The Elbert County tribune., 1912-01-05

nrst the movement simply had as Its object
the banishment of opium from China. nut
gradually the scope of the antioplum mis-
sionary work" expanded until 1t embraced the
whole world-eyery section of the globe where
the use of opium has become habit-and
finally within the past few months the fight
against the evil has been expanded in scope
until 1t embraces prohibitive or restrictive
action not only against opium. but also against
morphine cocaine. and. in short all habit
forming drugs.
The fight against the opium evil, with Un-
Gle Sam as the chief AGGRESSION. has been
going on steadily for some years past but 1t
is only now on the eve Of complete success
that 1t has come to attract attention from all
classes of the community From the time
when Chinese began to settle in the United
States, bringing with them many OF them.
their; love of opium smoking 1t was realized
that the evil one the menace of which
would sooner later be brought home to our
people-particularly those residing on the Pa
cifc slope and In the western section of the
country where the bulk Of the Mongolians
settled. s-r''-'7-- 7~s'7777
However 1t was only after Uncle Sam came
into possession of the Philippines. following
the Spanish American war. that our public
men and government officials we're thoroughly
aroused to the necessity of graphing with the
problem. In the Philippines our people found
great numbers of Chinese who were confirmed
opium smokers, and. worse yet. they were
rapidly teaching the destructive habit to the
natives of the islands. There was much agi-
tation OF the subject both in the Philippines
and here in the United States and the up
shot of the matter that the congress Of
the United States passed laws prohibiting the
Importation of opium into the Philippines
except for medicinal purposes. From that mo-
ment there was a marked Improvement Of
conditions.
The example of Uncle Sans action and the
rnpfot xyh irh alto cd
China to her own need and gave hope of a
solution The progressive men of China were
deeply moved by the spectacle of another
tion land one that had always been tradi-
tionally friendly to China) combating at the
very doors Of the Orient with an evil that
realized by all thinking men to be sap
ping the life blood of large share OF Asa's
population. The result was a strong anti
opium movement In China and out of this
grew a direct appeal TO then President Rooce-
welt from representatives of missionary
cieties in the Far East and from, commercial
organizations and institutions in the United
States. 1t Was the plea Of these various In
terests that the United States government
considering Its historical attitude In regard to
the opium traffic In the Orient, should take
the initiative In assisting China to secure the
prohibition of that traffic .a..s;ss..
This was IN the year 1s04 but 1t was
couple of years later that definite plans were
made for an international concert of action
in the matter. In that year Bishop Charles
H. Brent of the Philippines. who was. natur-
ally, IN a position to appreciate the havoc
wrought by opium. wrote to President Roose-
welt appealing to him ito promote some move
ment that would gather in its embrace repre-
.sentatives from all the countries where the
traffic in and the use of opium is matter OF
moment" Thereupon President Roosevelt
had his secretary of state Mr.. ElIhu Root
open up corresbondence with all the powers