New-York tribune., 1901-01-11
SUFFERERS FROM INTOYICANTS
WEST COAST OF AFRICA DESCRIBED BY
MISSIONARY AS ONE LONG GRAVE
YARD-REsULT OF LIQUOR TRAFFIC.

The Liquor and Opium Traffic in Asia and Az
rlca was the subject of a speech by Miss NJ. W.
Leltch' OF Ceyon, at the daily prayer meeting of
the Ladies Christian Union. in the Broadway Tab
crnacle. yesterday The last century's missionary
effort in China, she said. had won less than one
hundred thousand converts. while hundred years
OF commercial connection between Europe and
China had resulted in less than twenty million
Chinese opium smokers and a hundred million Der
sons, at the least, who suffer from the opium
or some near relative. She thought the greatest
sin of the nineteenth century the forcing of
the opium and liquor traffics upon the native
races-the child of the world. China and
Africa, she said. have been the greatest sufferers
The whole West Coast of Africa is described by
missionaries of experience long barroom
and one long graveyard. in which less than
two million African savages die every year as the
result directly indirectly of the liquor traffic
Liquor and opium, sent by Christian countries.
the greatest hindrances with which missionaries
meet Christian voters. because they have the
power to effectively protest the polls and fail to
DO So are responsible for the continuance the evil
Ihree great steps for the removal of the evil have
congress last month will effect for good 10OO00OOO
of seventeen great nations for the pnTnos of pro
teCnS against intoXicants the immense section of
africa @AIrlca lying between 20 degrees north and % de-
grees south latitude and east and west from ocean
enployed TO this end is the raising the tax on i'm
ported liquors to a sum thought to be prohibitive
President Mckinley. in which he expressed not only
hlS i approvai OF this treaty but also wish that
civilized peoples. especially in the Western Pa
cifc. Mention also made of the treaty of
1890. by which large section of Africa practically
the Congo Free State, is protected against slavery.
firearms and intOXicants.
Other important steps the speaker said. yet
main to be taken. The first is protect the ma
tives of the NeW-HebrideS and other islands not
der the proteCtorate of any civilized government
This is in accordance with the plea of the
BILE DR. John G. Patton, of the w-Hebrides. Two
bills before Congress-One for the protec-
ton of all nations in the Pacific islands, and the
other forbidding all merchants under the author
ity Of this Government to sell firearms opium and
intoXicants to natives.
Miss Leitch closed by saying that every one who
that these child shall be protected like
the Indians in Indian Territory and the native
races of Alaska, help the cause by unremit
ting prayer and by petitions. resolutions and let
ters to Senators and Representatives.
Ii Bi Gu, a young Chinese girl. student at the
Folts Mission Institute. in Herkmer, y. Y, made
a brief address.
We are looking" she said Ito see New
China from which the old evil customs of the
old China shall have been blotted out" Miss Ii
wore Chinese costume the upper and the lower
dresses of which of black broadcloth. trimmed
In simple, but effective manner. with gold braid
Mrs James r. Colgate presided. Others present
who took part in the meeting were Mrs. Margaret
Bottome, Mrs, William 3. SddmOre. Miss Allen
president of the Folts Mission Institute, and Mrs
Samuel 5. Thorne.