Demands of British Money Kings
FROM the Gospel Messenger of March 8, 1913, the following paragraph is taken: "Simply to save British speculators from a loss of $60,000,000, invested in opium imported from India, Sir John Jordan, representing the British government, is seeking to force China's acceptance of the entire amount of the drug now on hand. All this, despite the fact that Chinese officials have practically ruled out all opium, prohibited all opium-growing in their own land, and effectually stopped the sale and use of the drug. This, naturally, leaves the British merchants in Chinese seaports without a market for their stock of opium, and now they come forward with the demand that China sell the drugs as a government monopoly. As this demand is most forcibly backed up by Great Britain, and, if refused, involves the future status of the republic, there is great consternation throughout China. Western nations are being solicited to support China in the stand she has taken against the opium evil. There is no good reason why enlightened public opinion, both in the United States and in Europe, should not support the Chinese government in its gallant struggle against the opium curse. There is no good reason, furthermore, why British speculators should be protected at the expense of the degradation of China's millions. It is neither right nor just to force the purchase of a drug upon the Chinese, when they have emphatically declared against it on the ground of its destructive influences."