heard in influential quarters with force than either their numbers or specigreater It is not in this ous arguments entitle them. ? their

case

voice

question of the few who striving against the many

are

a

ened

have

and

ever

always

are

Such

darkness for the latter's welfare. ments

enlight-

who

in

move-

will attract the

best in every country, and it is certain that if there had been any solid foundation for the

preseut attitude of the anti-opiumists they would have found plenty of supporters in India, Euro-

Jutliau JJUdiuat (Sa^tti;. JANUARY 1894.

pean and Native, who would have done all in their power to assist them in their cause. But when descriptions of degradation are given as

THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON OPIUM. THE GENERAL EVIDENCE.

The

Opium

in India for

Commission has

over a

month ami

evidence lias been collected

agitation

of the

show that the

to

is based

anti-opiumists

very unstable foundation.

every-day

besn

sitting already sufficient now

a

on

Indeed it has been

a

matter of

surprise even to those in favor of the appointment of a Commission that so little evidence has been forthcoming to justify such an enquiry. European and Native, official and non-official, have almost unanimously condemned any interference with the opium habit in India, and have emphatically declared that the practice as generally carried 011 by the Indian population with, perhaps, the exception of smoking muddut and chundoo in opium dens, is not one from which they have noticed injury to health On the contrary, as a sustainer of hard work is to be done, or great when energy inclement to weather to be borne, and exposure* as a stimulant in declining years when the vital

or

morals.

powers aa

are

Indian

jthe a

it is found

flagging, population

to

individuals with

rheumatics and

fluxes,

the

which has been

prominently brought

before the public and still more seldom 011 subject which h'is been deemed worthy of Royal Commission. True the demand for

Commission

was

a a a

made at the instance of the the people of India but by a not

Government or small section of the British the art in a high degree of

public who possess being able to make

can

in

discover

unpleasantly impressed not

and

need

an

expert

harm caused

streets of London.

dence of

only

in

special

cases,

excess

to

on

the mind.

discern the

It does

degradation

alcoholic drinks in the In that great city the evi-

by

is to be

seen

almost

everywhere

;

it

appals ami disgusts and presents a painful contrast in this respect to that which meets the eye in water-drinking, opium-eating and sober India. There is no necessity of going to the

hospitals, asylums, prisons and workhouses in England to ask medical men their opinion as to the injurious effects of drink lor, unhappily, it is too conspicuous to need to be searched for; but if these institutions found that there

a

owing

Certainly

portion

sees

the hollowness and shatn of the alarm which has lead to this outcry are apt to be deeply and

of

a

effect of climate, malaria, insanitary conditions and poverty, it is, to those who indulge in the habit in moderation, nothing less than a comfort and blessing. A similar consensus of opinion among laymen has seldom been obtained 011 any

question

by searching

to be invaluable ; while

by

which no ordinary obevery-day life, and doctors

occurrences

in India

statement

sedative and calmative

pains, aches, fevers,

server

large proportion to

the alcoholic vice.

be made

regarding

not, if we evidence of our own witnesses who have sion.

visited it will be of the inmates are

are

are

to be

a

similar

opium

habit ?

the that of the before the Commis-

senses

appeared

Can

the

guided by

and