The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1905-03-18
OPIUM IN THE PHILIPPINES.
In Manila the Traffic Is Principally
in the Hands of Chinese
Merchants.

The Use of opium in the Philippines
has attracted the attention of the war
department 1t was considered OF
enough Importance that commission
was appointed, several months ago, to
Investigate the matter. Maj. Carter.
Bishop Brent and DR.. Albert were ap-
pointed Their visit included Japan,
China and Java, as well as the Philip
pines. But it is in the latter place that
we are chiefly interested.
1t is found that in the city of Manila
the opium traffic is mainly in the hands
of Chinese merchants. These merchants
keep their own secrets, and would tell
the commission nothing whatever about
the extent or the nature of the traffic.
Enough is known about it, however,
to know that the use Of opium as mar
cotic, both in smoking and as dope, is
rapidly spreading in the Philippines
Opium will soon be doing to this peculiar
people what it has done for China. The
worst form of degradation will be the re-
suit, and the commission urges prompt
action on the part of the government to
prevent it.
To the oriental people, especially
those who live in the tropical regions,
the use Of opium seems to have an ire
sistible fascination. AS soon as they
discover the effects Of opium they will
have it even if they are Obliged to go
without food to get it.
The masses in China have suffered
greatly from this miserable scourge,
which was instituted in cold-blooded
manner by the British traders. No
greater crime was ever committed in
the history of civilization than the crime
that England has committed in intro
ducing opium into China, and continu-
ing, even by the force Of arms, to sup
ply these unfortunate people with this
dreadful narcotic. Millions and millions
Of the Chinese, who are an industrious
and sober people, through their ac-
uuaintance with the British have been
ruined, soul and body, by the use Of
opium. The Chinese government i'm
plored and protested, but to no avail.
The English people were the stronger, 7
and they continued to keep up the un-
holy traffic. They debauched India by
poppies from which the
opium was made, and then debauched
creating amarket for the opium.
Thus this so-called Christian nation has.
With eyes wide open, outraged these
semi-civilized nations for purely COM
mercial purposes.
The same thing is going to happen IN
he Philippines, unless some prompt ac-
ion is taken.
The commission above referred to
several methods, but the
me they gave special preference was a
monopoly Of the trade. They suggested
hat our government institute an abso-
ute monopoly Of the opium trade in the
allowing the opium to be
old under the direct supervision Of the
officials.
This might work. We hope so. At
east. it would be better than the British
netkoi. It seems a pity that something
annot be done to save the multitudes
4 human beings swarming the Philip
line islands from the terrible fate OF
be opium habit Nothing on earth Sd
deranges and debauches q
erson as the habitual use Of opiurc. II
estroys the body, benumbs the irtel-
ct. and deranges the moral faculties
omDletely