Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1892 — Death to the Octopus! [ARTICLE]

Death to the Octopus!

There is every reason to believe that the existence of the Louisiana lottery will cease with the expiration of its present charter in 1894. The published statement of John A. Morris, who has long controlled the operations of that gigantic concern, enjoying also most of its ill-gotten revenues, seems to be conclusive that the directors of the company would not accept the constitutional amendment pending before the voters of the State for the renewal of the lottery franchise, even though it should be adopted. The decision of the United States Supreme Court, upholding the validity of the ' anti-lottery postal law, was a death-blow to the Lou. isiana company. The extent of its scheme compelled it to depend for its receipts on more than local patronage, and its success was impossible without the use of the postal facilities of the country. The statutes of the several States imposing punishments for the traffic in lottery tickets might he avoided or rendered ineffective. But the exclusion of the lottery’s business from the mails is fatal to its hopes for further lease of life, without regard to the action of the people of Louisiana. Morris, who is a shrewd man, has been quick to appreciate the sweeping effect of the court’s decision. He gives further evidence of his perspicacity by wisely abandoning a battle in which victory, if achieved, would be barren of profitable result. With the death of the New Orleans octopus there is almost positive assurance that another giant lottery enterprise will never again flourish in the United States. The destruction of this system of robbery is good for the morals of the people. Admitting that here and there a small investment of money in a lottery may once in a great while bring large returns does not lessen the evil., There was a great deal ol truth in the observation of Horace Greeley: “A sad day in any man’s life is that on which he comes into possession of a dollar which he has not honestly earned.”