The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-08-01

stopping the trade, and the celebrated d
Chinese official, Lin was sent to Can
ton with orders to require the sur.
render and destruction Of all opium,
whether 10 the hands of what were
called "Hong" merchants or Chinese
merchants. Az a further measure OF
prevention Lin established blockade
of Canton by Chinese forces and
batteries. Dispute arose with Mr.
Charles Elliott, representing the
British merchants. Collision occur.
red between the natives and British
seamen, and although the Chinese
government showed considerable
desire to avert hostilities, no satisfac.
tory arrangements could be reached
for the suppression of the opium
trade
Finally. 10 1910. the British began
active hostilities Canton was captured. .
but admitted to ransom by Elliot.
whose clemenoy led to bis recall and
tho appointment Of Sir Henry Poltin.
ger to conduct the war 10 bis stead.
The great Yangtzs river was asceuded ,
the oi,y Of Cin.Kisug Flu, the port OF
Nsokiu, was taken by storm after
desperate resistance and appalling
destruction Of life, thousands of the
Manohu ard Tartar soldiers committing
suicide after killing their wives aud
children, rather than surrender. Every.
thing was 10 readiness for q similar
assault upon Nankio, when the Chinese
made overtures for peace, which was
concluded upon the payment by Chine
OF au indemnity for all the opium
cOn6sca.ed and destroyed. all the losses
of British merchants aud expenses OF
ibe British crown, the opening of the
6ve ports. thereafter known as the
"trea'y ports." TO British trade and the
cession to Great Britain Of the island Of
Hong Kong.
Reduced to plain words." says an
Eoglish hitto'ian. "ths principle for
which We fought in the China war was
the right Of Great Britain to force q
peculiar trade upon foreign people 10
spite Of the protestatious of the govern.
ment ard ell such public opioiou as
there Was Of the nation. We
asserted. or at least acted on the asser.
sion. OF claim 90 unreasonable and
even monstrous that it never could
have been made upon any nation strong
enough to render it's assertion . matter
OF serious responsibility" After ex-
planning the machinery BY which the
opium trade Was carried on and refer
riog to Lord Palmsrstou's defeuse 10
parliament Of Eogiaud's participation
10 the Infamous traffic, the same writer
proceeds
Let us 6ud sn illustration Ineligible
to readers Of tho present day to show
bow upjusti6sble was this practice.
The State Of Maine. ss everyone knows,
prohibits The common sale Of spirituous
liquors. Let US suppose that several
companies of Eoglish merchants we're
formed 10 Portland and Augusta aud
other towns Of Maine for the purpose
Of brewing beer and distilling whlskey
aud selling both to tie people Of Maine
10 defiance of State laws. Let us for.
Ebcr suppose that when the authorities
OF Maine proceeded to put the State
laws 10 force against these iotruders our
govsromeut hero took up the cause Of
the whistey sellers and sent 40 iron
Glad Ass. to Portland to compel the
people OF Maine to put up With them.
10 the case Of such a patton as the
United States nothing Of the kind
would be possible. But in dealing
With Chioa the ministry never seems TO
have tbcught the right or wrong Of
the question a matter worthy Of any
This. be it remembered. was the
eoteriug wedge, The door Of China
was violently forced open by England
in order tha. the profitable but inIs,no Gus
opium traffic might 6od free entrance
Who will say that England is act
responsible for more than the blood.
shed 10 the Opium war"-tbe souls
and bodies Of millions of human beings
ruined by the opium habit, Il at least
suggests that 10 dealiog with western
ciSiliz,tion China, il siuniug. has also
bean erievously sinued against 1t
may DO that i, hardly become Us to
hrOw stones at Eogland on account
Of tho opium traffic. when today iu the
Philippines. in Cuba aud Puerto Rico,
under the kindly protection Of Presi-
deo, Mckin'cy and his administration,
the liquor trade, always 'hc drs, to
follow the asg." is slayiog i,s