The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-02-18
OPIUM IN TIE PHILIPPINES.
In Manila the Traffic Is Principally
in the Hands OF Chinese
Merchants
The use of opium in the Philippines

The use Of opium in the PHILIPPINES
has attracted the attention Of the war
department. It was considered OF
enough importance that a commission
was appointed, several months ago, to
investigate the matter. Maj. Carter,
Bishop Brent and Dr.. Albert were APP
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 OF the nature Of the traffic
Enough is known about it, however,
to know that the use of opium as mar
eotic. 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 opiura seems to have an ire
sistib1e 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 a cold-b1ooded
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 contfnu-
ing, even by the force Of arms. to sup
ply these unfortunate people with this
dreadful narcotic. Millions and millions
and sober people. through their ae-
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 thesstrongef,
ard they continued TO keep up the IN
holy traffic. They de5auched India by
cu1tivating topples from which the
| opium was made, and then debauche0
| China in creating a market for the opium.
| Thus this so-ealled Christian nation has,
| with eyes wide open, outraged these
semi-civilizad nations for purely COM
mercial purposes
The same thing is goingto happen in
the Philippines, unless some prompt &C
| ton is taken.
The commission above referred to
recommended severa! methods, but the
one they gave special preference was a
monopoly of the trade. They suggested
that our gov eminent 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. At
least, it would be better Than the British
method It seems a pitythat something
cannot be done to save the multitudes
OF human beings swarning the Philip
pine islands from theferrible fate OF
the opium habit. Noting on earth SO
completely deranges aad debauehas a
person as the habitualflse of opium. II
destroys the body, bounds the INTEL
Ilsct. and Geranges tie moral faculties
/ completely.