Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-09
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

A move against gambling In Wash
ington was started half a century ago,
-, and in The Star of
Anti.Gambling January /, 1877, is
H.u.m.n+ the following COM
N1o'0" ment on a meeting
held for it's promotion:
There was large and earnest
meeting at Lincoln Hall yesterday in
behalf of the movement to suppress
gambling. Rev. DIR. Wills, among the
speakers. perhaps gave the best prac-
teal suggestions for the cure. The
first remedy was industry, absorbing
industry Incidence was the parent
of all vice. The second was home In
struction; make the home attractive;
diffuse sunshine over the family cir.
Gle Third. abolish gambling at
church fairs; there was where young
men were first attracted by gambling.
Let the churches put their foot on 1t
and declare that there shall be no
more raining in the churches Of
Washington. Fourth. charity to gam
blers: they are not the worst sinners
in the world. Let gamblers know
that they are not beyond reform.
Fifth, good reading rooms and good
libraries for our young men. They
will have some stimulant. Let them
have good. wholesome stimulant.
Sixth. the Gospel of Jesus Christ is
the sovereign. infallible remedy for all
vice. Bring the young men into the
Sunday schools. churches. temperance
societies, and throw moral breast
work about them that would resist
every surge Of vice.
'All of which is very good and SEN
sible, and to the purpose"
As the New Year dawned half a
century ago the presidential situation
., . remained undetermined
Presidential Congress had not reach
c;4,o+;or ed the point Of counting
SA"uo"ion' the electoral votes and
there was disquieting uncertainty as
to the outcome. The Star of January
2, 1877. says:
Under the head The Latest Phase
of the Situation the New York Herald
discusses the situation in view Of all
the events of the past week. and
comes to the conclusion that political
sentiment is settling back into the
condition which Immediately followed
the meeting OF the electoral colleges
on the 9Th of December. BY the face
of these certificates Mr.. Hayes had
1875 votes and Mr. Tilden 1874, making
a majority for Hayes and electing
him, unless the prima facie result can
be overthrown. On the face Of the
returns that paper says. Mr.. Hayes
is elected. and the burden Of proof
rests with the Democrats when
claim Is made that certificates are
invalidated by fraud. Electoral votes
cannot be rejected on mere doubts or
suspicious, but only on conclusive cyl
dence. If full investigation leaves the
result in any State doubtful the an
raigned canvassing board Is entltieu
to the benefit of the doubt.
con the assumption that Mr.. Hayes
will be declared elected and 1nducteo
into Office the Herald proceeds to ar
gue that any attempt to inaugurate
Mr.. Tilden in opposition to him VIII
be futile: that in case Mr.. Tilden was
sworn in it would be an idle form; that
the Senate would not receive. much
less confirm, any nominations for CAB
met or other officers he might send
in: that no officer, civil or military,
would give any heed to the commands
Of Mr.. Tilden, whereas all Mr.. Hayes
appointments will be promptly con-
|. firmed, and the whole civil and mill
tary service would yield him READY
obedience. Any attempt of the House
to stop the supplies would. in the
opinion of that paper, be suicidal for
the Democratic party. The House
alone cannot repeal the tariff and tax
laws. Money would continue to flow
into the Treasury, though it could not
be taken out of 1t, and the effect upon
the country of blocking up the money
in the public vaults at the rate of
$500 900 900 per annum would be so
disastrous that 1t would not be long
before the whole business community
would he In rebellion. Further. the
wants of the Government are provided
for UP to the LIST of July. which affords
sufficient time for Mr.. Hayes to get
his administration in successful oper.
alton.
THE speculations of the Herald are
chiefly noteworthy as indicating the
business view Of the situation In Mr.
Tuden,a pYn pax1sh."