Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-03-23
Opium Smoking in the Sandwich
Islands. . E+-

% AS If rum, and the vices 1t engenderS and
fosters, wereinO rapidly enough sweeping
the remnant of Hawaiians from the face OF
the earth, it is a sad fact that the practice
of smoking opium, introduced here by the
Chinese coolies, has become prevalent
among the native Hawaiians, and is fear
fully on Gthe; increase. All who have
watched the effects of the shabitual use of
this poisonous narcotic on the human sys-
: tenn, agree that when it once gets firm
hold upon its victim a cure is almost hope
less. Its Introduction among a people lis
quite as much a misfortune as would be the
taking off the tabu on the sale of spirits.
the past few years the attention
of the police has'frequentlyl been drawn to
this subject and numerous arrests have
been made of Cinnamon engaged in the
illegal traffic of opium. But it is exceed
ingly difficult to get a native who uses
opium to testify against the seller, and thus
1T not unfrequentlyl occurs that, in cases
where the police are morally certain OF the
guilt OF the VeDders, they,1go unwhiptJ of
2 justice for the'lack OF the necessary evidence
to- convict The law. authorizing the
licensing of the sale of opium in Honolulu
was enacted Ostensbly with the view to
stop the Illicit traffic, but it has by no
means had that effect on the contrary the
peVillis on the increase. Far better to enact,
and with all the power of the Government
enforce, stringent laws against the sale or
: licensed apothecaries when prescribed by
physicians. uR Iseit#rs5sa -
.s5 iWeaheard of a distressing instance the
other day of a. poor native on whom the in
sidious habit of smoking opium had grown
until it became necessary to his existence.
Becoming himself sensible of the destruc-
1tion ottbOdy and soul towards which he
was fastening, he made an effort to break
OF the habit, and taking a small quantity
OF the drug with him to s'taper off on,1 re-
moved to Waikiki, away from the town,
. with the delusiy e idea that thus he could
cure himself. But when his supply was
exhausted, the nervous prostration and the
0craving forthe wOnted st mulus was such
that he was obliged to come to town again
formOre. Again providing himself with a
small supply he made another effort. for
freedom, this time removing to Coco Head,
further still from the tempter. But he be-
came so weak from the reaction on his ner-
Vous system that his friends were obliged
to bring him 10 town again, or he would
have soon died from the want of opium.
And he will inevitably die with the use of
it. This is. only one instance brought to
light out of the many that doubtless occur,
but which. are never heard of.
Las6Sunday the police caughtitwo natives
in the act of smoking opium in the house
of one of the coolies whom they had for
some time suspected, and on Monday sue
ceeded in getting conviction before the
Police Court. The coolie, who was a most
wretched, cadaVerous, and helpless speci-
men of the victims Of opium, was fined
$1Q0 with So 81 costs, which, as he had no
means to pay, he will work out in the chain
gang-equal to 4131a days hard labor at Is
cents a day. A righteous Judgment,
which ought to serve as a check TO the
growing tyil.-Honolulu Adoertiser.