The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1905-02-16

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 It 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 II is in the latter place that
we are chiefly interested.
II 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 IL known about Il, however,
10 know that the use OF opium as a.nar-
cotIc. both in smoking and as dope, is
rapidly spreading in the Philippines.
Opium will soon be doing 70 this peculiar
people what Il has done for China. The
worst form Of degradation viii 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
slstible fascination As soon as they
discover tho effects Of opium they will
have II even II they are obliged 70 60
without food to get 1t.
The masses in China have suffered
greatly from this miserable seourge.
which was instituted in a 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 or 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-
quaintance 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.
and they continued TO keep up the un-
holy traffic They debauched India by
cultivating poppies from which the
opium was made. and then debauched
Chinain creating market for the opium.
Thus this so-called Christian nation has.
with eyes wide open. outraged these
semi-civiiized nations for purely COM
mercial purposes.
The same thing Is going to happen in
the Philippines. unless some prompt ac-
tion Is taken.
The commission above referred 10
recommended several methods. but the
one they gave special preference was a
monopoly Of the trade. They suggested
that our government institute an abso-
lutte monopoly OF the opium trade in the
Philippines. allowing the opium to be
sold under the direct supervision,of the
government officials
This might work We hope so. Al
least. il would be better than the British
method. 1t seems a pity that something
cannot be done to save the multitudes
Of human beings swarming the Philip
pine islands from the terrible fate OF
the opium habit Nothing on earth so
completely deranges and debauches a
person as the hahitual use of opium. II
destroys the body. henumbs the intel
iect and derauges the moral faculties
completel,,