British Opium Policy and Its Results to India and China

Opium wars in China.

TO complete this examination of the "results to China of our opium traffic," it is still necessary to sketch with light hand the manner in which it involved that empire in war, and forced it, in humiliation and impotence, to the existing toleration of the trade.

The events which led to bloodshed.

From 1773 to 1834, the East India Company must answer for the opium importation. About the former date it was taken from the hands of certain officials in Bengal, and made a Government concern. In 1797, when the contract system expired, that of "agency" was substituted, and this was the beginning of the real profits. During the forty years intervening between 1797 and 1834, the consumption of Indian opium in China rose from 1000 to 2700 chests per annum, and the markets were dexterously nursed, so that as the price fell the quantity was increased. From time to time fresh edicts were issued against the drug, and ofttimes sharp punishments were inflicted upon native offenders; but we have seen why the Court of Peking was not likely to hear too much of the mischief being wrought. The Manchu Government had restricted European trade to Canton, where it was carried on, as regards regular business, between the "Hong merchants" and the Company, with many interruptions arising from the exactions of the mandarins and the contemptuous arrogance of the Court. But if the growing demoralization of the population was not well known, or was slightly regarded, the drain of silver made itself painfully felt as soon as the augmenting opium trade turned the exchange against China. Tea and silk had been wont to bring foreign dollars into the land by the sackful, but the poppy plant took out these, and the sycee besides; and troubles were thus rife when the East India Company's charter surceased on the 22nd April, 1834. A "Superintendent of Trade" was then sent to Canton by the British Government, and it was with the appointment of this novel official that the direct responsibility of the English people may be said to have commenced. In the facts now to be recalled, the public morality is concerned, and public morality must judge whether the condition of affairs to which they will lead us is honorable, enduring, or satisfactory.

Resolute action of Chinese Government.

Soon after the change of 1834, the China Court showed itself in veritable earnest about prohibiting the opium traffic. Report upon report from the more honest mandarins had proved its evil effects, and the action of the Government was so unfriendly to Europeans that Captain Elliot, the "Superintendent," shifted his flag to Macao, in December of 1837. At the same time, in the following year, and from a similar cause, all trade was stopped, and the authorities declined even to negotiate until the "receiving ships" should be withdrawn, and the traffic abolished. There could no longer be any doubt that the Chinese Government was seriously bent upon protecting its subjects and its currency, for the two motives still went together. But the importation still continued, because the profits of this illicit commerce were so great for the Calcutta treasury, the European merchants, and the Chinese officials. Moreover, the taste was now spread far and wide in the land, and it has been seen how intense the necessity of opium is with those who have surrendered to its influence. To affront or frighten the Europeans the Canton Governor, in February, 1839, executed an unfortunate native smuggler right opposite the British factories; and in the following March, the Imperial Commissioner, a man of resolute type, named Lin, issued an edict, marked with the "vermillion pencil," forbidding, in totally new language, the long-established traffic. It was