To the Editor of the "Norra-Cama Dairy News."
Sir,—Will you kindly allow me the courtesy of your columns) to call your attention and that of your readers to what I believe to be two or three fallacies in what I understand to be the position of the Shanghai Municipal Council in the present opium situation in Shanghai?
First, as to the number of the shops. It seems to be assumed that the sale of the opium now on hand in Shanghai must be provided for by the Council, and, since the sale must be provided for, it makes! no difference how many shops are licensed. Granting, for the sake of the argument, that this quantity of opium must be sold here, it does not follow that it makes no difference in how many shops it is sold and for two reasons. First, the numerous new shops in many parts of the Settlement whose huge signs! are so noticeable to those who read Chinese, tend to call the attention of new purchasers to the ease with which the poison can be had here, thus tending to increase the victims of what is generally admitted to be an evil habit. The same amount of the drug sold in a smaller number of old shops would be more likely to be consumed by those on whom the habit is already fixed Business firms, I believe, open new branches' quite as often for the purpose of attracting new customers ae for the convenience of old ones.
The second reason for objecting to the increase in the number of shops irrespective of the total amount sold is that a larger number of people become engaged in what seems to be admitted to be a reprehensible traffic.
Again, in regard to the fact that the licence fee for retail opium shops has been raised. Objection seems to be taken to Mr. Foster's pamphlet! because he did not mention that fact Now, Sir, that line of argument seems to me very like saying, We know we are doing a discredit able thing, but we are getting well paid for it." I submit that if the community is doing a discreditable thing in falling so far behind the Chinese in a moral reform, no amount of money can make it creditable—rather the more money more shame.
That the increase in the number) of the shops is a discreditable thing is evidently the opinion not only of Mr. Foster and other enthusiasts but also of high officials of the British Government, as is shown in the 421 scrupulously diplomatic language of Sir John Jordan when he says:
"These protestations and intentions of gradual limitation and annual reduction have scarcely been justified by the Council's action."
You, Sir, as an editor. whose business is English composition can hardly fail to admire the delicate restrait of the British Minister's language.
Another point, granting, again for the sake of the argument, that the Chinese Government was a free agent in accepting the Customs duty on the present stocks of opium, I cannot seo that this community is under obligation to provide for the sale. It seems to be the fashion to feel fear lest the poor opium dealers shall suffer, though it is credibly reported that the present stocks were bought at from Tls. 2,500 to Fla 3,000 per picul and are now selling at about Tls. 7,000. Even if the dealers have not already made large profits on their purchases, I submit that the interests of the community ae a whole should take precedence over the interests of the speculators in any merchandize, whether the merchandise itself be good or bad Finally, allow me to make a protest at what seems to me an effort to "draw a red herring across the trail " and confuse the issue by asking whether some other contingent evil might not conceivably be worse than opium. I submit that even if it were proven that come other bad habit is worse than the opium habit, that does not furnish any sufficient reason for letting the opium habit alone So far as my own limited observation goes, those who profess to fear that the habit of using foreign liquors will prove more disastrous to the Chinese than the opium habit are not exerting themselves to prevent the drink evil from gaining a hold on the Chin-eve people.
Is it not, Sir, the duty of all right-thinking men, of all lovers of their fellow-men, whatever their race or religion, t" give every por sible assistance to those Chil who are struggling to free their people from every evil habit?
Perhaps it should be said that the opinions expressed are those of myself as an individual rather than as an officer of the Shanghai Missionary Association, though I believe many Isymen as well as missionaries will agree in the main with the views here set forth.
Tam, etc, J. W. Croroor.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.