Page:Chinese account of the Opium war (IA chineseaccountof00parkrich).pdf/97

 have had the benefit of other Chinese besides the patriots;–for instance, our rapscallions, as far as setting disloyalists against the enemy goes. If, on the other hand, they had remained on the defensive whilst treating, then we should have had nothing to fear, whilst they would have had everything to ask. We should have resolutely adhered to the opium interdiction as a means of closing their mouths and taking the spirit out of them, leaving the other barbarians deprived of their trade to come in as mediators, in which condition we could never but be declared by the latter otherwise than in the right against the English; whilst we must have gained their affection in the same measure as the English their hatred. In this way not only should we not have had to pay for any opium, but we should have. been able to prevent for ever its coming any more. in the future; whilst the millions of money which we had to spend in war indemnities to the barbarians could have been devoted to the purchase of foreign guns and ships, the training of marines and firemen to attack, etc.; thus appropriating to our own pur- poses the armaments and defences of the foreigners themselves, and turning their arts and devices into our arts and devices, and at one effort both enriching the state and strengthening our arms.

Oh! opportunity! opportunity! It is only the true genius who can take opportunity by the fore-