Page:China- Its State and Prospects.djvu/111

Rh actively engaged in the traffic; and should the present residents, influenced by principle, abandon the trade, there are not wanting others, who will gladly embrace the opportunity of enriching themselves at the expense of the miseries of thousands. Many, doubtless, are deluding themselves with the idea, that if they do not deal in it, others will: and as the Chinese will have opium, whether or not, they may as well furnish them with it, as let others reap the profit of what their over scrupulousness would deprive them. They are fully aware that opium is injurious to the constitution, and that, imported in such quantities, and consumed by so many, it must tend to the destruction of life, and the diminution of happiness. But, then, they plead that they were involved in the trade, before they were aware of the extent of the evil; and, now that they are embarked in it, they cannot well retract; besides, they intend soon to return to their native country, when they will leave the Chinese, and future opium dealers, to do as they please. The principle, sanctioned by all this special pleading, it will easily be seen, is untenable: it is simply this, that immediately we can ascertain that a thing will proceed, whether we take part in it or not; or that others will carry on a measure, if we abstain from abetting it; it then ceases to be an evil in us to participate in the transaction, however ruinous or destructive it may be. True morality will lead us to enquire, whether the thing be right or wrong; and, if the latter can be established, it is ours to renounce it, however lucrative to ourselves, or grasped at by others. The golden rule, of doing to others as we would be done by, will teach us to avoid being accessory to the spread of allurements, and incentives to