THE OPIUM QUESTION.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR.") SIR,—The writer of the article in Saturday's Spectator who suggests that if Indian opium was no longer sent to China, the vacant market would be instantly supplied from the Southern States, is evidently not aware that by the recent treaty between the United States and China, the two Governments undertake absolutely to prohibit all direct or indirect traffic in opium between their countries. China is certainly strong enough to cope with Turkey or Persia in the matter,—perhaps even with the "North Borneo Company," if left to itself. The true ques- tion in the anti-opium agitation is simply this, —Will England allow China to exclude this baneful drug from her ports, if she wishes ?—I am, Sir, &c., [Mr. Sturge forgets that the Treaty was partly intended to protect China. If she were left free, the old smuggling trade, which was such a curse to the whole East, would instantly revive. The records of that trade are infamous, and it could not be stopped.—En. Spectator.]
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