Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-12-28
oProsrrroN 10 THE .orIrM rRAF.
N.1t TO The great curse Of AnericI

NEXT to the great curse Of American
slavery. now happily ended forever. the
Opium trsfic instituted BY English
men with the Chinese Empire, has en-
tailed moro suffering than any other.
For many years. philanthropists have
struggled TO put an snd TO this dsbasing
and soul destroying traffic, but thus far
without success. We are glad to know
that its morality Is a ource Of growing
intsrsst In England. and that an. Anti
Opium Association. instituted and de-
signed for the express purpose Of put
ting an end 70 II, not only already ex-
lists in England. but il rapidly increasing
in infusnes and numerical strength. At
apublic meeting recently held in Lon
don. and presided over BY Hon. Mr..
MseArthur. Of the English House Of
Commons, there was much plain speak
ing. and the chief address delivered.
gave q minute account Of the production
and sale Of this narcotic to the celes-
tials. Al many are aware. all the
opium imported into China with
very little exception Is produced in
the East Indies. II was forcibly intro
duesd into the Chinese Empire in 1853.
BY the treaty Of Tisni-sin, and its use
has been increasing from year to year
since that time. The Chinese author
tiles have in vain protested against the
iniquitous treaty. and no longer ago
than 1871. the East India Parliamentary
Report contained q Chinese dispatch APP
psaling 10 the justice Of the English
Government to relieve them from their
treaty obligation in this respect. Il
complained that this drug wa destroy
ing the country. and that the laws
against the native grown opium cannot
Be enforced on account Of the import
alton VI the Indian article. According
to the facts given in the address refer
red to. there are two opium producing
regions In India. One is in
the native States. On this opium which
IL shipped from Bombay the Govern
mont simply lsvies q tax, which in some
years amounts to over c.. oOO. 900. The
British opium is grown in Bengal. and
Is q government monopoly. About 10
twsntisth Of the crop is sold in India.
The great bulk Of IL il packed for the
China market. and sold by agovernment
oficial ct auction in Calcutta. The
profits Of the sale average 300 per cent.
ON the cost Of production. In the
year ending March, 1872. 1886
chests Of Bengal opium were sold at
Calcutta for export, and . 1925 chests
were shipped from Bombay. The net
opium revenue for that yoar was e7.-
csc. 900. The speaker compared the
raising OF Government opium TO a sup
posed parallel case Of the United States
distilling whisky TO sell to the North
American Indians. In tho discussion
which followed the address, a Chinaman
testified to the deterioration Of the Chin
sss since the introduction Of opium. At
the close Of the meeting . resolution was
passed dsnouncing the course OF the
Government, and plsdging all present to
tho support Of the Anti Opium Associa-
ton. A confirmation Of the foregoing
recount Is derived from the correspond
sncs Of . missionary physician at Hang
chow. China, which has appeared in the
Medical Missionary Journal, published in
Edinburgh. So great is the sagernsss Of
opium smokers to Be cured that the hos
pital cannot contain the numbers who
apply for admission. Over $50 have
been discharged a cured, but tho ma
jority Of them soon relapse.