Peking, March 5.
Distressing conditions prevail in Fukien, where civil government is practically at an end, and the unfortunate people are at the mercy of the rapacious soldiers. interesting information has reached the international Anti-Opium Association from Yungtai to the following effect "Not only is the army forcing the planting of the poppy in every way possible but now it is encouraging the sale and smoking of opium. Twenty cents an ounce tax on crude opium gives the owner the protection of the army in selling. For dives a licence of per lamp per month also gives protection and a neat little sum to the army. Lotteries and gamble ing are all the rage. To run the former only $5 a month tax is charged, to run a gambling table $2 per day is paid. The people-are in despair and ready to give up the attempt even to be decent.
"Meanwhile extortion on a scale never attempted by bandits nor the southern army is daily being forced upon this poor people. The heavy poppy tax is only one among a score of taxes being ruthlessly assessed and collected by the army at the point of the bayonet. Civil Government is practically at an end. Everything is done by soldiers in uniform. Men from 50 to 80 years of age are being dragged from their homes and held up for all they can be forced to pay by torture.
The officers have thrown all decency to the winds. Several of those who would respectable have plainly said they would resign if they could. Most of them join in the merry game of catching these old men and farmers who have a little laid aside, and torturing them until they hand it over.
"They constantly threaten to turn the soldiers loose to loot unless their demands are met. It could of course be made even worse by burning and looting."
A letter from a correspondent at aes shows that the South is as have just returned from a long tour through Kienning and Tsining counties and find that representatives of the. southern army have been all through that region enforcing the planting of poppy seeds. They sell the seeds, under penalty of severe punishment, §3 an ounce and than say that when the blossoms appear they will also appear and collect $80 for each ounce of seeds which they sold. The farmer may then dispose of the opium as best he can.
"Furthermore they are opening gambling booths from which they collect a tax. And in many other ways they are stripping the people of what little they now possess.
"Wo hope that some pressure may be brought upon the proper authorities to put a stop to this ugly business. At present there is very little open brigandage,. but the drainage caused by the parasitic soldiers is as bad as brigands."
Ose Brian Spor.
The Peking Government has proved that its writ runs in some parts. of Fukien. The International \nti-Opium Association, Peking, has just learned that in response to the vigorous efforts of Mr. G.
Hanson, American Consul at Foochow, a powerful protest was addressed by the Central Government to the Foochow authorities against their enforcement of opium cultivation upon the people. A de-puly was sent to Yungtai. Be sum-matily dismissed all the officials and abrogated the opium and other taxes which had been illegally levied. Naturally, the district is rejoicing, and is grateful to the Consul for his firm action.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.