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He proposed for that end. Those are in his own words, "determination on the part of the ruling Powers—honesty on the part of the Police and responsibility on the part of the Harbour authorities." Now it is not denied that the ruling Powers in China have long since forbidden and to this day by the laws of the country do still forbid and denounce gambling, evincing great "determination", whilst as for the responsibility of the Haifong authorities, Mr. Anderson tells us they are already responsible, and, so far as appears, might, if they exerted their authority, put down gambling at any time, much as the Police, to which he alludes, might at any time be more honest, if they were less corrupt and dishonest.
It is to Mr. Anderson's credit that he should be so sanguine and genuine in such matters, and I fancy that in his position it would not be regarded as correct to be otherwise. Nevertheless, I fail to derive from his experience any practical hint for actually attaining the "suppression" of which he speaks.
Mr. Anderson improves that if virtuous men were to be more virtuous, vice would be left—I must concede that point—in my opinion merely men were to be less vicious.