TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Reading edition
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 ground from under the Agitators.—India would not lose all her Revenue.—The Agitation the outcome of mistaken Philanthropy.—Their method of propagandism most objectionable.—Conclusion pp. 129-139