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

take effective measures 70 enforce the laws
against the cultivation Of the poppy.
Now these assertions look very iOrcible IN black
and white, and u they were TO be taken literally
would, as they no doubt were intended to do, i'm
press tie English people with a sense OF the
dJubled-dyed yIllaIny Of the British Government,
and the deadly wrong wrought against a patient
and much-enduring Oriental state. But there
are two sides % every question, and the picture
painted by the dIsingenuOus Ii can be contrasted
with another which represents, perhaps m less
eaudy COLOR, the actual facts 10 connection
with the opium trade. There Is little doubt that
the NlcerJy u sincerely opposed % the opium
tufhc, but u u equally obvious that he has been
led into assertions that are not tenable. The
exaggerated -tyIe adopted by Chinese officials
10 formal Documents y veil understood by Euro
psaus iu China. WhJ know how little - meant
By these flowers Of language, but persons in the
United Kingdom reading this highly ~virtuous
letter will not know hJw great a discount must
be made from 10. They are not aware that the
language Of hyPerbOle j. tie common form IN
which mandarin memorials and proclamations
are written.
In his reply 70 SIR WIlfrid Lawson, in the
House % Commons, the Marquis Of Harrington
said this document contained assertions and
arguments that were open 70 grave question.
This was a mild Vay u putting IL, bnt the truth
- that several Of the statements are utterly
opposed % fact. The Government Of Pekiug
hare sought % make q profit out Of foreign
opium, since they are responsible for the acts Of
their officers their ruling motive has not been the
repression Of the opium trade and they have con-
nIved at the extensive, tile very extensive, growth
Of the drug 10 many parts Of the Empire. Even
according o the estimates Of the INSPECTOR
General OF Customs, who cannot be accused for
y moment Of wishing 70 exaggerate 10, the pro-
dLcfiOg Of me HafIUe drug IS egt al 10 the import
Of foreign opium. The Imperial Government
have certainly issued edicts against the ~cultiya-
ton. but these edicts have rarely been enforced
IN eny district and at the present moment the
production Of opium in China is larger than it
has ever been IN the history Of the country.
The import Of Foreign opium has been consider
ably affected by this large supply OF native drug,
a. will be seen when we mention that the total
import in the year 1880 was 1928 piculs as
compared with 1922 piculs in 1879. The fall
ing-OG was most conspicuous IN these ports
! nearest the producing districts, and at New
chwang the import was only half that Of the
previous year. Indeed, some Of the native opium
figured among the exports from Ne~wchwang.
And vet while the officials tax and buy and
smoke the homegrown drug. the Viceroy OF
garded as approving the cultivation. We cannot
believe in the honesty or the sincerity Of the pro-
fessiOns Of the Chinese Government concerning
the opium trade. They are not sincerely anxious
to put down the habit Of opIum-smOking they
are Indifferent on that point, knowing very well
that the harm done is not serious and that the
people will have the drug; but they are mos
profoundly grieyed to see so much solid silSel
going out Of the country for a luxury which they
would like to raise for the0selves. And hereir
is the secret Of their opposition to the import o.
opium from India.-ChiHG Overland Trad
Report.