The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-01-20

1t is to be hoped that the wretched-
ness and wreck of all manly virtue
which attends the use of opium will be
spared this country, but there is no
doubt that the success of the Burlin-
game diplomacy in opening the doors
of the Chinese empire to our COM
merce, at which SO many rejoiced at
the time, will be deplored if the pre-
vention of social contagion from its
people is not in some way effected.
No other vice compares with the
use of opium in its destructive effect
upon every property Of manhood in
the human race. Used as hasheesh,
which is its most subtle and seductive
form, it would in a few generations
sap in the American character every
energy and all its command
ing traits. 1t lifts the mind
to the highest summit of frenzied de-
light, but to plunge it, during intervals
of abstinence, into the most profound
abasement, misery and imbecllity. All
ambition, all sense of virtue, integrity
and pride, by it are cast out and the
sufferer plunged into the most abject
despair, Notwithstanding his sense of
which he is yet not spared the energy
to recoil. Let US shudder at the por-
tentous shadow threatened to be thrown
upon the national path in the guise of
the Chinese opium.eater. Women and
men, alike, will fall in their tracks,
inebriate and lost under its baleful
power.
In all the finer traits of manhood, in
the integrity and moral virtue which so.
ciety demands, John, of China, has
nothing to offer. To reform him is
out of the question, because you
can not reform opium-eaters. They
are held, as in a vice, by the seductive
power of their evil genius. The reason
why John can live on cheaper food,
and less of it, than other people, is be.
cause his first and last desire and de-
light is opium. He cares nothing
about food. We do trust that our PEG.
pie everywhere will wake up in time to
this crying national peril, IN the public
commotion concerning which there
seems at present to be a dangerous
and suspicious lull. We do trust that
the present administration, if it do no
other benefcient act, will press mea-
sures for the protection of our whole
country from the ingress of Chinese.
If not. then every state must singly
guard against it Immediately and dill.
gently, with all the determination with
which it would protect its mothers and
wives, from the thousand nameless
horrors incident to self-respect lost and
innocence overthrow.
"Whom tho Gods Would Destroy" Etc.
II am the state" was the substance
OF the arrogant rescript sent by the
Emperor William to the Prussian par
lament on the 4th, or rather sent by
Bismarck in his name. The document
was an assertion of the right of the
monarch to dictate the policy of the
government irrespective of the minis.
try or of parliament. No wonder. 1t
has created intense feeling. The
guarded utterances of the Berlin news
papers, whose editors always write
with the fear of Imprisonment before
their eyes, show that the people are
profoundly agitated at this rude s 'ow
at the scanty measure of constitutional
rights they have heretofore been al
lowed to enjoy. They talk of an "im-
pendinecrisis" and Of conflict which
can hardly be avoided. Perhaps the
hour of German deliverance from the
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