65. There ever remains the question of the extent of the power of Congress to regulate commerce. American constitutional law as to commerce is largely of what the States may not do. But the enormous power of Congress to regulate commerce, more and more as the years pass,—as the meaning of “national jurisdiction” is defined by the courts of law,—the definition, however, slowly conforming to public opinion,—discloses the extent of the federal power through the commerce clause. Doubtless Congress has made but a beginning in its exercise of this power. Thus it has made lottery tickets articles of commerce, has excluded them from the mails, has assumed plenary authority of the carriage of such articles from State to State, and, by authority of the commerce clause has practically destroyed the lottery business in the United States.[174] The principle here decided is that, under the power to regulate commerce, regulation may take the form of prohibition, and that the power “may be exerted with the effect of excluding particular articles from such commerce.”[175] In this decision the Court observes, “that the suppression of nuisances injurious to public health or morality is among the most important duties of government,” and quotes an earlier decision as to “the widespread pestilence of lotteries.” It might seem that while exercising its powers under the commerce clause Congress was really exercising the police power of the United States. 66. Of highest importance is the act of Congress of July 2, 1890, and later amendments, known as the Anti-Trust Act, entitled, An “Act to Protect Trade and Commerce against Unlawful Restraints and Monopolies.” The decisions growing out of this act have been made on issues involving the particular questions whether or not restraints and monopolies so-called were such under the act and conflicted with it. The power of Congress, under the commerce clause to prohibit such restraints and monopolies has not been denied. It will be remembered that power to regulate commerce is not power to regulate manufactures. The purpose of the Anti-Trust law[176] is “to destroy the power to place any direct restraint on interstate trade or commerce, when by any combination or conspiracy formed by either natural or artificial persons, such a power has been acquired; and the government may intervene and demand relief as well after the combination is fully organized as while it is in process of formation.”[177] The principle involved here is as to the power of corporations organized under State laws to restrain or to monopolize interstate commerce. The State has no power to create corporations with such powers, and consequently they cannot exercise them lawfully. And like attempts to restrain and monopolize interstate commerce made by individuals is alike unlawful.[178]