In the course of his report on the trade of Hankow during 19292, Mr. F. W. Maze, the Commissioner of Customs at Hankow, writes in ivory plain terms with regard to {the traffic in opium and drugs. He states:—Organised opium-smuggling shows no signs of decreasing and has now reached such colossal dimensions that it is idle to expect Customs Preventive measures to effect tangible results in so far as stopping the traffic is concerned. Notwithstanding the acknowledged sincerity of the Chinese Government and of many responsible and influential Chinese officials, supported to a large extent by the best type of Chinese -public opinion it is an indisputable fact that the opium habit is becoming more widespread, and it is believed that the opium trade in some quarters flourishes and develops without official opposition. Reports from the various poppy-growing © pro-Vinces indicate that what Peking forbids thus continues.to increase; and that opium is bought and sold in various districts without let or hindrance. The Hankow Customs have made notable seizures through-that fe crass "Oonteoretaice bin ''We, the undersigned, dee been a tendency to present science and religion as irreconcilable and antagonistic domains of thought, for in fact metal goods imported for mission'out the year and have possibly use with Customs papers all in' succeeded in occasionally embar-order were held up and Chinese in! rassing individual ventures, but charge compelled to pay until what is thus detected represents they meet distinct human needs, and; actual owners came up and with an infinitesimal proportion of what, in the rounding out of human life they some difficulty collected the refund. evades detection and passes supplement rather than displace or opof unlawful' charges. through, or 1s consumed in, the poss each other, To call a man a robber or a district. During the year some "The purpose of science is to develop, brigand is now more of a compli-112 piculs were seized—mostly on without prejudice or preconception of any kind, a knowledge of the facts, the ment than an insult. Our police specific information—and publicly; burnt in the presence of Chinese laws and the processes of nature, The: are more ornamental than useful. even more important task of religion, Soldiers behave well under Hang-officials.
In addition to the opium menace, on the other hand, is to develop the chow discipline, unwise to say what however, reference should be made consciences, the ideals, and the aspirathey may do to-morrow. Trade is to the enormous increase in the use tions of mankind. Each of these two improving in spite of all hindractivities represents a deep and vital of narcotics in various forms, all ances, function of the soul of man, and both of which are imported from abroad. Building materials in demand, are necessary for the life, the progress and _the happiness of the human race. labour scarce, wages high.
Of the two evils, opium is unquestionably the lesser, and unless an "It is a sublime conception of God A few Chinese say that the international compact is arranged, which is furnished by science, and country needs foreign intervention, ' limiting the production and regula-wholly consonant with the highest but the majority have a feeling of ting the output of morphia and ideals of religion, when it represents bitter impotence against the powers other habit-forming drugs, the Him as revealing Himself through count-that be.
Some say "No Law, No Chinese people in the end will less ages in the development of the Government, None needed." suffer more from the evil effects of earth as an abode for man and in the So-called good citizens prefer re-age-long inbreathing of life into its the latter.than from opium-smoking. constituent matter, culminating in man tirement, noisy irresponsibles are It is manifestly misleading to with his spiritual nature and all his emerging here and there, alert in assert—as hag been done—that his God-like powers." evading responsibility, eager for morphia "cannot be imported" (j.e., This significant declaration wag advantage of any sort. It is tacit-' enter China) unti] a special Janding signed by Dr. C. D. W: alcott, Secre- ly admitted that foreigners are to' permit has been issued by the tary of the Smithsonian Institution, be protected, but not a word of, Chinese, Maritime Customs," and President of the National Academy sympathy or interest as to the of Sciences and of the American Chinese in captivity among brig-! Association for the Advancement of ands. For every one way of doing' thus leave the public to infer that the remedy against the drug habit lies solely with the Chinese aut-
Science; Dr. J. C. Merriam, the accomplished President of the Carnegie Institution; Dr. W. W.' Campbell, the distinguished astronomer, Director of the Lick Obser-' vatory; Dr. H. F. Osborn, famous as a naturalist. and President of the American Museum of Natural something, there are 99 ways not to do anything.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.