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 LIBRARY A. B. C. F. M. 
 
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 REPLY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 K’EUEN KEAE SHAY 
 
 AN ASSOCIATION OF CHINESE INHABITANTS OF THE 
 CITY AND PEOYINCE OF CANTON, FOR THE PRO- 
 MOTION OF ABSTINENCE FROM OPIUM, 
 
 TO THE 
 
 Address of the Anglo-Oriental Society for the Suppression 
 of the Opium Trade. 
 
 EonUoii : 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE ANGLO-ORIENTAL SOCIETY FOR THE 
 SUPPRESSION OF THE OPIUM TRaDE, 
 
 8, BUCKINGHAM STREET, STRAND, W.U. 
 
 1877. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The K’euen Iyeae Shay is an Association of Chinese gentlemen belonging 
 to the city and neighbourhood of Canton, recently formed to 'promote total 
 abstinence from Opium, and to advocate its prohibition by government. 
 The names of nearly a hundred of the members are appended to their 
 Petition to the Viceroy: — T’ong Tak-tsun, a native of Nan-hai, district 
 magistrate of Kin Shan , and assistant in the Yamen of the Prefecture of 
 Cliik-tai, in Kiang Su province ; Au-yeung Kai, a native of San Shui, 
 district magistrate of Ting Yau, in Kiang Su province, who formerly held 
 the office of district magistrate of Tung-T’oi ; T’am Eai-kun, a native of 
 Ko Iu, district magistrate of Noi-Kong, in Sz-chuen province ; formerly a 
 brevet sub-prefect ; To Ch’ifan, a native of San Shui, a graduate ranked 
 in the first class, waiting for the appointment of district magistrate ; Au- 
 yeung-ming , a native of San Shui, chief secretary to the Salt-tax Com- 
 missioners of Kiang -nan province, and others. 
 
 Besides petitioning the high officials to suppress the use of Opium, this 
 Association has bestirred itself vigorously to arouse the people to action 
 against the vice. The various publications they have issued make a good- 
 sized volume. The paper of which we noiv issue a faithful translation by 
 the Pev. John Chalmers, 31. A. , of the London Missionary Society, is the 
 response of this Chinese Association to an Address to the Chinese pieople 
 which was sent to China by the Anglo- Oriental Society for the Suppression 
 of the Opium Trade in 1875 , and widely distributed there. The formers 
 of the Anglo- Oriental Society kneio that in China public opinion is opposed 
 to Opium, and that the despatch of Prince King and his colleagues to the 
 British Ambassador in Peking, in 1869 , fairly expressed that opinion. 
 This despatch said — “ That Opium is like a deadly poison, that it is most 
 injurious to mankind, and a most serious provocative of ill-feeling, is, the 
 icriters think, perfectly well knoion to his Excellency, and it is therefore 
 needless for them to enlarge further on these points. The Prince and his 
 colleagues are quite aware that the Opium Trade has long been condemned 
 by England as a nation; and that the right-minded merchant scorns to 
 have to do ivitli it. But the officials and people of this empire, toho cannot 
 be so completely informed on the subject, all say that England trades in 
 Opium because she desires to work China’s ruin, for ( say they ) if the 
 friendly feelings of England are genuine, since it is open to her to produce 
 and trade in everything else, would she still insist on spreading the poison 
 of this hurtful thing through the empire?” The Prince is evidently in- 
 capable of understanding to how large an extent English people knoio 
 not that an Opium trade exists. In order to convince the Chinese that 
 there are people here who have an honest desire to deal righteously with 
 them, the Address to the Chinese people was issued, and this is the result. 
 The Reply has been published in Chinese in Canton, and copies of the origi- 
 nal have been sent to us ivith the translation, ivhich tve are requested to 
 publish in this country. The Reply is sufficiently intelligible by itself, 
 but to satisfy those who may wish to read it, we reprint our Address as an 
 Appendix. 
 
Reply of the K’etjen Keae Shay, a Chinese Association 
 for the Promotion of Abstinence from Opium, to 
 the Address of the Anglo-Oriental Society for the 
 Suppression of the Opium Trade. 
 
 [Translated from the Chinese.] 
 
 It was in the autumn of last year (1876) that we, the members of Receipt of 
 
 , , , , . the English 
 
 this humble Association, first . saw the Address to which we now Address, 
 publish a reply. We then learnt for the first time that you, good 
 gentlemen of Great Britain, had formed yourselves into a Society in 
 London initiating a righteous movement to do away with the Opium 
 Trade ; that is, to remove a great evil, and promote good-will with 
 a neighbouring nation. Moreover, you had addressed a letter to us 
 in order that all might be duly sensible of the magnitude of the 
 ■wrong done, and that China and the West might unite their 
 strength for its extinction. Gentlemen, we look up to you with a 
 profound sense of your lofty justice and magnanimity, exceeding 
 what we ever expected to see. After this Address came under our 
 notice, we read it again and again, with sentiments of gratitude and 
 admiration; and we felt, as we never felt before, that the better 
 instincts of humanity are the same all the world over, and that 
 nature prompts men to pity and to save their neighbours in our 
 own time as much as in the days of old. God, of a truth, has 
 made us all with one common sense of right and wrong, without 
 distinction of this nation or that. 
 
 The Address says, “ The gentry and people in every place should 
 make their feelings known.” And again, it says, “ They should 
 send their publications to our Society,” or “ to the Missionaries, that 
 they may be translated into English, &c.” blow China has had no 
 lack of writers on the evils of opium. Indeed, the number of pub- 
 lications on this Subject is beyond all computation ; only they 
 have not been sent to your honoured country, and therefore there 
 is a general ignorance there of the true state of things, and state- 
 ments are continually made to the effect that opium is useful 
 instead of hurtful. Moreover having never themselves witnessed 
 how China suffers, and honestly desires to save herself from ruin, 
 the honourable Houses of Parliament are divided in their delibera- 
 tions, and the wrong cannot be righted. We are beyond measure 
 grieved at this state of things, and therefore take this opportunity 
 of giving the needed information to all your countrymen who have 
 the fear of Heaven and the love of men in their hearts. 
 
4 
 
 Opium 
 
 squanders 
 
 wealth. 
 
 Interrupts 
 
 industry. 
 
 (I . — The Effects of Opium.') 
 
 No words of ours can fully set forth the injury done hy opium. 
 We can only refer to some of the most obvious effects of the flowing 
 poison. 1. It squanders wealth. 2. It interrupts industry. 3. 
 It destroys life. 4. It cramps talent. 5. It disorganizes govern- 
 ment. 6. It enfeebles the defenders of the country. 7. It loosens 
 the bonds of society. 8. It corrupts the morals of the people. 
 
 1 . In the reign of Kien-lung, when opium came first into China, 
 somewhat over 1000 chests, at $600 per chest, were annually 
 imported. But from that time the number of smokers daily 
 increased, and the sales became larger and larger ; so that in the 
 time of Kia-k’ing and Tau-kwang, the quantity had grown to 20,000 
 or 30,000 chests • in the time of Hienfung and Tungchi, it was as 
 much as 70,000 or 80,000 chests, and at present it cannot he far 
 short of 100,000. Beckoning a chest at $600, the drain of money 
 for this quantity of opium amounts to a sum-total of over 
 $50,000,000 annually. This refers only to what comes from India. 
 The native cultivation reaches still higher figures. So that the 
 annual expenditure in China for opium is more than a hundred 
 millions of dollars ; excluding the apparatus for smoking it. With 
 the one exception of rice and grain, there is no commodity in our 
 country on which more is spent than this. It is a waste of 
 money. 
 
 2. Our ancient kings appointed the four lawful callings — scholar, 
 husbandman, labourer, and merchant — with the intention that there 
 should he no unemployed vagrants, and that diligence and economy 
 should be the rule alike in the family and in the state. But in 
 these modern times, while the farmers indeed are industrious, and 
 rarely smoke opium, those of the other professions in large num- 
 bers go hand in hand into the delusive snare. One or two in ten 
 are confirmed smokers, three or four are addicted to it at times, 
 and five or six occasionally indulge. There is not one in a hundred 
 that never smokes. If a person has fallen to the lowest depth to 
 which opium can drag him down, he will do nothing else hut smoke 
 from month to month, and from year to year ; and even if he is not 
 entangled by it to the full extent, he will only do work hy fits and 
 starts, being rendered indifferent and lazy thereby. The conse- 
 quence is that the learning of scholars is shallow, the products of 
 labour are bad, and the outlook of the trader is all for the present 
 moment, without regard to remoter consequences. In extreme 
 cases they begin to sleep at daylight, and wake up at sundown. 
 There they are prostrate on their beds, living for no purpose in 
 the world, and content to be useless, every one of them. It interrupts 
 industry. 
 
3. Although it is true that men have their appointed time to Destroys 
 live, yet they may by their own act cut it short, and, whilst the 
 
 use of opium at first acts upon the nerves and produces a sense of 
 elevation, which tempts a return to it from day to day, it yet in 
 the long-run, when the appetite is confirmed, results in lassitude, 
 constipation, indigestion, and leanness. When the body, thus 
 emaciated,, is attacked by disease, it is doubly difficult to cure. 
 Medicine, even taken in excessive doses, will have no effect. And 
 the springs of life being thus gradually impaired, life cannot hut he 
 shortened. Moreover, the vital stamina of the parent being already 
 reduced to the lowest degree, the child must of necessity be weak 
 and short-lived, or, if it survives, hard to bring up. Thus the evil 
 diffuses itself without end. Just imagine, when in China at the 
 present time some tens of millions have the habitual craving for 
 opium, and their children also have to he reckoned as affected 
 more or less by it, what a shortening of human life there must be ! 
 
 And the people of China are to go on in this way being enfeebled 
 more and more in succeeding generations ! Add to all this the innu- 
 merable cases in which opium is swallowed for self-destruction, year 
 by year. Thus it destroys life. 
 
 4. Before opium came into China, of course there was poverty cramps 
 and hardship enough ; hut although the poor had to toil, the hum- talent - 
 hie scholar could he clothed and fed among them, so that he could 
 
 give his mind entirely to study. Thus a supply of cultivated talent 
 was kept up to meet the demands of the family and the state. But 
 now there are untold numbers of those young men, who might be 
 turned to good account, gadding idly about ; for it is not the men 
 of no ability w r ho are first besotted by opium ; but, as a rule, the 
 clever men. The usual way is for a man of rare gifts, of whom his 
 friends say, “He rvill one day fill a responsible situation, and render 
 service to his sovereign and country,” when he meets with any little 
 disappointment, to resort to the opium-pipe as a solace. This 
 being repeated till the habit is confirmed, he henceforth loved 
 relaxation and hates work. In this way the high-mettled steed is 
 reduced to a hack. The man’s rare abilities are clean gone. Thus 
 the affairs of the nation go to ruin. Opium cramps talent. 
 
 5. The affairs of the nation are apportioned out by the Imperial Disor- 
 Government to different officers, who are placed at the head of Govem- 
 departments. But it is impossible for them to administer these meilt - 
 several departments without the help of subordinates. These sub- 
 ordinates, for the most part, smoke opium, and when their means 
 
 fall short they have no help but to resort to deception and extor- 
 tion to replenish their purses. Therefore every one of the higher 
 officials is imposed upon and befooled by his subordinates ; and 
 every family in the country suffers from this canker. One more 
 
6 
 
 Enfeebles 
 the army. 
 
 Loosens the 
 bonds of 
 society. 
 
 Corrupts the 
 morals of 
 the people. 
 
 opium-smoker in a yamen means one more extortioner and em- 
 bezzler. If the use of opium is not stopped, public-serving and 
 law-abiding men will cease from the land ; and neither inside nor 
 outside of the yamens will a single effort be made, amid the general 
 infatuation caused by the drug, to rescue public affairs from ruin. 
 It disorganizes government. 
 
 6. The common soldiers are like the hands and feet of the officers. 
 The men must be strong and brave, else they are useless to guard a 
 country. But when they once become smokers of opium, their 
 allowances are riot sufficient to meet their daily wants, nor is their 
 strength sufficient to face the enemy. So, when there is nothing 
 to be done, they are given up to gambling and dissipation, living 
 upon their wits ; and when there is occasion for them, their hearts 
 quail and their courage fails them, and they refuse to advance. To 
 say nothing of fighting a pitched battle with an enemy, if they are 
 required even to hunt up a smuggler or a thief, they will shrink 
 back in utter incompetency. Since the imperial soldiers, main- 
 tained at the expense of the nation, have become thus all but use- 
 less, every able general, in order to distinguish himself by merito- 
 rious service, has had either to raise volunteers, or to employ his 
 own clansmen. If, then, while we are at the expense of supporting 
 an army for thousands of days, we cannot get one morning’s effective 
 service out of them, it is no wonder if disturbances are rife every- 
 where on all our frontiers. Opium enfeebles our soldiery. 
 
 7. China has ever regarded the doctrine of human relationships 
 as the very marrow of education. Even the most menial and com- 
 mon man among us will not lightly abandon his duty to his prince 
 or his father, or break through the restraints imposed by these 
 relationships. But when once a man is deluded by opium, his 
 affections are no more bestowed upon those who have the natural 
 claim to them, but upon the opium-couch alone. Is he a minister ? 
 he knows no more that he has a prince to serve ; — he only knows his 
 opium. Is he a son 1 he knows no more that he has a father to 
 honour ] — he only knows his opium. Is he a brother, or a husband, 
 or a friend 1 he knows no more brother, wife, or friend ; — he only 
 knows his opium. He becomes obstinately deluded, and for the rest 
 of his life, having lost natural affection, his best counsellors are his 
 worst foes, and his own house becomes like an enemy’s country. 
 Parents and brothers give up all hope of him, and he is their daily 
 grief ; while his wife and children are left to weep and starve with 
 unexpressed indignation in their hearts. Thus the social obliga- 
 tions are clean swept away by opium. It loosens the bonds of 
 society. 
 
 8. As long as men have something honest to rely upon, they do 
 not wish to practise imposition so as to bring themselves into disgrace 
 
7 
 
 and incur the odium of their fellow-men. The ancients told us riu 
 lie when they said that in order to exalt propriety and righteous- 
 ness there must first he a sufficiency of food and raiment. But 
 for the overflowing population of China, the annual products of the 
 earth are barely sufficient to meet the daily wants, and if we add to 
 the natural difficulties of getting a living the opium pipe that robs 
 poor people of their means, they must run short of daily food. The 
 consequence is that the opium-smoker, as his funds get lower and 
 lower, is thrown more and more hack upon his mental resources. 
 Knowing well that, with his enervated body, he cannot work for a 
 living, he devises hundreds of cunning schemes, and makes his live- 
 lihood by a system of swindling. Whatever will profit himself to the 
 injury of other people, no matter how much violence it may do to 
 the Divine law and the human conscience, he will do without a 
 scruple. From Kienlung until now scarcely a hundred years have 
 elapsed, hut the deterioration of common morality has been inces- 
 sant during all that period. In out-of-the-way places where com- 
 paratively few smoke, the virtue of former times is still not gone 
 entirely, but in cities and marts of trade, where smoking is more 
 prevalent, the corruption of morality is notorious. Human affairs 
 are hastening on to one consummation of falsehood and hypocrisy, 
 and there is no turning them hack. Opium corrupts the morals of 
 the people. 
 
 The above is a true and unadorned statement of facts. Every- 
 thing we have said can be substantiated if need be. If we are 
 told to let things go on as they are going, then there is no remedy 
 and no salvation for China ; and, as we think of it in the stillness 
 of night, well may our tears flow down unhidden, and our voices 
 sink to sobs. Oh, it makes the blood run cold ! And we want, 
 in this our extremity, to ask the question of High Heaven, what 
 unknown crime or atrocity the Chinese people have committed 
 beyond all others, that they are doomed to suffer thus 1 To quote 
 from one of our countrymen writing on this subject : — “ From 
 the creation of heaven and earth until now, throughout all the 
 great continents of the world, nothing has been found to compare 
 with opium as a tremendous and persistent means of destruction, a 
 torture and a poison to mankind. The burying alive of 400,000 
 men at Changp’ing, 1 and the great inundation, which lasted for a 
 full generation, come short of this.” Oh, men of England, is it not 
 far worse than it is represented to be in your Address ? 
 
 The Chinese, whenever they speak of the different for ms of 
 human degradation, are sure to mention these four : — lascivious- 
 
 1 A terrible massacre of the army of Chao, one of the kingdoms into which 
 China was then divided, by the King of Tsin, b.c. 260. By the great inun- 
 dation, a Chinese tradition of the deluge is perhaps referred to. 
 
 The evil is 
 
 beyond 
 
 description. 
 
 Opium 
 nmoking 
 the worst of 
 vices. 
 
8 
 
 ness, gambling, drinking, and smoking. The words are but too 
 familiar even to women and children. But, though the four are 
 placed on a par, speaking calmly and impartially, smoking, that is 
 opium-smoking, must be confessed to be the deepest degradation of 
 all. As for the first, it is common to all nations more or less ; at 
 least, China has no monopoly of it. Gambling, again, though 
 excessive among us, may be stopped at once, and has been stopped 
 partially ; and drinking in China is rather more moderate than in 
 foreign lands. But here opium-smoking takes possession of men 
 like a familiar demon which cannot be driven out. China alone 
 suffers from it, and as she has all the scath, so she gets all the 
 scorn. In China if any one has a grudge against another, he can 
 think of no better way of revenge than to tempt some of his enemy’s 
 relatives to smoke opium. 
 
 From the above statement some of the evil effects of opium may 
 be imagined ; but it is a pity that England is so many thousand 
 miles away, so that you cannot see the emaciated and forlorn aspect 
 of the smokers, or hear the wail of reproach that conies from their 
 wives and children ; and you know neither the degrading thoughts 
 that fill their breasts, nor the outward misery that they endure. 
 Could your countrymen but be made to hear, and see, and feel it 
 all, they would, one and all, gnash their teeth in indignation, and 
 long to bring it to a speedy end. 
 
 (II . — Replies to Apologies for the Trade.') 
 
 The medici- Again the Address says, “At first both English and Chinese 
 
 opinm tin- merchants bought and sold the drug (as medicine), only seeing 
 
 China! m the golden profit, and not the evil consequences.” But al- 
 though there is reason in this, and opium is a valuable medicine 
 in many complaints, as pains, coughs, diarrhoea, vomiting, and the 
 like, yet this use of it has only been made in foreign countries, 
 never in China. "With the exception of its use for smoking, the 
 Chinese know nothing whatever of its medicinal qualities, or what 
 virtue it has. Look through the thousands of Chinese medical 
 books, and you will find that opium is never named in any pre- 
 scription ; search thousands of Chinese drug-shops, and you will 
 find that not one of them sells opium ; ask thousands of Chinese 
 doctors, and they will all tell you they never use opium for healing 
 purposes. For these hundred years that it has been coming into 
 the country, who has ever received benefit from it 1 There are not 
 a few of your countrymen engaged in business in China, let them 
 institute an inquiry, and they will find it as we say. If it were 
 indeed true that there is a mixture of good and bad effects, it might 
 be left to individuals to choose between them ; but seeing that no 
 
9 
 
 benefit is derived from it, but barm only, bow can those wbo from 
 love of gain and disregard of righteousness cultivate and sell 
 opium, plead this as an excuse ? “ But,” they will say, “ since 
 opium is such an injurious thing, why do the Chinese smoke it its infatu- 
 and even cultivate it?” To this we reply, Gentlemen, are you not m ° power- 
 aware that in China the craving for opium is even more intense 
 than that for ardent spirits among yourselves ? That which best 
 suits the natural disposition most easily gains power over the 
 individual ; and foolish men without forethought will recklessly 
 yield to a present attraction and seek their own destruction, just as 
 the moth seeks the candle. When bent on self-indulgence, what 
 care they for consequences ? And with regard to the native culti- 
 vation of the poppy, it is easily accounted for, if you consider that 
 there are multitudes of unprincipled persons hearing constantly 
 of the large profits derived from the cultivation in India, who 
 naturally conceive a desire to follow the example set them, and get 
 their share of the wealth, so that foreigners may not run away with 
 it all. It is needless to remark how prevalent the love of gain is 
 everywhere in the world, or how unreasonable it is to expect that 
 everybody in China should think of righteousness when he sees a 
 good speculation. 
 
 But perhaps some will say, “Why does not the Emperor of English sup- 
 China, having despotic power, prohibit at once the smoking and trade 0 1 ° 
 the cultivation of opium ? ” To such again we reply, “ Are you 
 not aware that in the eighth and ninth years of Hienfung, the 
 British Minister, in making the treaty, insisted that the prohibition 
 of opium should be abolished, and that the trade should be 
 legalized ? Seeing, then, that it was no longer possible to prevent 
 the influx of opium into the ports, and the prohibition was taken 
 off there, where was the practicability of prohibiting it in the 
 interior? In the reign of Taukwang there were issued most 
 stringent prohibitions : sellers Avere to be beheaded, and smokers 
 reserved for strangling. Still opium Avas smuggled into the ports, 
 so that it Avas found impossible to carry out the prohibition in the 
 country ; for if the fountain is not purified, to rectify the streams 
 is vain. Then, the prohibition of cultivation has stood on the 
 statute-book all along unaltered, but the officers have not been 
 exerting themselves to do their duty, and, as usual, the people have 
 trifled Avith the law. But noAV, suppose for a moment that China 
 Avere able to prevent entirely the native growth of the poppy, and 
 the foreign drug were to floAV in as before. If there were no re- 
 duction of the consumption, the sales from India Avould be doubled, 
 so that Avith a lax enforcement of the prohibition, something like 
 half the money spent on opium remains in China, whereas, Avith a 
 vigorous prohibition, all that enormous Avealth would be driven 
 
 a 3 
 
10 
 
 The high 
 character 
 Great 
 Britain. 
 
 The trade 
 contrary to 
 the Bibie. 
 
 away to foreign lands. It is, then, evident that for China to pro- 
 hibit native cultivation of poppies, and not at the same time pro- 
 hibit smoking, would be a fool’s policy. And the conclusion is 
 inevitable, that unless China and Great Britain combine their 
 strength and simultaneously prohibit, no effective policy is possible. 
 
 (III . — Arguments for the Suppression of the Trade.') 
 
 Great Britain has already set noble examples to the world of 
 justice and of humanity, helping the weak and raising the fallen, 
 grudging no expense of money to emancipate the negro slaves, 
 sacrificing whole battalions of soldiers to save Turkey, interposing 
 her righteous hand to stop the Macao coolie-trade, and mediating 
 between China and Japan to preserve the peace. These things 
 command the respect of the whole world, and China in particular 
 is laid under deep obligations to your honoured country, the fame 
 of which would be unsullied but for this one thing, the traffic in 
 opium, which still remains a cause of dissatisfaction and regret to 
 mankind. Though it may be said that the love of the Chinese for 
 opium is no concern of other nations, and if they suffer by their 
 own act it is no one else’s fault, yet since the article comes from the 
 British dominions, Great Britain cannot quite disclaim all con- 
 nexion with it. 
 
 The New Testament teaches men to have no fellowship with 
 evil. Now here are the Chinese being ruined by opium, which 
 your Government cultivates in India, and sells for exportation to 
 China. The Chinese are doing an evil thing, and your Government 
 is encouraging it. Yea, is it not the case that English merchants 
 actually bring the drug here from India ? Are they sincere Chris- 
 tian men that do this ? Suppose the case reversed, and that some 
 other nation had a poisonous article which was injurious to Great 
 Britain. We know well Great Britain would not suffer it to be 
 brought to her own detriment. And if you would object to its 
 being brought, you ought equally to object to its being sent to hurt 
 others. The New Testament says again, “ Whatsoever ye would 
 that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them.” Is it 
 possible that the instruction of the Saviour has never yet reached 
 the ear of your honoured country ? 
 
 Are we told that there is no intention of injuring China by the 
 traffic in opium, and that the sole object is to make money for the 
 good of your country and people? We again quote the New 
 Testament : “ But they that will be rich fall into temptation and 
 a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts and, “ The love 
 of money is the root of all evil : which, while some coveted after, 
 they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through 
 
11 
 
 with many sorrows.” Your honoured country has long heard the 
 Gospel. Is it for the better understanding of it that its rules are 
 violated 1 
 
 But perhaps preaching is stale, so we will confine our attention 
 to the utilitarian hearings of the opium trade, and leave the right 
 and wrong of it alone. “ Let him get who has the chance, and let 
 him do who dares.” Others may sink or swim, may drown or burn, 
 for that matter. Leave them out of the count altogether. 
 
 Great Britain and China are said to be friendly nations, are they a breach 
 
 . _ . •it ..of inter- 
 
 not? It is still the rule to love our neighbours as ourselves, is it national 
 not ? What will other nations think of the British ? Should friendi5hij) - 
 there be by-and-by any violation of international law by another 
 power to her detriment after this, will Great Britain be able, on 
 the simple ground of impartial reason, and justice, and forbearance, 
 to ward off the wrong from herself 1 It may be worth while to give 
 a little timely consideration to this, as wise men look far ahead. 
 
 When we, the members of this humble Association, first heard of 
 the two Houses of Parliament discussing the suppression of the 
 opium trade, our hearts were rejoiced. We only hoped the thing 
 would be done speedily, and night and day dreaded its possible 
 delay. For at the present juncture, when China’s resources are 
 already exhausted, if still the opium comes, we shall have poverty 
 added to poverty ; when the body is already feeble, if still the- 
 opium comes, we shall have weakness added to weakness ; when 
 the heart is already corrupted, if still the opium comes, we shall 
 have corruption upon corruption. Some tens of millions of human 
 beings in distress are looking on tiptoe, with outstretched necks, 
 for salvation to come from you, 0 just and benevolent men of 
 England ! If not for the good or honour of your country, then for 
 mercy’s sake do this good deed now, to save a people ; and the 
 rescued millions shall themselves be your great reward. 
 
 But there is still another aspect of the question. If the opium is a danger 
 trade is not suppressed, not only will this nation, which is on terms Britain, 
 of friendship with Great Britain, suffer, but Great Britain herself 
 will suffer too. The object of the treaty between your country 
 and China is to maintain a perpetual peace and amity between the 
 two countries, which is not to be disturbed on the one side or on 
 the other. But, because of opium coming to China, the people say 
 that Great Britain, instead of having good-will towards us, has a 
 secret desire to ruin us by this poison. Therefore they continue 
 to cherish indignation in their hearts, and to look with hatred and 
 suspicion upon you. Undoubtedly much of the unfriendliness be- 
 tween Chinese and foreigners arises from this, and herein lies one 
 disadvantage to Great Britain. 
 
 Again, the prosperity of your honoured country depends upon ^^ ate 
 
12 
 
 Makes 
 
 Englishmen 
 
 unpopular. 
 
 Obstructs 
 the work of 
 the mission- 
 aries. 
 
 its trade, and your hope lies in finding a good market for your 
 manufactures of brass and iron, and woollen and cotton goods. But 
 whilst China is impoverished by the sale of opium, where are the 
 means to come from of purchasing other goods 1 An unnatural 
 fulness in one place of necessity implies depletion in another. 
 Therefore the amount of legitimate trade in the ports of China is 
 by no means equal to that of other nations ; and merchants who 
 confine themselves to that, find it hard to realize profits. This is a 
 second disadvantage to Great Britain. 
 
 Since the removal of the restrictions from the opium trade, the 
 profits accruing therefrom have been shared only by a few of your 
 countrymen resident in China ; while the rest, who have been 
 pursuing other lawful callings, are, by the Chinese, mixed up with 
 them, and all tarred with the same brush. Thus, through the 
 greed of gain on the part of one or two, the whole nation gets a 
 bad name. Even the Mohammedan races, who also do a large 
 trade in opium, do not bear their share of the odium from the 
 Chinese, but it all falls upon your honoured country. So that 
 while others divide the profits with you, you bear all the reproach. 
 This is a third disadvantage to Great Britain. 
 
 Finally, your countrymen come here to preach the Gospel ; and 
 their object is to make many converts, and thus spread abroad the 
 love of God to men. But their hearers continually ask, “ Why 
 don’t you go home and exhort your own people not to sell opium, 
 since you are so bent on exhortation 1 ” And it is impossible for 
 the missionaries entirely to stop their mouths. On this account 
 not only are few converts made, but the whole Christian doctrine is 
 suspected to be an imposition. Thus the zeal of your missionaries 
 is wasted, which is a fourth disadvantage to your own country arising 
 from the opium trade. 
 
 Seeing, then, that this one paltry article, opium, is productive of 
 so much mischief, both to Chinese and to foreigners, what need is 
 there of any further argument to prove that it ought to be pro- 
 hibited 1 It is utterly indefensible. 
 
 Let, then, the good men of Great Britain, with all-embracing 
 brotherly kindness and charity, make it their object to rescue 
 their fellow-men, as it were from the water and from the gallows. 
 Let all thoughts of praise or blame be laid aside for the present 
 on the one side and on the other ; and while China and the West 
 unite their strength, let all suspicions and aversions vanish, so that 
 Indian opium may come no more to China for ever and ever. If 
 it must come as a medicine, let it be compounded with other 
 medicines, or made up into pills, or into powders, or into tinctures, 
 before it arrives in this country, to preclude the possibility of its 
 being smoked, and thus doing harm to the Chinese people. But 
 
13 
 
 above all things, beware of stopping short in the middle of this 
 righteous movement so happily initiated, and of thus miserably 
 disappointing the bright hopes excited in the minds of the 
 Chinese. 
 
 (IY . — Opposition of the Chinese Government to Opium.) 
 
 When the Address before us says, “ from that time to this the Commis-^ 
 Government of China has made no resolute effort to stop the im- effort, 
 portation,” it makes a statement which is scarcely according to 
 facts. At the time referred to, when Commissioner Lin com- 
 municated to the Hong merchants the edict prohibiting the en- 
 trance of opium into China, not only was violation of the law 
 visited with condign punishment, but even a stoppage of foreign 
 trade and a breach of the peace with foreigners was nothing 
 accounted of. This may be called a very “ resolute effort.” He 
 only failed through over-zeal and precipitancy. For, at that time, 
 the high officers of China were quite unacquainted with foreign 
 affairs, and when they once saw the effect of an outbreak of 
 hostilities, they dreaded another, as birds dread the fatal arrow, 
 and avoided the prohibition of opium, as the birds avoid the 
 path of the huntsman ; lest by any means they should commit the 
 crime of bringing on another war with the foreigner. In this way 
 they came to admit opium into the country, and to forbid it no 
 more. But from that day to this, there have not been wanting 
 heroic men in retired places, who have continued to do their best 
 endeavour for the suppression of this evil ; although the powers 
 that be are much too high and mighty for their influence to reach. 
 
 Whereas the Address says, “it is necessary that the Chinese 
 Government and people should prove the sincerity of their oppo- 
 sition to the opium trade,” be it known, that, from Kienlung until 
 now, China has ever had the unchanged desire to suppress the 
 opium trade ; but because, in framing the treaty, China was forced, 
 in compliance with the request of your honoured country’s minister, 
 to place opium on the tariff, therefore the Chinese Government 
 had no help but administer according to the treaty. But, verily, 
 her sincere opposition to the trade has not been forgotten by China 
 for a single day. Permit us to call your attention to the follow- 
 ing : — 
 
 “ September 26th, 1876. A decree based upon a memorial Recent 
 from Pao Yiian-shen, Governor of Shansi, requesting that the against the 
 cultivation of the poppy plant be stringently prohibited, and popp ' y ' 
 regulations established for the reward and punishment of officials 
 in connexion with this matter. The growth of the poppy plant 
 is rigorously prohibited by law ; but notwithstanding this, the 
 practice of its cultivation has of late become common throughout 
 
14 
 
 the empire, greatly to the detriment of the food supply of the 
 people. The district authorities are inactive in enforcing the 
 prohibition, looking upon it as a mere matter of routine; and 
 there are even cases in which they accept a fee for relaxing the 
 interdict which they turn to account for their own selfish purposes, 
 with abuses innumerable as the result. We command, hereby, 
 the Governors-General and Governors of all the provinces to issue 
 stringent instructions to their subordinates, requiring them to use 
 active efforts toward the enforcement of the interdict. In the 
 event of any continuance of the disregard of orders hitherto pre- 
 vailing, let the offenders be denounced for punishment. Let the 
 proper Board likewise reiterate the tenor of the law as heretofore 
 established, and circulate the same among the provinces, to the 
 end that the lower class may have a warning set before them, and 
 let regulations be framed with a view to the bestowal of rewards 
 upon such officials as enforce the interdict with vigour, and punish- 
 ment be meted out to those who are inactive or corrupt. Let this 
 edict be promulgated for the information of all.” 
 
 We have only to remark on this, that if the imperial Govern- 
 ment continues so rigorously to prohibit the home cultivation of 
 opium, it would, if it could, prohibit the foreign importation of it as 
 well, and it is manifest that nothing in the world prevents the im- 
 mediate promulgation of a prohibitive decree from the throne, but 
 this clause still remaining in the treaty with Great Britain. Here, 
 then, is proof supplied by the Chinese Government of the “ sin- 
 cerity of its opposition to the opium trade.” 
 
 (V . — Action in response to tlie English Address .) 
 
 Anti-opium When the Address first arrived from your honoured country, 
 
 formed. the (Protestant) converts in Canton at once united themselves 
 into an anti-opium society, and published placards and broad 
 sheets exhorting people to abstain both from selling and from 
 smoking the drug ; and also advising other classes to follow 
 their example in taking repressive measures. Then the members 
 of this humble association, on seeing the same, also formed a union 
 of the literati and elders under the name of “ The Association for 
 the Promotion of Abstinence.” We have petitioned successively 
 
 Petitions, the Viceroy, Governor, and Judge ; and from these high officers we 
 have obtained the promise that orders shall be issued to close the 
 opium-smolcing saloons and all public exhibition of lamps and 
 smoking couches to tempt the people. At the same time we learn 
 that the Chinese in Hong Kong have also combined to form a 
 similar association ; and in other places such benevolent societies 
 are gradually being formed. This proves that the people also 
 are sincere in their opposition to the opium trade. 
 
15 
 
 But, gentlemen, if you have not the satisfaction of hearing that Chinese sns- 
 these societies have heen simultaneously formed all over the country pici0ns - 
 in every province and in every city, there are reasons for this which 
 we must explain. Some doubt the genuineness of the Address 
 issued under your names. Others are concerned about the 20,000,000 
 taels of Indian revenue, lest haply your honoured country might 
 exact indemnity for the loss of that. These weak and doubting souls 
 hold hack others who have more courage and faith. We hear it 
 constantly said that for Great Britain that makes such enormous 
 profits by the opium trade, to be desirous of stopping it, and 
 thereby cutting off her revenue, is a simple impossibility. More- 
 over, it is not at all likely that in every province and city and 
 village in the empire they have even seen your Address. And, if 
 they have seen it, owing to its emanating from the mission-chapels, 
 they have suspected it to he a forgery on the part of the converts, 
 or have not put much faith in it. Therefore the action taken as 
 yet in the way of establishing societies is comparatively insignificant 
 and limited. Our Association, besides petitioning the authorities, 
 takes every opportunity of conversing with the people on this 
 subject, and we are scorned and ridiculed by the majority as 
 misguided enthusiasts. They have no faith in the professions 
 of the Address, and we have at present no means of bringing home 
 conviction to their minds. So, then, it is not your honoured 
 country alone that stands in need of proof that the other is 
 sincerely opposed to the opium trade. 
 
 If Great Britain is desirous to carry through this noble enterprise, England 
 it is necessary that she should prove her sincerity to the Chinese her B sincer£ 
 people. The most excellent way would be to request her Britannic ty- 
 Majesty’s minister at Pekin to go to the Foreign Office, and confer 
 with the princes there as to the removal of opium from the tariff of 
 China. Then there would be a representation made to the emperor 
 on the subject, and an edict published in the Gazette, which would 
 be seen all over the eighteen provinces. The next best rvay would 
 be to entrust the consuls at the different ports to communicate 
 with viceroys and governors, asking them to send up a representa- 
 tion to the Emperor, stating that there exists in your honoured 
 country a desire to prohibit opium ; and to issue proclamations to 
 the same effect. If neither of these things are practicable in the 
 meantime, then let there be established at Pekin, Shanghai, 
 
 Canton and other places, “ Abstinence Halls ” after the manner of 
 the mission-chapels, where public lectures on the suppression of 
 the. evils of opium, and exhortations to people not to smoke it, may 
 he delivered. Either an agent might be sent from London to 
 superintend this business, or it might be entrusted to the mis- 
 sionaries on the spot. Only, let it be distinctly expressed that it 
 
16 
 
 The Indian 
 
 opium 
 
 revenue. 
 
 is undertaken in the name of the Anglo-Oriental Society for the 
 Suppression of the Opium Trade, and let the Address of the Society 
 he gratuitously distributed, in order to convince all comers that 
 the desire on the part of Great Britain to suppress the trade is 
 sincere. Then the hearts of the Chinese are sure to be gratefully 
 moved, and there will be vigorous action on the part of all who 
 have any inclination to do good in the world. All such, when 
 their eyes are opened and their courage stimulated by you, will 
 do their very utmost, and an attitude of suspicion need no more 
 be assumed. We shall have governors and governed uniting their 
 strength for the relief of the wretched, and the near prospect of a 
 consummation worth the trouble of wiping our eyes to see. If you 
 merely establish a society in London, who, in China, will be 
 aware of its existence 1 Or, if you do no more than depute the 
 missionaries to distribute your book, which people suspect to be a 
 forgery, your labours cannot but be in vain, and the impulse to 
 do good to mankind which exists in your honoured country will 
 prove abortive. We humbly beg of you to make haste, and try 
 every possible method, for the salvation of our pitiable country 
 from the flowing poison of opium. And withal be considerate of 
 us Chinese, who cannot so easily originate or carry on a public 
 movement of this kind as you can, and, on this account, be only 
 the more energetic and united to the last. Let those who do not 
 know the magnitude of the evil, make diligent inquiry in regard 
 to it ; and let those who do know warn all men of business coming 
 to China in future to avoid making a gain of opium. And if the 
 British Government in India should abandon the cultivation of 
 the poppy for the sake of good-will towards a neighbouring nation, 
 and thus “ encourage the beneficial use and restrain the abuse of 
 things,” surely the praise of such a deed will resound to earth’s 
 remotest end. 
 
 (VI . — Concluding Appeal . ) 
 
 The abundance and riches of British trade with all the nations 
 of the earth surpasses that of China tenfold, and it is only right 
 that Great Britain should be more magnificent and abundant in 
 good deeds. Mankind expect this ; and moreover the deeds of 
 your honoured country have ever been illustrious and noble. Why, 
 then, let this trade remain as the one exceptional case to tarnish 
 your bright fame, when, as it seems to us, it might justly be done 
 away with in a single day? We are not forgetful of the difficulty 
 arising from a deficit of the Indian revenue ; but the Indian 
 revenue is not all derived from opium. Only a sixth or a seventh 
 part of it is so derived. If the land set free from opium cultivation 
 were planted with any other useful thing, it might still realize a con- 
 
17 
 
 siderable sum. If the men, no longer employed in this cultivation, 
 were set to some other work, they might still supplement the 
 revenue to a great extent. And, supposing that after all there were 
 a deficit of one-tenth, and a danger of running into debt to that 
 extent, it seems to us that cutting off a tenth from every item of 
 the annual expenditure would not ruin the Indian empire. Or, to 
 put it the other way, the people of India would not suffer any great 
 hardship if a tenth were added to the annual taxation. And if we 
 grant that it is impossible for the Government all at once to cut off 
 this source of supply, then let it be done gradually, say in three 
 years, or at the longest in five, after the lapse of which period 
 there should be no more cultivation of poppies. Then there would 
 still be a day coming when the poison would cease to flow, and 
 India would be allowed time to recover from the embarrassment 
 arising from its stoppage, and find out other means of supplying 
 the deficiency caused thereby. This is a feasible method. The 
 only fear is that unforeseen changes might take place in the mean- 
 time to render the measure abortive. There is nothing like prompt 
 and decisive action, for the deficiency or otherwise of the revenue 
 of a country depends more on its being in a state of peace or war, 
 than on its wealth or poverty. In a time of general peace, though 
 the income may be small, it will be possible to make it cover all 
 demands ; but when war does come, the richest state may speedily 
 be reduced to poverty by it. 
 
 We recognize, gentlemen, as we know you do, the great truth, ^o^smment 
 that there is an unseen Being who holds in His silent grasp the of the world, 
 powers that be ; and Jesus has said, “ Seek ye first the kingdom of 
 God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added 
 unto you.” If then, indeed, the men of your honourable country 
 do prefer righteousness to wealth, and are willing to prohibit this 
 opium, in order to revive our weary people, then shall Chinamen rise 
 up and call you blessed, and your praises shall be celebrated by us, 
 till they reach the ears of God Almighty. The British Empire will 
 surely then be blessed in all her colonies and possessions. Surely 
 peace and prosperity will ever reign in all her borders. She will 
 always receive more of benefits than she confers, and never lack 
 any good thing. 
 
 But if it is to be otherwise, — if she will relentlessly permit China ^gat^ned 1 
 to be beggared and famished, if she will, most unfairly to China, 
 continue to send to her shores that virulent poison, opium, in 
 exchange for her wholesome tea and useful silk, then, according to 
 every principle of reason, it is unjust. In order to benefit her own 
 possessions, she does a grievous wrong to a friendly power. But 
 to seek gain at all hazards, and so lightly incur the odium of her 
 neighbours, of a surety cannot result in benefit. Good faith and 
 
18 
 
 fair play are not without honour in China, and though she may 
 not call out an army to punish the offence, yet when her people 
 are reduced to the last extremity, there is no saying what expedients 
 may he resorted to. Suppose, for example, that strict prohibitions 
 should suddenly he issued, and that all who smoke opium should 
 be excluded from office, and from public examinations, and from 
 holding property, like play-actors, and underlings, and other out- 
 casts ; the people are not such complete fools as to descend con- 
 tentedly to this degradation, and the consumption of Indian opium 
 might cease. In that case, or in fact in any case, how can Great 
 Britain manage to enjoy her profits in perpetuity! But there is no 
 comparison between an ultimate resort to prohibition on the part 
 of China with endless mutual heart-burnings, and a spontaneous 
 movement on the part of Englishmen which would be hailed with 
 joy and cordially acquiesced in, both in China and out of it. 
 
 Oh, surely every nation has its own ideas of what is just and 
 fair ! And what people is there on earth that would be content to 
 go straight down to perdition 1 
 
 We have, as it were, all one parentage. Why, then, make so 
 much of the dykes or ditches that separate us ! Oh, good gentle- 
 men of Britain, if you will but give our case your best consideration, 
 happy, happy, will it be for all concerned ! 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ADDRESS TO THE CHINESE PEOPLE. 
 
 [The following Address was prepared by the Society in 1875, and 
 sent out to China, 'where it was admirably translated by the 
 Rev. John Chalmers, M.A., of the London Missionary Society, 
 and, through the kind assistance of the Rev. J. C. Edge and 
 other missionaries, distributed in different places throughout 
 the country from Canton to Peking .] 
 
 We have heard, that whatever the earth produces is the gift of Heaven 
 for man’s good, and when things prove harmful, it is not that they are 
 harmful of themselves, but men by misuse make them so ; therefore 
 governments should encourage the beneficial use and restrain the abuse of 
 things. Now opium is of all medicines among the most valuable for the 
 cure of disease : but when self-indulgent men employ it as a mere sensual 
 gratification it acts as a slow poison, gradually working the ruin both of 
 body and soul. The ancients knew not of the existence of opium ; but 
 about a hundred years ago it began to be known in China as a wonderful 
 medicine with a marvellous flavour. At the present time in about half 
 the provinces of the empire the most fertile spots of land are bright with 
 
19 
 
 poppy flowers, and millions of the people besot themselves with the opium- 
 pipe. Every year several ten thousand chests are imported from abroad. 
 Thus natives and foreigners combine in their selfish greed ; farmers and 
 merchants get a little evil gain out of the ruin of multitudes, and the injury 
 resulting is incalculable. Men lose their virtue, the peace of families is 
 disturbed, parents mourn the degradation or death of their children, and 
 sons grieve over the depravity of their sires. By this evil habit the whole 
 empire is weakened. Magistrates become corrupt, underlings accept bribes, 
 the money of the country which might buy useful articles is drained away 
 to foreign lands in exchange for the black dirt; the soil which might 
 produce the five kinds of grain produces poisonous stuff ; the officials and 
 people hate the foreigners for introducing the poison from abroad : there 
 is fear of famine within and of war from without. So we may say that 
 opium not only harms those who smoke it, but also injures those who 
 never touch it. The innumerable evils which result from opium-smoking 
 make all philanthropic men, both Chinese and foreigners, hate it, and 
 eagerly desire that both the trade and the cultivation of opium maybe put 
 a stop to. In England at this time many persons are combining together 
 to try to accomplish these ends : they have formed themselves into a 
 Society called the Anglo-Oriental Society for the Suppression of the Opium 
 Trade, and now issue this statement to invite Chinese who deplore 
 the increase of opium-smoking, to join in this effort to repress it. 
 
 Undoubtedly, on first hearing of this, many Chinese readers will smile 
 incredulously, and say, “ Every one knows that opium grows in foreign 
 lands, that foreigners bring the poison here, that they gain immense sums 
 by its sale : who will believe them when they say they combine to put a 
 stop to the trade P ” But this sneer is only the outcome of limited infor- 
 mation. The educated gentleman understands that the millions of a great 
 country like England are not to be judged by the behaviour of a handful 
 of grasping traders. For at first both English and Chinese merchants 
 bought and sold the drug as a medicine, 1 seeing only the golden profits, and 
 not the evil consequences. Even now the dealers in the article are few, 
 while those who do not share the profit are many : not only so, all 
 manufacturers of woollen and cotton goods, hardware, &c., are losers by 
 the trade in opium, because the Chinese spending their money for poison, 
 have none to spend for clothing and tools. Therefore to condemn a whole 
 nation for the action of a little knot of men is unreasonable as well as 
 unjust. But some one may say the foreign country derives a large revenue 
 from the opium trade, and whereas formerly it was illegal to introduce it, 
 in 1858, when a treaty was concluded between China and England, the 
 British Ambassador urged that opium should be legally admissible under 
 duty. These things are true, but few understand how they came to pass. 
 Therefore let us attempt a brief explanation. 
 
 We find it on record that when the foreigners first brought opium to 
 China the amount was very small, a few hundred boxes per year ; and 
 probably the greater part of this, if not all, was used for medicine. At 
 that time, then, the foreigners not only did not intend to do harm to China 
 
 1 The reader will have observed that the Reply calls this statement into question. 
 At least it was made in perfect good faith, and not without authority. In the Blue- 
 hook, China Correspondence, 1840, p. 15S, there is a translation of the famous memorial 
 in which Heu Naetse recommends the legalization of the opium traffic. He begins by 
 saying, “ I would humbly represent that opium was originally ranked among medicines; 
 its qualities are stimulant ; it also checks excessive secretions ; and prevents the evil 
 effects of noxious vapours. In the Materia Medica of Le She-chin of the Ming 
 dynasty, it is called Afooyung. .... In Kien Lung’s reign (a. D. 1736 — 1776), as well 
 as previously, opium was inserted in the tariff of Canton as a medicine, subject to a duty 
 of three taels per hundred catties, with an additional charge of two taels four mace and 
 five candareens under the name of charge per package. After this it was prohibited.” 
 Le She-chin’s book is in the library of the British Museum, and we have verified Heu’s 
 quotation, [vol. xxiii. page 25], According to Le opium was used to cure dysentery, 
 diarrhoea, &c., and for the relief of pain of every description. 
 
20 
 
 by bringing opium, but thought they were conferring a benefit. After- 
 wards, the Chinese themselves invented opium-smoking — a practice utterly 
 unknown in foreign lands. Opium is grown in India. When India was 
 first conquered, the English rulers adopted the practice of the native 
 sovereigns who had preceded them. They did not allow opium to be 
 freely cultivated, but sold the privilege of cultivation for a sum of money, 
 which went into the public treasury for necessary Government expenses. 
 The motive of this was good ; because some of the Hindoos use to eat opium, 
 and so injure themselves and their families. The Government therefore 
 made the article costly by this monopoly, in order to prevent foolish people 
 from eating it, and that it might be employed only for medicine. After 
 this, the English Government not being satisfied with the conduct of the 
 monopolists, put the manufacture under Government, hy appointing special 
 officers to collect and sell the opium and pay the proceeds into the 
 Government treasury. In doing so the Government did not at first regard 
 the profits, but wished to restrict the use of opium. They have been so 
 far successful in this respect, that very little opium, comparatively, is 
 consumed in British India, and the natives of India are not, to anything 
 like the same extent as the Chinese, groaning and perishing under the 
 spreading influence of the vile poison. 
 
 The traders brought opium to China in their ships for many years 
 without any evil intention, thinking they brought a useful medicine. At 
 last, however, in the time of Kien Lung, the attention of the Chinese 
 Emperor was drawn to the increasing use of opium and its evil results, 
 and he issued a decree prohibiting its introduction and use. The Hong 
 merchants made this known to the foreign traders, and also the many 
 subsequent decrees against the opium trade. But, alas ! the heart of man 
 is covetous, and will do anything for gold. In this respect the Chinese 
 and foreign traders in opium were alike ; they shut their ears against the 
 official admonitions, and only looked at their golden profit. Corrupt 
 mandarins and venal custom-house officers joined in the crime and 
 shared the plunder. The vice was like flowing waters that none could 
 stop. Afterwards, in the reign of Taoukwang, Commissioner Lin came 
 down to Canton, and by his vigorous efforts seized and destroyed twenty 
 thousand chests of opium. But, unfortunately, he acted without regard 
 to international law, as between two independent sovereigns and their 
 subjects, and the sovereign of Britain resenting the interference of the 
 Chinese with her subjects went to war, and forced the Chinese Government 
 to repay money for that opium, and from that day to this the Government 
 of China has made no resolute effort to stop the importation . 2 If at that 
 time the Imperial Government had sought for means of making a full 
 communication on the subject to the English Commissioner, the foreign 
 ships might have been prevented from bringing opium. So far, however, 
 was China from doing this, that the Viceroy and officials of Canton would 
 not even receive letters or grant interviews to the English officer who was 
 specially sent out by the Queen of England to superintend the traders, and 
 enter into friendly intercourse with the Chinese Government. Truly does 
 the Yih 3 say, “ Pride invites injury, humility possesses advantage.” In 
 this sad affair, therefore, both Governments were to blame, and neither 
 has the right to impute all the fault to the other. 
 
 But raking up old grievances does not tend to remedy present evils. 
 At present there is peace between the two countries ; and the English 
 
 2 Here again the Reply disputes the accuracy of our statement, and apparently under 
 a misapprehension of our meaning. It will be clear to the reader that we acknowledge 
 to the full the resolute attempt to put down opium by Commissioner Lin ; and date 
 the inaction of the Chinese Government from the treaty of peace, when they were 
 forced to pay six millions of dollars for the destroyed opium, and twelve millions for 
 the expense of the war. After these hitter experiences of defeat, disgrace, and 
 extortion, no wonder the Chinese Government relapsed into a policy of inactivity. 
 
 3 The Book of Changes, one of the five Ancient Classics of China. 
 
21 
 
 Queen and people heartily wish continuance of peace and the prosperity of 
 China. But, unhappily, the opium trade and the practice of opium-smoking 
 in China have now attained to such enormous dimensions, that it is no 
 longer an easy thing for Government to put a stop to it. The Chinese 
 say, If England heartily wishes China’s good, why does not the Queen of 
 England at once put a stop to bringing opium to China ? The English 
 say, If the Emperor of China really is the father and mother of his people, 
 why does not he at once put a stop to the cultivation and use of opium 
 within his own dominions ? The Chinese say, If England sincerely loved 
 China she would not sell opium. The English say, if the Chinese really 
 objected to opium they would not buy it, still less grow it themselves. 
 So in mutual recriminations and suspicions those who hate the evil waste 
 their strength, while bad men who make profit out of the vices of others 
 continue to gain their ends. Would it not he better for the Governments 
 and good people on both sides to combine in a common effort to extinguish 
 the evil itself? Unless a united effort is made, it is to be feared that the 
 evils will not only continue but increase. 
 
 In China the Imperial authority is supreme and arbitrary, competent to 
 decree total prohibition by one edict : the difficulty is that the Emperor 
 cannot be in all places at once to see what the people actually desire, and 
 to make sure that good decrees are really carried out by his officers. In 
 England the Sovereign is assisted in carrying on the Government by two 
 great councils — one of the hereditary nobility, and the other elected by the 
 people ; and without the assent of these two great councils no law is 
 changed, nor new law enacted. Of the two councils the second, which 
 is the elected assembly of the representatives of the people, is practically 
 the more powerful ; therefore the wishes of the people are easily made 
 known to the Government, and the people everywhere keep watch over the 
 officials and see that the laws are enforced. 
 
 Also it is lawful for the English people to send up petitions, both to 
 the Sovereign and to these councils, if they believe that in anything 
 they themselves are wronged, or that the Government is wronging other 
 nations. The object, then, of this Society is to get the English Govern- 
 ment to do its part against the opium traffic, and for this purpose it will 
 use all the means that are in accordance with English law and custom. 
 But the chief difficulty in the way is that not one Englishman in a 
 thousand has ever seen China, and that the vast majority know nothing 
 about opium ; and when merchants interested in the trade tell them that 
 the Chinese like to use opium, and that it does them no harm, not only do 
 ignorant people believe this, but many officials and members of Parliament 
 believe it too. Therefore it is necessary that the Chinese Government 
 and people should prove the sincerity of their opposition to the opium 
 trade. Most of all it is to be desired that the Emperor of China would 
 send a deputation to the Queen of England for this very purpose. If the 
 Chinese Government does not like to do that, at least they might send a 
 letter through the ambassador in Peking. Also the gentry and people in 
 every place should make their feelings known. They should send in 
 petitions to the magistrates of their respective districts, and urge them 
 not to allow the cultivation and use of opium within the districts. They 
 should form societies for promoting abstinence from opium, issue publica- 
 tions warning the people against it, and send these publications to our 
 Society that we may put them into English, to show the English people 
 that the Chinese are sincere in wishing to save their country from 
 the ruinous effects of opium. In every city, town, and village in the 
 eighteen provinces, let all the people who desire to save China from being 
 ruined by opium-smoking, combine in public anti-opium societies, taking 
 a pledge never to buy nor to smoke the drug, nor to allow their sons and 
 nephews to do so ; let the gentry and people also petition the magistrates 
 to close the opium-shops within their districts, and prevent the farmers 
 
22 
 
 from planting the poppy ; let them, having done these things, send an 
 account of their proceedings to the Chinese newspapers, or to the mission- 
 aries, that they may be translated into English. Then will our Society tell 
 all the people in England that the Chinese do heartily desire to he delivered 
 from opium ; and hearing this, all the good people in England who fear 
 Heaven and love men will petition the members of parliament to put a stop 
 to the opium monopoly, and assist China in excluding foreign opium. The 
 members of parliament will consult together and advise the Queen to 
 send out orders to this effect to India. Thus, if the Chinese Emperor and 
 people within, and the English Sovereign and people without, join in one 
 common effort against this evil trade, how could the puny strength of a 
 few selfish traders resist the power of the two rulers and two peoples ? 
 
 Sincerely desiring to accord with Heaven in benefiting mankind, and 
 to assist Government in repressing covetous and disorderly ways, we send 
 forth this appeal to the officers, gentry, and people of China. Believe 
 this, and bestir yourselves in the great enterprise. 
 
 Issued from London by the Society for the Suppression of the Opium 
 Trade, in the spring of 1875. 
 
 The character of the Opium trade is sufficiently clear from the 
 Parliamentary Return 1 : from which we extract the figures for the 
 last year given. 
 
 Expoets peom India into China, 1S75. 
 
 Raw Cottons .... value £439,470 
 Piece Goods and Sundries . . „ 346,025 
 
 Opium . . . . „ 10,862,694 
 
 £11,648,189 
 
 Imposts peom China into India, 1875. 
 
 Raw Silk 
 Manufactured Silk 
 Tea 
 
 Sundries . 
 
 . value £691,569 
 253,108 
 120,960 
 454,477 
 
 £1,520,114 
 
 This shows a balance due from China to India of more than ten 
 millions sterling, nearly the whole being for Opium. China paid 
 in gold and silver £1,334,274 : leaving a balance due of over 
 eight millions and a half. The average balance against China for 
 the previous five years was £8,372,398. In 1875 when the 
 British Empire sent China nearly eleven millions worth of opium, 
 China sent to the United Kingdom £11,454,840 worth of tea. 
 Roughly speaking, therefore, the exchange between the two 
 countries is tea for opium. 
 
 1 Statement of the Trade of British India with British Possessions and 
 Foreign Countries, for the five years 1870-71 to 1874-75. [C. — 1616, pp. 
 
 216-219.] 
 
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 Report of the Proceedings of a Conference, held at the City of London Tavern, 
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 THE OPIUM QUESTION. 
 
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