Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia/Series 1/Volume 3/Is the Opium Trade to China one in which a Christian Merchant can engage

IS THE OPIUM TRADE TO CHINA ONE IN WHICH A CHRISTIAN MERCHANT CAN ENGAGE?

The morality or immorality of the opium trade has been much discussed during the last twelve years, and it is undeniable that the question admits of able arguments on both sides, if we take no higher ground than the ordinary morality of the world.

On the one hand, it has been said that opium is a pernicious article of luxury or a poison, and that by smuggling it into China, we break the laws of that Empire and injure our fellowmen; while on the other hand it has been argued, with some show of truth, that opium is only poison to those who abuse it, that the foreign merchant does not smuggle it into China, but merely brings it to its shores, to be purchased by the natives under the very eyes of their own government, with litle more than a show of objection, and therefore, that it does not deserve the epithet of smuggling, and further that a merchant is a mere agent between supply and demand, and that when these two elements of industry are brought to bear upon one another in any given field of commerce, their consequences concern him no farther than the extent to which he can benefit himself by the interchange of the commodities.

But to those taking a leading management or having a leading interest in the trade, and who believe in the Christian religion, it is submitted for their serious consideration, whether the opium trade to China is not exerting a directly hostile influence on the spread of Christian truth, and whether they are not thereby exposing themselves to the frown of that God whose truth they are engaged in counteracting?

Let it be borne in mind that the importation of opium into China, and its consumption in the country, are really and truly prohibited by the Chinese government, however much its efforts may have been frustrated by the corruption of its officers. And further, that the effects of opium smoking on the population have been ascertained to be most pernicious and ruinous both morally and physically, although the latter point may not be at all times apparent.

Consider now the position of the whole trade as may be shewn prominently in one instance, namely, at the port of Fuhchow. At that port the only foreign influence at work (if we except the Consular officers) consists of a considerable band of Christian missionaries and the contraband opium trade, for no other foreign trade there exists. Christianity and the opium trade are here apparent as conflicting interests on one common field, they are in strong and palpable contrast as principles of good and evil, and their bearing on the whole of China though more complicated, so as to confuse and confound men's minds, is not the less reducible to these two simple elements of good and evil.

Let it be further considered whether any inducement however lucrative would lead us to incur the solemn responsibility of attempting to introduce this insidious scourge of opium smoking into a new and untried field, for, if it would not, the same responsibility rests upon us for participating in an old established evil when time has developed its true character.

But indeed argument is needless. Every Christian who will take the trouble to examine into the matter will find that the opium trade to China cannot for one moment be defended on Christian principles, that by applying such a test it is at once disclosed to view in its true colors as a monster evil which is devastating the east, and which if he have the courage to confess his faith, be can no longer be conscientiously engaged in.