The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-06-29
TEMPERANCE AND OPIUM.

TEMPERANCE AND OPIUM.
The az rival Of cargo of opium at San
francisco the other day, valued at sooO,Ooo,
has be en- attracting attention to and exci'-
ing comment upon matter that has here
toicre been allowed by the press to call
70 nth but little Of its criticism. We REFER
Of course, to the heavy and growing con-
sumption of opium in this country. Inc
arrival of this cargo attracted special atten-
ton from the tact that just previously the
raids upon the Chinese dens in New YORK
city, and in one or two other large cities, had
disclosed most frightful prevalence ofthe
opium habit and the horrible sacrifice OF
morals which the qualification Of the habit
was gr adually bringing about, The reVeia'
tions made by the police in the cities re-
erred to were terrible to contemplate. IL
seems that in these populous centers thou
sands daily visit these dens Tor
the purpose Of smoking ana
eating opium, and whie
under the influence OF the drowsy drug
commit the most bestial and shocking
crimes. But the evil does not stop there.
There is not town even in the United
States Of any consequence whatever where
the use of opium as habit or stimulant
is not INDUCED. Physicians and druggists
everywhere declare that any community
would be astounded at the revelations they
could make with reference to the free and
extensive use Of this drug by people whom
frequently their acquaintance imagine are
the very patterns of temperance and pro-
priety. The worst reflection about the whole
matter is the fact that the opium habit is
steadily and alarmingly on the increase
throughout the whole OF the United States.
When we stop to contemplate the ravages
Of this drug, the fearful wreck of mind and
body 80 completely and quickly wrought.
the death.like grip it fastens upon its poor
victim and the utter ruin Of the moral
nature it produces, we can begin family
to appreciate the danger which is menac-
ing us as people. The importation OF the
drug is constantly growing, as our CONNER
cial statistics show, and every increase in
the quantity brought into this country is
an increase OF the horrible and costly habit
is an addition to the category of human
wrecks. One of the worst features con-
nected with the matter is the secresy with
which the use of the poison is carried on
The whisky habit, not near so deadly OF
thoroughly destructive in its ravages, ii
yet open and seen of all men, and natur
ally, therefore, attracts more public atten
ton. The world may pity the wretchet
man upon whom has been fastened tn
miserable distinction of "drunkard," an,
yet within his home fail to see the presenc
Of demon that has rendered that home
den and driven the owner into the streets
In nearly every community there is cor
tlrmed Opium-eater for every drunkard
aud the pace Of the one poison keeps tim
with the other. All the efforts of the ten
psrance advocates, all the fights of tn
prohibitionists, are directed and limited
however, to the suppression of the liquo
traffic, to the reclamation Of whisky drunk
ards. 1t Is time temperance was bein
rged Ia other directions, time that II
champions were taking a broader view {
the evils which they have undertaken
stop. II they can reach and check thi
opium vice and its attendant evils the
will accomplish as much as If they ha
run whisky entirely out of Il o country
The field Is 90 broad, the harvest is so pier
teous, that the wonder Is that these goo
people Of the land, who have taken such a
interest in temperance reform, have 80 lon
neglected to notice 1t, have suffered it /
grow to such proportions. As the supply Q
the poison comes from abroad chiefly, pro
hibition II desired would be matter c
comparatively easy accomplishment. Iii
is not desired to 60 thus far in the premises
the regulation Of the traffic in opium an
its sale in the drug stores throughout tn
United States so as to coniine the use Of
purely to medical purposes would be nc
only feasible but easier OF Accomplishment
than the proper regulation of the liqut
traffic, both by the federt
: and the various state govern
ments. The subject, under the circun
stances, is certainly of as great importanc
, and worthy of as much attention from cit
zens and governments as whisky both
view Of the present disastrous uses
which the drug is put and the possible an
indeed threatening ravages to be apr
hended for the no distant future. Viii
y the subject Of prohibitory legislation an
:, temperance reform therefore is attractir
such widespread attention and advocat
We would suggest that equally as gre
= care and interest be directed to the CORE
I ton and prevention Of the further growt
i Of the opium habit throughout our cou