New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-09
OPIUM IN INDIA.

The report OF the Indian Opium Commission
can scarcely be called surprising. 1t merely con-
firms the opinions which most men well INFORMED
on the subject have long held; but which they
have seldom ventured to express. The nctlon OF
q contrary belief has been we'll maintained
world Of perfervid rhetoric has been expended III
nortraying the horrors Of the opium habit, ana
in denouncing the unspcakabe iniquity OF Great
Britain in not only tolerating but actually pro-
noting traffic I'm the drug. There are probably
not three topics OF the present day that nave
more often or more vigorously been harped upon
nv nbilanthropic agitators all over the globe NO
doubt these anti-opum propagandists were en-
tIrely sincere and unselhsh. 1t may be that some
Of them will refuse TO be convinced OK their mis-
take by the report Of the Commission. But the
general public will doubtless accept the report
os final and as removing the subject completely
from the domain Of political action to that OF
moral suosion-and TO the remoter borders Of
that.
The Commisslon-a body OF unquestioned aoi-
fly. mpar,iality and general fitness, by the way
had before 1t for investigation ana determiha-
tIon three questions. 10 wit: Whether the mod
crate use OF opium was Injurious to lhdlahs'
whether public opinion in India was hostile to It's
use, and whether prohibition or II was prac-
tlcable It's answer by vote OF to l. Is no
10 all three OF them. Whatever effect strong
Turkish opium may have upon the meat-eatihs
people OF America and Europe. the mild Indian
opium Is but slightly, II at all. injurious TO the
vegetarian IIndoos. Certainly II Is less ihJurr
Gus than alcohol; perhaps no more 80 than To-
bacco Its use is. az any rate. no more an e'ii
than the drinking Of light wines In Italy. or OF
pure beer In Bavaria. or course there are many
who hold those practices TO be great evils, des'
pcrately wicked But they am hardly prepared
10 demand International action for their suppress
sion.
Public opinion among the natives OF India IL
overwhelmingly in favor Of the continued Use or
opum This opinion is held not only by those
addicted to the habit, but by observers. such as
phvslclans and officers Of State, as well OPIUM
~ regarded by them indeed. ~ practical neces-
sltv The people need a sedailve. and opium sup
plies the need. And they regard II as incalcula-
hlv better 10 consume the mild aud soothing
weed than 10 pour down fiery and exciting alco-
hoI Pcrhaps total abstinence from all such
things Is best. But no nation seems lnclihci 10
practise IT, Certainly the whole Indian people
would rise IN fierce revolt against any attempt
10 prohibit the Use Of their favore drug. And II
would be n grotcsquely unreasonable perform
ancc for n nation OF alcohol tipplers or tobacco
users. or even OF tea and coffee drinkers 10 IN
terfere with no worse habit of their neighDors
This view OF the case has, of course, not the
slightest bearing upon the detestable over-in-
diligence in opium as practised in the sluins OF
orr cities. which Is wholly bad; nor upon such
melancholy examples as those Of Give De Quln-
coy and Colerdce Opium In India means no
such thing. 1t IS 10 be ranked in the same cate
CORY with the Italians wine, the Bavarlans beer.
the Establishments ale. and pretty much every
bodys tobacco. When these are abolished, 1t
may be, but not before