The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-03-03
my. Independent.1
The New Commercial Treaty with China
BY s. L. BALDWIN, d. D.

At our earnest request, China con-
sents that we may limit the immigra-
ton of her subjects to the United
States. What does she ask in return
for this concession? We can only
gather the answer to this question by
examining the new commercial treaty;
and, in doing this, the feature that
strikes at once all intelligent minds is
the absolute prohibition Of the opium
traffic to all American citizens in
China.
We ask to shut out Chinese labor
ers. Does China ask to shut out
American laborers? No. Or Amer
lean merchants, who seek to accumu-
late wealth, to be spent or invested in
the United States? No. Or Ameri-
can steamers, that have driven so
many Chinese junks off of the coast?
No. She asks our help to shut out an
accursed drug, that is running her peo-
pie! And one of these nations is
Christian, and the other heather. Is
there not imminent danger of our
making mistake in the classification,
unless we ''go behind" the facts that
are apparent on the face of the treat
les?
But this seems to US like one of the
most striking illustrations afforded i'll
our day Of the Lords way of bring
ing good out of evil" True, this
treaty, if ratified, only prohibits amer
ican citizens from engaging in the
opium traffic. The trade is still open
to other nationalities But it is a
great thing to get the whole moral
force Of the American nation on the
side of the abolition Of this iniquitous
traffic. The Anglo-Oriental Society
for the suppression Of the opium trade
ought to make the ratification Of this
treaty a.signal for the rallying Of all
the opponents Of the traffic through
out Great Britain What is needed is
that the Christian conscience of Eng
land should be thoroughly aroused on
this subject; for there is such thing
as Christian conscience in England,
and when it is thoroughly awakened
and united it becomes an irresistible
power in the political action of the
nation. The whole history of the OPT
um traffic is such as to cause us to
blush for the Christian name. The
production of opium under the auspi-
ces of the East India Company and the
persistent and systematic smuggling
of the drug into China, through long
series Of years; the various conflicts
with the native authorities growing
out of this contraband trade, during
which the Christian smugglers were
reminded by their heathen remon-
strants that "the gods will carry fair
traders over the ocean in safety, but
over contraband smugglers the wrath
of men and gods is suspended" the
fruitless efforts of the Emperor Tao
Kwang, himself reclaimed opium
smoker, to save his country from the
curse; the confscation and destruc-
ton Of 10000 chests Of the drug in
the harbor Of Canton; the war that
followed, at the end Of which the Chi
nese W ere willing to surrender Hong
Kong to the British and pay for the
confscated opium, but still would not
legalize the traffic; Commissioner Lin's
words of remonstrance to Queen Vic
toria-"To seek ones own advantage
by other mems injury is abhorrent to
the nature Of man and utterly oppos-
ed to the ways of Heaven" the dec
laration of Tao-Kwang-''It is true |
cannot prevent the introduction Of the
| flowing poison; gain-seeking and cor
rupt men will, for profit and sensual
! ty., defeat my wishes; but nothing VIII
induce me to derive a revenue from
the vice and misery of my Deooie:"
the subsequent difficulties; another
war; the final legalization Of the traf-
fc in 1850; the British Government
producing the drag as a monopoly III
India. selling it at public sale month";
ly in Calcutta, stimulating the trade,
to increase the Indian revenue; and
England taking from China. during
the last century, eight hundred mill
}oies Of dollars for opium!-all these
facts cover with irrevocable disgrace
the Christian name.
American merchants will be slow to
perceive any reason why they should
be debarred from participation in the
profits Of a traffic in which English
men and Germans may freely engage;
but those who are bent ON doing it will
doubtless, enter as partners in firms OF
other nationalities. One noble Amer
lean firm held out, through it's whole
history in China, against any partici-
patton In the traffic IN any form. /