Opium Wars Events

Opium Crisis opium_wars.1

Opium addiction is ravaging …. Vast numbers of … people have become opium fiends, causing a wave of crime, poverty, and idleness. Despite the obvious harm, … continues to flood the market.

Every household has a bed-bound opium fiend, every street corner has an opium den, and every port welcomes … merchants pouring a glut of opium down the throats of any who will pay for it.

Opium Wars opium_wars.2

The … government has announced its intent to put an end to the opium trade in …. As … is a major exporter of opium, this is a matter of great economic concern.

"There are some who decry the so-called moral evils of the opium trade; I say to them, who are you to stand in the way of free trade and the free choices of the consumer? The demand exists, and so we provide—if not us then some other nation would grow rich off the backs of … opium fiends. Should every man be deprived of opium simply because some irresponsible ninnyhammers abuse it? And should every … family be deprived of the wealth that opium brings to our country?"

The End of Addiction opium_wars.3

Just as the opium fiend shall break his addiction and rise from his idler’s bed, so shall our nation cast off the unwelcome yoke of foreign influence and rise as a sovereign state. No longer inundated with opium, our rivers shall flow with silver and our people shall return to virtuous living.

Opium Wars: Defeat opium_wars.4

Where is the nation that ruled for centuries over a harmonious land? We are slaves to opium, at the mercy of foreign greed. We cannot control our ports, the foreigners show no respect to our …, and in every household the whispers of dissent grow louder. Dark days are coming; our mandate may be at an end.

Opium Wars: Victory opium_wars.5

"It’s over, ambassador. Tell your … to sign the treaty, or else the repercussions will be severe. You will open your ports to us, you will cooperate with our officials in all matters of trade, you will pay the wages of the soldiers presently engaged in bringing ruination to your land and your people. You will submit."

Opium Smugglers opium_wars.6

… patrols have caught a group of … smugglers carrying opium into …. This is a flagrant attempt by … to bypass the opium embargo.

"Smugglers? Not at all! We are honest merchants legally carrying our wares to your fine country." "Of course we have the proper documents. You want us to submit to an inspection of the vessel? I’m afraid that won’t be possible. There’s a terrible infestation of... umm... man-eating badgers in the cargo hold." "I assure you this is all a misunderstanding! Get your hands off me! I demand to see the … ambassador!"

Addiction Recovery opium_wars.7

The measures … has taken to address the opium crisis are paying off. Citizens in … have made a full recovery, and similar progress can be observed throughout the region.

"I had been numb to all thought and feeling, bed-ridden and oblivious. To be able to move again, to think and feel and love all the joys the world has to offer...and yet I still feel its allure. I must resist."

Opium Addiction opium_wars.8

… people are experiencing severe effects of opium addiction. The use and abuse of the substance has spread throughout ….

The opium eater lies under the weight of incubus and nightmare; he lies in sight of all that he would fain perform, just as a man forcibly confined to his bed by the mortal languor of a relaxing disease, who is compelled to witness injury or outrage offered to some object of his tenderest love: he curses the spells which chain him down from motion; he would lay down his life if he might but get up and walk; but he is powerless as an infant, and cannot even attempt to rise.