Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-10

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 6.-The pub
wv lie burning OF 1900 chests of opium
w in Shanghai few days ago does not
indicate that Chinese opium question Is
lnally settled, either for China for the
world. 1t Goes signify that China is sincere
in her protest tiOns against the opium evil
and that the sentiment of the people in the
matter of drugs is becoming strong enough
to force corrupt ofhcialdom to recognize
it's wishes.
China, whose life and progress have so
long been hampered by the scarlet poppy,
is realizing the Seriousness of the national
vice and has risen in rebellion against gov
eminent so willing to betray its people for
a sum of money For centuries the Chinese
people have struggled against the opium evil
first agains the institution of opium smok-
ing, and later, when the vice had spread across
the empire, against its supremacy To the
symbol-Ioving Chinese the ceremonious burn
ing of the opium, which so nearly caused
their government to break international
pledges of faith, is a sign that the national
honor remains untarnished and that mighty
stumbling block has been removed from their
path. Their view of the imp )rtance of the
destroyed opium is not exaggerated.
The story of the 1900 chests of opium did
not start when the drug suddenly appeared
in the hands of the Chinese government last
summer. 1t is easily traced back ten years
to the day when Great Britain agreed to de-
crease gradually the vast amount OF opium
being imported into China from the Indian
colonies, until at the end of ten years no more
Indian opium would be marketed in China.
In return for this aid in overcoming the ma
tiOnal vice, China promised to cease growing
the poppy.
So important did China consider it that
her part of the bargain be kept that heavy
penalties were attached to the growing of the
poppy plant. Indeed, during the presidency
of Yuan Shi Kai an offender was beheaded
for the breach of national faith. So fairly
did China keep to the terms that England
shortened the ten years set for the eradicat-
ing the importation of opium to seven years
to the extreme gratitude of the Chinese peo-
pie. During this time China not only was rid
ding herself of the opium vice, but was gain
ing the respect of other nations who realized
the enormous task of breaking up nation
wide drug habit.
Unfortunately, a great amount of opium
1900 chest-remained in Shanghai after
the agreement term expired This stock val
ued at S14,000,000 wa; the property OF
group of Jewish merchants under British
Jurisdiction. 1t is said that a bride OF sew
eral million dollars was offered by these mer
chants to the government for longer time to
sell out their stock, but this offer the govern
ment Internationally refused.
For three or four years this opium was
kept stored away. Then the merchants took
advantage of the worlds distraction in war,
and political chaos in China, intensified by
corrupt government officials. To these easily
influenced politicians the opium was offered,
and they, thinking it could be sold at great
profit, accepted it.
AS soon as the deal became known, pro-
tests from all parts of the country were sent
to the government, which ignored them and
concluded the contract. When word reached
the United States and Great Britain, notes
from them also were sent asking that the
Chinese government retract. At first, the
government remained firm in its decision,
stating that the drug was to be used for medi-
cine, an explanation which was everywhere