The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-12-24

WHEN the new treaty between China
and America was negotiated, the peculiar
and unexpected clause in regard TO the
opium trade was much criticised and almost
the universal opinion was that it presaged
some new move on the part of the Chinese
Government giving practical effect to those
theoretical objections to this traffic which
they have so long loudly professed. From
this conclusion those who knew most about
the opium trade and the manner in which
it is dealt with by Chinese officials dis
scented, and did not hesitate to say that there
was no honest intention on their part to re-
press the consumption of opium. 1t has
always been open to the Chinese Govern
ment, if sincerely DESTROYS to put an end to
the consumption of this drug which they
profess to consider so injurious to their sub
jects, to follow the example of this kingdom
and make the possession and use of opium
penal. A great deal of nonsense has been
talked about the Indian opium trade with
China being maintained by force of arms,
but the excuse for this has always been pro-
vided by China herself. AS the journal from
which the quotation published in our sup
plement says: "They are not sincerely
anxious to put down the habit of opium
smoking; they are Indifferent on hat point,
knowing very we'll that the harm done is
not serious, and that the people will have
the drug; but they are most profoundly
grieved to see SO much solid silver
going out of the country for a luxury
they would like to raise for them
selves; and herein is the secret of their op-
position to the import of opium from India"
Those, therefore, who were on the spot, and
| l,ror- fI,o ,r,ou We of Chinaca of4aiolIOn ohOCa
to be incredulous as to the honesty of these
professions on this subject, and were dis
posed to laugh at the American diplomatist
and statesmen who so magnanimously fore
swore on behalf of their fellow countrymen
n trade they never possessed or were likely
to possess, believing that, as it now turns
out, they were being made tools of by
the astute Ii and his colleagues.
What they were aiming at has at length
been made clear. The Grand Secretary Ii
has submitted to his Emperor and to the
British Government, a proposal, which, if
carried out, will give to the Chinese Govern
ment, and through it to the great officials
of the Empire, an entire monopoly of the
indian opium trade. Such al arrangement
offers many attractions to the British Indi-
an Government, and it is exceedingly prob
able that, IN spite OF many complicated de-
tails that will a to be adjusted, the offer
will be taken advantage of. If so, the ques-
ton as to what were the true motives OF
the Chinese Government in their opposi,
ton to the opium traffic will soon receive
an answer. To quote the words of an in
huential Anglo-Chinese newspaper. at
the Chinese Government succeed in carry
ing out their programme, it will afford q
test of their sincerity with regard to the
position they rave taken up from its first
introduction into China, Viz., that it is q
poisonous and injurious drug, seriously de-
trimental to their people, and it will thus
be in their power to cut off the supply alto
gether by a pecuniary sacrifice, far less
than that voluntarily undertaken by Eng
land in the emancipation of the slaves in
the West Indies.