The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-11
CHARGE ENGLAND WITH
MOST HE|NOUS CRIME
British Government Trial for Growth OF Atrocious
Opium Habit-Mions of Slaves of the Drug Made
by Her-kevenue from Traffic Supports
Colonial Army.

Shanghai, Chin, Feb 1lN-- Before
the representatives OF the world pow
ers OF Occident and Orient together
with representatives from the drug
cursed isles OF remote Oceania, con-
sttuting the international Opium
Comm ssiCn, which Is in session in
this city England. the mother of the
atrccious opium traffic, is standing
trial, charged with one of the most
he'nOus crimes ever perpetrated
against humanity.
eliminating the great moral equa
tion involved in this world move
mcnt to free millions Cl slaves frcm
the drug habit, through the prohibi-
tlOn OF the expectation or importa-
tion OF opium except FOR medicinal
purposes. political possibilities at
tend the findings of the commission,
which are holding the attention OF
the cabinets OF those powers with
Far Eastern interests.
The responsibility for the intro
duction Of the drug to China and
the extension of It's vicious influ.
ence over the subject peoples OF the
East, is chaEgeable to England and
the determined members ,of the
world court new in session, have in
d'cated their intention OF demand
ing expiation of the offense, though
Il threatens the dismemDerment of
Bri,ain's Eastern empire.
That the surrender OF England to
the demand for opium prohibition
under pressure from the other pow
ers, which are practically committed
to giving official aid IN carrying out
the recommendations OF the COM
mission, will develop an immediate
crisis I'm turbulent India, is az
knowledged TO be inevitable.
"A brief reference to the his ory
of the opium traflice, in view Of the
desperate position England occu-
pies today, just'hes the belief in
the law OF al Innate compensation.
I'm 1884, Commissioner Lin of the
Chinese government destroyed an
enormous quantity of opium stored
in Canton and an imperial edict
was issued concurrenuy prohibiting
the importation OF the drug
The destroyed opium had been inn
ported from India. England real'Z-
ing that the heavy export tax col
lected in India on the drug would be
lost TO her colonial treasury II the
edlct was made operative. charged
China with destroying the property OF
English citizens, and dispatched a
military and naval force against the
helpless empire.
AT the conclusion or the war thus
inauguiated China was forced ia
pay an indemnity of s270O0,0O0 and
to give official sanction 20 The i'm
portat'o OF opium from India and
finally to cede Hongkong to the Eng
lish
At this time there was not a pop'
py plant In China, not until Eng
land had made drug herds OF mil.
lions of the Chinese, was the cultiya
tion OF the plan undertaken in China
In 1879, the export tax collected
on opium IN India amounted to 800,
Oc0OlO annually and today over $780,
100000 is pouring into the colonia
treasury from the same source
This stupendous sum pays the en-
tire expanse OF maintaining the
British garrlsons IN india, and a large
part Of the administrative expenses
of the colony.
The prohibition Of the OPIUM traf
fc would wipe out practically this
entire revenue with no other source
of revenue available.
Any attempt to levy taxes OF
the restless millions OF India, al
ready facing starvation, II Is admit
ted by the colonial officials, woulC
result in immediate insurrection
The present condition OF Eng
lands finances prohibits the garrl
sons and administrative expenses
being met by the nome govern
ment, The same condition obtains
in Hongkong, where practically al
the governmental expense is met from
the revenues derived from the unholy
opium farms leased to Chinese by the
British government
The present session OF the opium
commission Is a martial fulGllmeni