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قراءة كتاب A Vindication of England's Policy with Regard to the Opium Trade
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A Vindication of England's Policy with Regard to the Opium Trade
A VINDICATION
OF
ENGLAND’S POLICY
WITH REGARD TO
THE OPIUM TRADE.
BY
C. R. HAINES.
LONDON:
W. H. ALLEN & CO., 13 WATERLOO PLACE,
PALL MALL. S.W.
1884.
(All rights reserved.)
LONDON:
PRINTED BY W. H. ALLEN AND CO., 13 WATERLOO PLACE. S.W.
Victrix causa deis placuit sed
victa Catoni.
AUTHOR’S PREFACE.
About two years ago I had occasion to go thoroughly into the question of the opium-trade between India and China. Up to that time, knowing practically nothing about the matter except what the Anti-Opium Society and their supporters had to say on the subject, I was as zealous an opponent of the traffic as any of them could wish. But as soon as I came to read both sides of the question, and consult original authorities, I felt myself forced, much against my will at first, to abandon my previous opinions. And I may as well say at once that I have no personal interest whatever, direct or indirect, in the maintenance or defence of the traffic. My only wish has been to treat the question on the broad principles of practical justice, and not in deference to that cosmopolitan patriotism which would have us love our neighbour not indeed as ourselves, but much more than ourselves. The object therefore of this little work is to clear the fair name of England from the foul aspersions cast upon it by a comparatively small body of well-meaning but misguided philanthropists.
C. R. HAINES.
Dover, June 16, 1884.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
| The Anti-Opium Society.—Its Origin.—By whom supported.—How far successful.—Its Conclusions not to be accepted.—The Indictment against England | pp. 1-6 | |
| The original habitat of the Poppy-Plant.—Opium known in China from the earliest times.—Not consumed much till Eighteenth Century.— First imported by Portuguese.—By East India Company in 1773.— Prohibited in 1796.—War in 1839.—Causes of War.—Treaty of Nankin.—No mention of Opium.—Lord Palmerston’s instructions on the subject.—War of 1856 and 1860.—Treaty of Tientsin.— Opium legalized.—Native growth long-established in spite of Edicts.—Reason of this.—Chefoo Convention | pp. 6-37 | |
| Opium a powerful Medicine.—Its Alkaloid constituents.—How used.—Distinction between eating and smoking it.—Consumed in India, Turkey, Armenia, England | pp. 37-52 | |
| Indian Opium of two kinds, Bengal and Malwa.—Monopoly in 1773.—Vacillations in Policy.—Hence fluctuations in Revenue.—Reserve Stock.—Land under Cultivation.—Chests exported.—Policy towards Native States.—Prices.—Quality.—Competition with Chinese Opium | pp. 52-59 | |
| Abolition of the Traffic.—How far desirable.—Difficulties.—England not likely to help with a Money-grant.—Charges made by Anti-Opiumists.—1. “Opium a poison and Opium-smoking universally baneful.”—Evidence on this point breaks down.—Not so fatal as Spirits with us.—Number of Smokers of Indian drug.—Use of Opium in the Straits Settlements | pp. 59-75 | |
| 2. “England responsible for its introduction.”—Opium certainly known in China previous to foreign importation.—The Portuguese before us.—Demand not created by us.—Every Nation has its Stimulant or Narcotic.—Enumeration of these.—Opium specially suited to the Chinese.—Opium and Spirits | pp. 75-91 | |
| 3. “We force Opium on China.”—Chinese not forced either to admit or smoke Opium—but compelled to keep to their own Tariff | pp. 91-95 | |
| 4. “Monopoly indefensible.”—Monopolies are a part of the System of Indian Government.—This particular Monopoly limits the export | pp. 95-97 | |
| 5. “Opium an Obstacle to Missionary effort.”—Failure of Missionaries not due to Opium.—Real reasons of their ill-success.—Exterritorialization of Converts very objectionable to Chinese.—Roman Catholic Missionaries most detested, but more successful.—Reasons of this.—Our Missionaries, how far successful.—Their duty and ours | pp. 97-114 | |
| Remedies suggested.—Firstly, Abolition of Monopoly.—Objections to this.—Secondly, Prohibition of Poppy-culture in all India.—Difficulties with Native States.—Legitimate requirements of India.—Financial objections.—Curtailment of Expenditure difficult.—Increase of Taxation impossible.—Thirdly, England to ask for an equivalent from China for giving up the Opium Revenue.—No compensation to India.—Fourthly, Li Hung Chang’s proposal | pp. 114-129 | |
| Feasible remedies.—Either, England and China to agree to stop the cultivation of the Poppy gradually in both countries.—A test of Chinese sincerity.—Effect, if carried out.—Or, to free China from all obligations in regard to Opium.—This would cut away the |