Page:American Diplomacy in the Orient - Foster (1903).djvu/96

 referred to "the great cause which produced the disturbances which led to the war, viz., the trade in opium." The Chinese plenipotentiaries asked why the British "would not act fairly towards them by prohibiting the growth of the poppy in their dominions, and thus effectually stop a traffic so pernicious to the human race." The British answer was that this could not be done in consistency with their constitutional laws; that even if they ceased to bring opium to China the Chinese would procure the drug from some other source; and that it would be better to legitimatize the importation under proper regulations. But the Chinese replied that "their imperial master would never listen to a word on that subject." And after the war the illicit practice continued, to the physical and moral injury of the Chinese, and to the great financial profit of the British.

The moral aspects of the war were at the time and have been since much discussed. The general judgment may be stated to be in condemnation of the British for the encouragement and maintenance of the trade, so injurious to the Chinese people, and so strongly condemned by their authorities. They were not justified in inaugurating hostilities because of the seizure and destruction of the opium,—an article made contraband by the laws of China and subject to confiscation. On the other hand, a conflict was recognized as inevitable and necessary to compel the Chinese government to treat other nations and their officials upon terms of equality,