The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-12-03
GEllna BE itas
AT O Opium

II. 4 -, - - ~ - - -
IpENs WILL Isl ON RE THING or
PAST s. C HIN a HAS 3si 4
i :33}3i h Err WA Y
HONG ING; Dec z. Despite tho
protests 8ot the Christian nations,
the opium dens Of China viii proba.
bly, soon be things of the past With
in the last few months a determined
and partially successful effort has
been made By the authorities to wipe
out. Chlna's greatest curse. In; th4
native quarter Of Shanghai the opium
trade has been entirely obliterated and
a similar crusade is now being waged
In Canton and other great cities
throughout the empire. The opium
trade, introduced In the empire of the
dragon as the result OF the cupidity
OF Occidental traders, is slowly being
wiiied out. Nearly all public smok.
Ing places In the great centers OF pop
ulation are being closed. It Is not
expected that! the smoking Of opium
will be stopped Immediately. Con.
formed and habi,tial smokers will be
licensed aud Will be allowed to con.
tinue the use of the drug under Ger.
tain restrictions. The coming genera.
tion is to be saved from the degrade
ton that the foreign devils" have
wrought.
1t is a significant fact that the
awakening Of China should lead. as
one OF the first manifestations, to the
great ethical movement such as the
anti-oplum crusade has already be.
come. For China is rapidly awakening
from It's long slumber. II Is training
its soldiers In the arts OF modern war-
faro md In the course OF a few years
will probably be able to take its place,
from n military standpoint, among the
great nations OF the world. This does
not necessarily involve what is calle,l
the yellow jeril." The Chinese are
not and probably never will be mil.
liant warlike people. AS one promi-
nept statesman expressed It, China
had Its period OF barbarism, when 1t
INDUCED in war. many thousands Of
years ago and has now passed that
stage. Some Of these days, however,
when the Chinese army has become
strong enough to cope with other ma.
lions. China Is likely to have Dos
ten tea party" of its own, and all the
opium will be dumped into the sea.
When the opium regulations were
issued from thethrone at Picking 4
year ago the white devils" at Hong
Kong and other centers Of European
activity smiled cynically at what they
termed the "bluff" of the old dowager
empress. No one believed that the
drastic measures would or could be
made effective. Even the most re-
luctant of the foreigners, who have
steadily refused to believe that China
Is really endeayoring to uplift herself,
are now aware the the opium traffic Is
doomed. The movement Is steady anil
spreading rapidly and the number OF
anti.oplum societies Is increasing rap
Idly. These organizations are COM
posed mainly Of young men and stu
dents, and they cooperate with the Of.
tlclals In every way possible. In the
face OF such an awakened public SEN
timent. no European nation would dare
publicly defend the opium traffic in
China. The day in which England
forced opium upon China with guns
and warsh|ps Is past.
Although the imperial decree allow
ed nine years of grace before totally
prohibiting the sale or use of opium,
practical prohibition already exists in
many cities, including Picking. Paoting
and Tientsln. The regulations through.
out the empire ore enforced by the 10.
cal magistrates, who are under orders
from the vicerops. Morphla Injection
houses are prohibited, MS we'll rs OF.
ium smoking dens. Failure OF magis.
trates to lntorce the law involves Sc.
we're penalties, and the Chinese pro.
hibitory laws thus actually prohibit. \
1t Is alleged that the British gov
eminent has consented to the order
prohibiting the opium trade and has
signed an agreement with the Picking
government to reduce the importation
gradually until the entire trade censes
ut The end Of nine years. A provision
is added, however, TINT II China falls
ii entirely abolish the opium habit
within this period. the Pelsing govern.
ment shall be fined M amount equal