Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-04-19

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try has been trying to throw off at
intervals for more than a century. 1t
was in 1906 that the Emperor Kia King
ordered that the severest penalties
should be inflicted on all who smoked,
ate, cultivated or dealt in opium. A
short time ago definite news came from
Pekin that the Chinese government had
decided not only to abolish the opium
traffic and habit, absolutely, within the
next twenty years, but had made public
the means by which the much-needed
reform Is to be brought about, regard
less Of the financial burdens the refor-
nation may entail.
What was not possible 100 years ago,
or even sixty years ago, on account of
the national and international morals
of the periods, probably every govern
ment in the world would gladly see
realized to-day.
The most promising feature of the
campaign against the opium habit is
the attitude Of the press of China, and
Of the better elements generally. There
does not seem to be a single protest
against the philanthropic scheme Of
the government. A healthful tone is
noticed in most influential quarters.
For some time persons in China have
been speaking with contempt of the
government officials addicted to the use
Of the drug. The best object lesson
shown to China for years is the for
eign-drilled army, from which the
opium habit has been eradicated.
1t is with the government officials
themselves that the Chinese govern
ment will start. All worshipful Off
Gals, princes, dukes, viceroys and Tar
tar generals have been ordered to
pledge their word to the imperial gov
eminent that they are willing to aban-
don the use of the drug, directly Or in
directly, within stipulated time.
Opium users aged more than 60 years
to be treated .leniently, as it is recog-
nized by the government that the habit
is a prop for many Of them, that it
would be equivalent to running their
lives if the prop We're snatched away.
Old officials will be allowed to try the
"tapering off system Of reform.
If the younger men are so prone to
the habit that they will be unable to
do their work during the renaissance
era, they will be allowed to substitute
| others for their duties temporarily.
Shops dealing in opium and Opium
dens must close their doors finally with
in six months. Confirmed opium fiends
must be given their medicinal prescrip-
lions gratuitously, so that there will
be no financial returns for dealers. All
persons, government officers or not,
under three-score, must decrease their
consumption of opium 20 per cent ev
cry year, beginning Immediately. No
poppy is to be cultivated after ten
years.
The acreage now under cultivation is
to be decreased 10 per cent every year,
and, of course, no new land is to be
cultivated in the poppy plant. Viola
| tion of the rules as to acreage will
be taken by the government as cause
for contiscation Of the fields. The
amount raised and consumed is to be
registered; only registered persons are
to be allowed to obtain the drug, and
no person must begin the habit.
Altogether there are eleven regula
tons of the most stringent kind. 1t
has been said that, in a way, they are
the most important ever issued for the
control of the internal life Of the en-
pire. The edict is already in force. The
country is stirring in it's sleep.
Figures show with only too mwch
plainness the magnitude Of the task
which China has undertaken. Kow-
shing. for instance, a Chinese city
with a population about as large as
that of Cambridge, consumes every day
about $1,000 worth Of opium. The av-
erage wages of a laborer are from 5
to 10 cents day. Every man, woman
and child in the old walled town spends
a cent day on opium. 1t is all equiva-
lent to a laborer earning 81 day
spending more than fifty cents day.
The wealthy families in many dis
tricts spend more proportionately than
| the DOOR, 1t is related that boy in
rich family is allowed a dollar day
for the drug. The millionaires have
their splendid opium parlors and the
women and children acquire the habit.
The product of the poppy plant is the
great leveler of China.
Legend of the Poppy Plant.
The poppl plant has been known to
man from time immemorial. 1t did not
make its appearance in the flora of
China until about the eighth century of
the Christian era. But the beginning
of the fifteenth century, opium began
to be introduced in considerable guam
titles, and the Chinese government en-
couraged home production. By the mid
| die of the seventeenth century the use
of the drug was widespread.
The origin of opium has been told in
4 nAyN rpnlI