If you make a treaty first with the United States and settle the matter of the opium trade, England cannot change this, though she should desire to do so.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
The President wishes the Japanese to be very prudent about the introduction of opium, and if a treaty is made, he wishes that opium may be strictly prohibited.
The expense of a war could be paid in time; but the expense of opium, when once the habit is formed, will only increase with time.
It appears that the English think the Japanese... are fond of opium, and they want to bring it here also.
Let not England forget her precedence of teaching nations how to live.
Although the Chinese had used opium as a medicine, there was no widespread addiction before the British arrived.
Nobody will laugh long who deals much with opium: its pleasures even are of a grave and solemn complexion.
There is always a need for intoxication: China has opium, Islam has hashish, the West has woman.
But let her remember, that it is in Britain alone, that laws are equally favourable to liberty and humanity; that it is in Britain the sacred rights of nature have received their most awful ratification.
Fortunately for England, all her imports are raw materials.
The President of the United States thinks that for the Japanese opium is more dangerous than war.
No opposing quotes found.