New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-23
THE OPIUM VICE.
A PLEA FOR NATIONAL PRoBIBITIoE OF THE MANU-
FACTURE OR IMPORTATION OF THE DRUG Fol

FACTURE OR IMPORTATION OF THE DRUG FOR
SMOKING.
To he Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: More than one hundred thousand pounds
OF opium prepared which is polls
onous as the ordinary drug imported into our coun-
try yearly and there Is annual increase OF about
thirty thouand pounds very sad proof OF the extensive
growth of the opium vice among Americans Our Gov
eminent receives annually than half million OF
dollars duty article applied to vicious purpose.
and which proves unmitisatcd curse to the nation
that admits It.
How different this course is from that OF the Emperor
Tfou Kwang OF China, during whose reign the first
opium war with England was waeed. Nothing" said
he "shal induce he derive revenue from the vico
and misery Of my people" At the conclusion OF that
war; the English Minister urged the Chinese Commission
to lie gaize the importation Of the smoking 0piu ana
receive duty 1t, but they refused, saying I'VE Will
not put value riches and slight mems hVt@ III re-
qued and anot Ter Emperor on the throne
and that Emperor palace be TO and burned before
the first penny was received duty the destructive
and abhorred thing Sir Thomas Wade. who has been
the British Minister ut Picking during the last twelve
years and vanly endeayorcd TO get his Government
TO allow CHINA raise the duty the drug. If they will
not permit her exclude 1t, says 1t to me vain TO
think otherwise OF the OF the drug in China than US
habit many times penicious nationally speaking
than the gin and whiskcy drinking which We deploro
at home"
California Nevada ana New-York evidently consider
onium snoking "A more seductive and deadly vice than
imbibng inioxicants. for while they will not pass
prohibitory liquor law they have passed prohibltory
opiuln laws But outstanding the reprcssyc meas
ures IN these States and the frequent arrest OF opium
smokers IN Chicago ~. Louis Ncw-Orionns ana else
where there Is Increase Of several thousands year
in line amber OF those who become addicted 10 the fasc
mating and fatal habit Already more ihant"enty thou
sand white and women IN all classes OF society IN
thc United states opium smokers. and II Qua seem
that III no place Is there larger popOuonle increase
than In the city Washington. our Government has
been leyyine six times as much uu'y on tne snoAns
onirm the ordinary drug ana decided 10 increase
70 entirely from articles OF import OF OF
manufacture and vigorous agitation hhouu DC carried
president Arthur in his message to Congress, urged tho
enforcement OF the supuAti0ns OF inc he" CHIhese
,reaty prohibiting American citizens from Importing
opium into selling IL In China. thus TO attest the SIN
in the effort. OF the Chinese 10 stop that demOhng aud
destructive trade" THIS just and wise course Was re
oisd nnon with great unanmity by members OF tho
two houses OF Congress- But ID not the trade quite IS
Immoral in the United Statesand Will 1t nOf continued,
wort the same appalling rain here II has done In
CbIna shall We prevent American citizens from taking
| the drug to China, or dealing IN IL th'lo'
ana n, 1nen the Exceedingly no1ioas smoking sopum
here or engage in the ne'arous bdslness OF Keeping
oDiun "dens or "parorsi" Snail applaud the Chi-
nese Govern ment for endeavorng TO save the nation
from this curse aud then permit even steamer 10
| bring half "a million OF dollars worth 0i thls 50 nkns
opium and our Government To receive quarter ot u
million of dollars duty IT, done few days ago,
which we learned TINS stated that three million dollas
worth oi this drug TO be IN that city by July l.
| VII not the efforts Of The state Governments To
| suppreN the vice be almost in vain while we permit
snh an immense importation OF the baneiul stunt shall
continue to admit, IOf the NATURALIZATION Auu ue
sructlon OF our people that whlcI japan Orca ana
the sandwich Islands ridy exclude; which BRUSH
Burman and Aracan absolutely PiohIuitou untli tnuy
were conquered by ngnnd and which China fought two
wars with the latter keep oGtwars which Alr Glad
stone maintained AT the tne ana SUI maintains, were
the most Infamous history and have covered England
| with permanent disgrace. The enforced trant he de-
nnuncd ns atrocou and with dee feeling and the at
| most sadness he said tie pagan Is right and the
| Christian is wrong ~, - -
SIR Charles Forbes in summing mp tie evils OF the vile
trade land the opium smoking vice In Asia has said
| sFor fascinating seductveness, immeasuraDe agony
aud appalling ruin the world has yet TO See Its parallel
nLappily the history OF the last five OF six years shows
thst Americans yield readily To the fascinating and
fatal habit us Asatics, while the Nation Is strangely
apathetc concerning the great evils which are coming
non n from the spread OF this most sinister and ruinous
| vice. JUN idS"iNs'
| As6tu,y Park, n. j., July 16 1883.