The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-02-13

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! Annoy, China, February with
the development of civilization along
western lines the isolated province
OF Eukien is rapidly undergoing Inn
portant changes. II may soon be
| imagined that chunk has been
! taken cut of New England or some
ether farming region Of the United
! States and laid down in China for
there are increasing evidences that
| fields once wholly devoted to the
poppy will be turned over TO potatoes
and corn. Progress has put its foot
down on the opium business. Out
side of China there are probably few
persons who realize how great
blow this action has dealt as a means
of sustenance TO province whose
resources were already overtaXed to
maintain its crowded population.
Opium has always brought gcOl
price in local markets and formed an
! important source of the farmers rev
enue. II is small wonder that cant
/ paigns against the drug have met
with armed resistance.
Opium Will BE Destroyed.
Sporadic and reckless destruction
|
with such suddenness that farmers
were not conscious that the govern
ment was in earnest until they saw
their entire seasons work lost This
year new method is to be tried.
Instead Of waiting until the plants
are grown and then destroying the
crop, the government has served
notice. that nil opium plants will be-
destroyed as soon as they appear in
the field. In many Instances the
summary destruction of the crop last
year caused riot and hloodshed, but
the notices this year seem 10 be-
convincing farmers that the govern.
ment means business. and tho de-
struction Of the young plants already
underway has not caused the strife
which resulted last year. The new
policy is meeting with the approval
OF the farmers, and once they sec
that they must give up the poppy
they are turning to indigo, pOtatocs
and corn.
New Spirit Of Freedom.
Another change a little less tangi-
bic. but none the less marked Is
the new spirit OF freedom. During
the volution Fukiennse men and
money were not lacking to do the
provinces part in the overthrow OF
The hated Manchu government. But.
that accomplished, trusting that n
clean government would be Organized
by e.. patriots who were clamor-
ing for control, the people OF Fukien
settled down to business. and the
general desire has been for peace
and quiet. There are always lawless
bands wandering about the country
back OF Annoy and FOochow. Their
numbers vary with local conditions,
an unfavorablc crop reducing the
country people almost TO starvation
and augmcntiIg the number of out
laws. II was such band which re-.
Gently pilIagcd village near Chau-
an in the southern part Of the prov
ince. and was reported to have de-
stroycd the American mission chapel
there. While the mission chapel wGs
unframed, the pillaging illustrates
the difficulties with which the local
populacc must contend. In the Hingh-
WI district about so miles from
Foochow, the city OF Tehwa has been
the scene OF fresh disturbances and,
fc- the time being, no foreigners
are allowed 10 travel there
from Saturdays Daily.