Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-04-24


first of all, an awakening from the
opium induced stupor which the coun-
try has been trying to throw off at
Intervals for more than century. 1t |
was in 1905 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 bel single protest
against the phllanthropfc 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 1t is recog-
nized by the government that the habit
Is prop for many Of Them that 1t
would be equivalent to running their
lives II the prop were snatched away.
Old officials will he allowed to try the
"tapering Off system Of reform.
II 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 iends
must be given their medicinal prescrlp-
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 ey-
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
| ton of the rules as to acreage will
be taken by the government as cause
for confiscation 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-
lions Of the most stringent kind. 1t
has been said that, In 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 Its sleep.
Figures show with only too much
| plainness the magnitude ofSthe 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 {
to 10 cents a day. Every man, woman
and child in the old walled town spends
cent a day on opium. 1t is all equiva
lent to laborer earning So day
spending more than fifty cents day
The wealthy families in many dis
tricts spend more proportionately thar
the poor. 1t is related that boy in {
rich family is allowed dollar day
for the drug. The milllonaires hayi
their splendid opium parlors, and thu
women and children acquire the habit
The product of the poppy plant is TIN
great leyeler Of China.
Legend of the Poppy Plant.
The poppl plant has been known t,
man from time lmmemorial. 1t did no
make It's appearance in the fora o
China until about the eighth century. o
the Christian era. But the beginning
of the fifteenth century, opium begal
to be introduced in considerable quan
titles, and the Chinese government en-
couraged home production. By the mid
l