A Vindication of England's Policy with Regard to the Opium TradeHaines, Charles Reginald
History
A Vindication of England's Policy with Regard to the Opium Trade
Haines, Charles Reginald
Opium trade
Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images
generously made available by The Internet Archive/American
Libraries.)
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
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account