The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-10-02
THE OPIUM QUESTION.

IUE UTlUW vuCottUNs
EDITOR BULLETIN: Through your
courtesy l was permitted. a few
weeks since, to express in your
columns, my opinion relative to the
great evils which would result from
the passage of the "Opium Bill'
which is aCthe present time, brought
so prominently before this country.
Again | would ask the privilege of
saying few words, and of citing a
few of the highest authorities ON the
subject of the moral and physical
effects of this drug. 1t is in no
spirit OF mere argument or partisan
feeling that do this, but because |
realize so deeply and earnestly the
terrible results which would flow
from so fatally retrogressive step.
1t is no light thing to cast votes in
favor of that which will be physi-
cal curse to large portion OF our
community and be stumbling block
in the way of their moral advance
ment. May the Legislators of this
Kingdom realize the solemnity of
their trust and and act as true men,
supporters of right and friends of
humanity! Few in this Kingdom,
share, ! would hope, the Indifference
expressed in this mornings issue of
the .Atveytiser, as to the effect of
"free opium" upon the Chinese.
If this drug is an injury, a poison
to one race, then is it to all, to the
Hawaiian, the Chinese, the Japanese,
the Anglo-SaXon, the Portuguese--to
all within our borders. AS to the
effects of opium IN general, here is
the testimony of Sir. Benjamin
Brodie backed up by twenty
four of the greatest medical
authorities of England. "However
valuable opium may be when en-
ployed as an article of medicine it is
impossible for any one who is ac-
quainted with the subject to doubt
that the habitual use of it produces
the most pernicious consequences,
rendering the individuaf who in
dulges in it worse than useless
member of society. l cannot but
regard those who promote the use
of opium as an article of luxury as
inflicting the most serious injury
upon the human race" The Adver-
tiSer speaks of opium as necessary
to the health and comfort of China
men," This is what Sir Thomas
Wade, "whose long residence in
China, whose attainments in the
language, and whose official position
at Peking, ehtitIe him to conf.
dence," says: cit is to me vain tc
think otherwise of the use of the
drug in China than as of habi,
many times more pernicious, natur.
ally speaking, than the gin and
whiskey drinking which we deplore
at home. 1t takes possession more
insidiously and keeps its hold as
tenaciously. know of no case O.
RADICAL cure. it has issued in ever,
case within my knowledge, in thu
steady descent, moral and physical
of the smoker, and is SO far create
mischief than drink" DIR. S. Well
Williams, whose middle kingdom, ;
: is the standard work on China ant
the Chinese, says: "The testimon,
regarding the evil effect of the us
t of this pernicious drug, which de
, serves better to be called an 'arti
Gle of destruction than an 'articl
7 of luxury are so unanimous tina
: few can be found to stand up strongl
! in its favor" Again, Rev. b. c
e Henry, the author of the work entitle
l "The cross and the Dragon" whic
5 has recently appeared and whic
treats especially of affairs in tn
a Kwong-Tung Province, from whic
all the Chinese in the Hawaiia
/, Islands come, Says, "It (the opiul
e habit) saps mans physic,
e vitality, 1t stupefies his intellect
destroys his moral sensiblities, an
: ruins his manhood entirely"
G might cite large number of sim
: larly emphatic statements, but ther
e are certainly sufficient to show ho
e deadly curse is the vice whic
e springs from the use of opinion. Ii
stead of removing restrictions, Il
s every effort be made to keep out S
far as possible this drug from III
!, Kingdom. In the name of our con
+ mon humanity, of the blessed rel
: gion of Him who taught the worl
y the meaning Of universal brothe
e hood, let us strive to reach out
It helping hand to, not lay ours
/: upon, anv member of the huma
e family.
e Very truly Yours,
e +. w. DAMON.