Opium

William Randolph Hearst accepts opium from Arthur Brisbane and, while in a drug induced state, dreams of the state house in Albany, New York, and the White House in Washington, D.C.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Publisher William Randolph Hearst, the fabulously wealthy yellow journalist and Congressman from New York City, is depicted on the joss couch in an opium-induced fantasy. Supplied by Arthur Brisbane, his right-hand and chief editorial writer, he dreams of electoral vistas in Albany and Washington, D.C.

Theodore Roosevelt sends his thanks to Hamilton Kemp Wright for the reports and proceedings of the National Opium Conference and is glad to hear it was a success.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-27

President Roosevelt thanks Cheng Liang for the letter and returns his compliments to Cixi, Empress Dowager of China. Roosevelt wishes that he could speak to Liang in person about China, but now understands the reasons he is not returning to the United States. However, he is encouraged by Liang’s letter, especially regarding schools and the lessening of opium traffic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-06

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for some clippings he has sent, and says that he finds Sydney Brooks’ criticisms of American policy in the Philippines to be expected, but finds the current situation preferable to the British administration of Malaysia. Roosevelt also finds the distinctions drawn by The London Times between treatments of Japanese workers at the hands of Americans and Australians to “have a certain comic side.” Roosevelt cannot say what Secretary of War William H. Taft will do, but he hopes Taft will come directly home after traveling through Russia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-25

Hamilton Wright informs Theodore Roosevelt that one of his policies is coming to a successful conclusion, and that the International Opium Commission has been successful in calling for an International Opium Conference to be held at The Hague. He comments that Roosevelt “placed a very tough problem in my hands,” but now hopes that the question will soon be settled by international law. Wright sends a copy of the report of the commission under separate cover.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-08-03

Chinese Ambassador Cheng Liang expresses his government’s gratitude for the fair way President Roosevelt has dealt with the Imperial government. Empress Dowager Cixi directed Liang to thank Roosevelt for his work to lower the Chinese indemnity in the wake of the Boxer Rebellion, and spoke pleasantly of Alice Roosevelt Longworth’s visit to China. Liang also comments on developments in China in general, including the construction of schools, the fight against the opium trade, and the building of railroads, the last of these being the reason Liang was recalled from the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-18

In an opium den labeled “Bloody Shirt Joint – Blaine and Reid Managers,” James G. Blaine passes out pipes labeled “Tribune Editorials, Blaine’s Augusta Speech, Blaine Speeches, [and] Speeches” to fellow Republicans labeled “Chandler, J. Roach, Evarts, Cornell, Logan, Hoar, Foraker, J. Sherman, Brady, Dorsey, [and] Reid,” Unidentified is Elihu Root and the man dreaming of becoming the “Secy. of Navy.” They have resorted to opium as the panacea for their political woes and while in their drug-induced stupor they dream of Blaine’s ascendancy to the presidential throne and of themselves becoming members of Blaine’s cabinet.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1885-09-23

William H. Taft expects to secure Episcopal bishop of the Philippines Charles H. Brent on the opium committee. Taft requests an opinion as to whether the current civilian government can uphold a death sentence administered by former military government in a case involving Abdon Dumpay. Taft requests the arrest and return of Lewis C. Hamilton concerning falsification of a commercial document. Hamilton is visiting his brother in Texas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-25

William H. Taft defends the opium-farm system recommended by the Philippine Commission in response to an increase in opium smuggling due to high tariffs and increased opium use in the Philippines. Under the proposal, Filipinos would not be permitted to smoke opium, and Chinese in the Philippines would. Taft argues that the proposal will decrease opium usage and increase revenues. Taft suggests sending the study commission to Japan, Burma, Formosa, and Java to investigate various opium policies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-13