Alaska sentinel., 1907-07-11

opium induced stupor which the coun- try has been trying to throw off at intervals for more than a century. It was in 1865 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 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 beeD eradicated.
 It is with the government officials themselves that the Chinese govern ment will start All worshipful off cials, princes, dukes, yiceroys and Tar tar generals have been ordered to pledge their word to the imperial gov ernment that they are willing to aban- don the use of the drug, directly or in- directly, within a 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 ruining their lives if the prop were 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 w-.ll 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- tions 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 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- tions of the most stringent kind. It 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 of the task which China has undertaken. Kow- shing, for instance. Chinese city with a population about as large as that of Cambridge, consumes every day about $1,OOO worth of opium. The av- craze wages of labOrer are from 5 to 10 cents day. Every man, woman and child in the old walled town spends . cent day on opium. It ls all equiya- lent to a laborer earning g a day spending more than fifty cents day.
 The wealthy families in many dis tricts spend more proportionately than the poor. It is related that boy in a 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 leyeler of China.
 Legend of the Poppy Plant.
 The poppi plant has been known to man from time immemoriaL It 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 quan- titles, and the Chinese government en- outraged home production. By the mid dle of the seventeenth century the use