State. on
small percentage, with tickets sold for
small amounts, would furnish fairly
safe outlet for the gambling spirit"
According to Colonel Grants idea about |
gambling, the police regulations would |
be imperfectly carried out even were
gambling legalized, which is true without
a doubt, but he says SIT would be an |
improvement upon present conditions"
This is beyond our comprehension. AS |
the laws stand now gambling is illegal.
and all the police have to do is to apply |
the law without conditions or limitations. |
II it were legalized there would still be
unlicensed gambling to deal with and all |
the regulations of the legalizsd houses
for the police to enforce. If the police |
will not do their duty now, will they do
it under other conditions No. If |
gambling is a harm to the individual and |
and the State, should it be egalized even
though it were better controlled ? No. |
If it is wrong, should governments make
provisions for it's existence? No. And |
the same may be said If other SINS
Union Signal