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Editorial
February 28, 1828
The Litchfield County Post
Litchfield, Litchfield County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
An editorial condemns lotteries for their destructive moral and financial impacts on individuals, especially the poor, and society at large, arguing they contradict religious principles and promote gambling and crime.
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LOTTERIES.
A highly respectable inhabitant and long resident of this city, after animadverting upon the pernicious, ruinous, and disastrous effects of lotteries, adds-but, "The moral loss I am not able to calculate. I know of several cases where the drawing of prizes unhinged the sober and industrious habits of the winners, and from that time was to be dated their decline. The sufferings occasioned by drawing blanks are, in private, but are not the less, either in pungency or extent, on that account,
"The other day when I paid a labourer some hard earned gains, he looked at the little sum, and said, "Well, if I thought I could draw a prize, I would buy a ticket in the lottery." I knew that his wife and children had wants that even this small sum would relieve, and he himself also owed some debts. Here we see a poor man, pressed by his wants, and misled by hopes set up by the legislature, tempted to gamble away the bread of a wife and a number of children.
It is in vain-it is mockery for us to be talking about religion, when its precepts are set at nought by the law and the people. "Lead us not into temptation." was the prayer uttered by the founder of the Christian dispensation--and yet it is scarcely possible for a man to pass his own threshold, without being tempted to enter upon a course of gambling which nothing short of a miracle can prevent terminating in perdition. Authorize gambling, and encourage the manufacture of whiskey, and then wisely implore the increase of crime, and the depravity of the people.
Penn. Gaz.
A highly respectable inhabitant and long resident of this city, after animadverting upon the pernicious, ruinous, and disastrous effects of lotteries, adds-but, "The moral loss I am not able to calculate. I know of several cases where the drawing of prizes unhinged the sober and industrious habits of the winners, and from that time was to be dated their decline. The sufferings occasioned by drawing blanks are, in private, but are not the less, either in pungency or extent, on that account,
"The other day when I paid a labourer some hard earned gains, he looked at the little sum, and said, "Well, if I thought I could draw a prize, I would buy a ticket in the lottery." I knew that his wife and children had wants that even this small sum would relieve, and he himself also owed some debts. Here we see a poor man, pressed by his wants, and misled by hopes set up by the legislature, tempted to gamble away the bread of a wife and a number of children.
It is in vain-it is mockery for us to be talking about religion, when its precepts are set at nought by the law and the people. "Lead us not into temptation." was the prayer uttered by the founder of the Christian dispensation--and yet it is scarcely possible for a man to pass his own threshold, without being tempted to enter upon a course of gambling which nothing short of a miracle can prevent terminating in perdition. Authorize gambling, and encourage the manufacture of whiskey, and then wisely implore the increase of crime, and the depravity of the people.
Penn. Gaz.
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
Social Reform
Crime Or Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Lotteries
Gambling
Moral Decay
Religious Hypocrisy
Poverty Temptation
Crime Increase
Legislative Responsibility
What entities or persons were involved?
Legislature
Founder Of The Christian Dispensation
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Criticism Of Lotteries And Their Moral Effects
Stance / Tone
Strongly Condemnatory Of Lotteries And Gambling
Key Figures
Legislature
Founder Of The Christian Dispensation
Key Arguments
Lotteries Cause Pernicious, Ruinous Effects On Habits And Finances
Moral Loss From Lotteries Is Incalculable, Leading To Decline In Winners
Sufferings From Blanks Are Intense And Private
Poor Laborers Tempted To Gamble Away Essential Funds
Contradicts Religious Precepts Like 'Lead Us Not Into Temptation'
Promotes Gambling And Crime, Mocking Religion
Linked To Encouragement Of Whiskey Manufacture And Societal Depravity