, 1877-03-31
The Opium Traffic.

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The growth and increase of this
deadly and deleterious drug in the
principal cities of the Pacific Coast,
is enough to alarm all who are in,
terested not only in the protection
of the revenue. but also in the well
fare of our youth. We have no hesi-
fancy in the statement that, in this
city, is den where white men, Chi.
nese and Indians, all meet on the
debasing equality engendered by
the use of this nauseous drug. The
youth of this city are being con-
taminated with this pestilence to a
greater extent than their parents
have any idea of. and such is the in
crease of the appetite for it that men
once acquiring it desire to break off
and are unable to do SO till their in
tel]ects are fairly destroyed.
Again, the revenue is being de-
frauded to fearful extent by the
Chinese smugglers who travel be-
tween here and Victoria, disguised
SIS Cassiar miners. About fortnight
ago, small steamer plying between
Sound ports arrived here having on
board a large number of Chinese
passengers that had come to Tacoma
from Victoria and were supposed to
have opium in their possession. In
spector Hyde waited for the boats
arrival and made search of every
passenger who landed, faithfully
and carefully, after which he. went
home to supper. As soon as he was
out of sight, two Cinnamon came
down the wharf and got down into
the steamers fore hatch, where they
fished out small box containing
forty eight cans of opium. This was
so thoroughly distributed about
town that no two cans could be
found in any one house.
The recent seizure of opium in
San Francisco, as mentioned in our
telegraphic columns, has led to in
vestigations which prove the COM
plicity of tie revenue officials in that
city with the smugglers. In fact the
crookedness of Collector Shannon is
no news in San Francisco. He was
worth about $50 900 when he went
into that Office and now a half-mil-
lion would not begin to "size his
pile" His friends say he made his
money in stocks, but there are some
who know better. An agent of the
Treasury Department named Clark
was sent out here last year to work
mp these cases and traced Collector
Shannon's completely in the matter
right home to the Custom House
doors. He went back to Washing
ton and reported to Secretary Bris-
tow who made the matter known to
President Grant. But Gorham and
Sargent were there and looked out
for their faithful servants scalp.
The consequence was that Clark was
discharged from the Treasury SER
vice and Bristow, finding it impos-
sible for an honest Secretary to get
along with a dishonest President, re-
signed his office in disgust.
We make no charge against the
officers here for wilful dereliction of
duty, for we believe Mr.. Webster
to be thoroughly conscientious; nor
do we doubt the honesty of his sub
ordinates. But We do know that
for every pound of opium that pays
duty into Puget Sound, three
pounds get in without any taxation
for revenue purposes. A great de-
gree of vigilance is necessary and
Tacoma needs even more watching
than this city. The shipments of
dried fish from here to Walla Walla
are also mere blind. Not a case
leaves here but contains q can or
two of opium. Too great vigilance
cannot be exercised to check this
growing evil.