The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-13

Ii Opened by China-The Government
Has Begun the Eradication OF THIS
Curse Of the East

tian" nations the opium dens of china
will probably soon be things Of the
past Within the last few months a
determined and partially successful
effort has been made by the authori-
tie TO wipe out Chins's greatest
curse In the native quarter OF
Shanghai the opium trade has been
entirely obliterated and similar cru
sade r. 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 wiped out.
Nearly all public smoking places IN
the great centers of population are be-
ing closed. It fs not expected mat the
smoking of opium will be stopped i'm
mediately. Confirmed and habitual
smokers will Be allowed to continue
the use of the drug under certain re-
strictions. The coming generation is
10 be saved from the degradation that
the foreign 0evfls" have wrought.
It is a significant fact that The awak-
ening of China should lead, as one o.
fts manifestations. TO the great ethi-
cal movement such as the anti-opium
crusade which has already be-
come. For China is rapidly awaken
ing its soldiers in the arts of modern
warfare and in the course of a few
years will probably be able to take itr
place, from a military standpoint.
among the great nations of the world
This does not necessarily involve wha:
is called the yellow peril" The
Chinese are not and probably never
Will be militant warlike' people AS
one prominent statesman expressed
it, China had its period of barbarism-
wAen it INDUCED in war, many thous-
andsT of years ago and has now passed
that stage: Some of these days, how
ever when the chinese army has bs-
come strong enough to cope with otb-
er nations, China is likely to have
a Boston tea party" of it's own, and
all the~opium will be dumped into the
sea.
When the opium regulations were is
sued from the throne at Pekin year
ago the white devils at Hong Kong
and other centers of European activt-
ty smiled cynicaTTy at what they term
ed the '"bIuff'' Of the old dowager en-
press. No one believed that the dras-
tic measures would or could be made
effective. Even the most reluctant
of the foreigners, who have steadfast-
" refused to believe that China Is
really endeavOring to uplift herself
are now aware that the opium traffic
is doomed The movement is steady
and spreading rapidly and the number
of anti-opilim societies is increasing
rapidly These organizations are COM
posed mainly of youngg men and stu
dents, and they cooperate with the
officials in every way possible. In
the face of such an awakened public
sentiment, ne European nation would
dare public1ys defend the opium traffic
in China. The day in which England
forced opium upon China with guns
and warshipssis 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 Pekin, Paoting
and Tfentsin3The regulations through
out the empire are enforced by the To-
cal magistrates, who are under orders
from the viceroys. Morphine injec-
&
opium making dens. Failure of magis-
trates to enforce the law involves Sc
we're penalties; and the Chinese pro-
hibitory laws thus actually prohibit.
1t is alleged that the British gov
ernment has consented to the order
prohibiting the opium trade and has
signed an agreement with the Pekin-
government to reduce the importa-
tion gradually until the entire trade
ceases at the end of nine years. *
provision is added, however, that #
China fails to entirely abolish the
opium habit within this period, the
Pekin government shall be fined equal
to three times the opium revenue it
collected annually for ten years be-
fore the reduction of opium imporra-
tions.
According. TO the rules issued by the
government. all opium smokers under
60 years of age must quit the habit
within the next three vars. All opirm
smokers must furnish their names and
addresses, the quantity they smoke
daily and other important particulars
Licenses are issued to such register
ed smokers to enable them to buy
daily supplies from the licensed opium
shops. Any dealer who sells to other
than a registered smoker forfeits bis
license and becomes subject to severe
penalty. Hospitals for the cure Of
the habit have been established in
MANY cities bv Chinese Dhi1anthrOpiStS