The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-09-04 00:00:00

(stourbribg Obscont.

S.T.URDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th, 1875.

THE I'iVAR CLOUD IN THE EAST.

A month has not elapsed since the message
from the Throne, on the prorogation of Parlia-
ment, conveyed the asssurance that our relations
with foreign Powers were satisfactory. During
Ike last few days, however, mysterious and
alarming reports have prevailed respecting China
and it has been intimated, not obscurely, that
vs might be on the eve of another Chinese war.
When a minister in a distant land aoks for more
beeps, vernal know what to expect. The ques-
ts* may veil be asked whether it is by accident
at by design that affairs in Eastern Asia have
samasett a threatening shape simultaneously
with the aspect if things in Eastern Europe.
The insurrection in Herzegovina and Bosnia is
only too likely Is sompel the active interference
et the great Powers, and when that begins, no
one can say where it may stop. The snbjeet is
one in which we are utost deeply interested
sad with respect to which we ought to be able
to have our hands free, and our military re-
sources fully available. Yet if we had to wage a
war in Asiatic waters, this condition could not
be fulfilled. This contingency does not seem so
remote as we could all wish it to be. Little
doubt appears to exist in the minds of well-in-
formed people that the Chinese and the Burmese
are acting in concert. The Chinese have refused
the demands of Mr. Wade, our minister at Pekin
for the punishment of the murderers of Mr. Mar-
guy; and Sir Douglas Forsyth's demands upon
the King of Burnish have met with a similar
fate. We have had more than one brush with
the Chinese, but our repeated corrections of
their bad maners does not seem to have had the
effect which such stern lessons ought to convey.
We all know what took place in 1857, how the
repressive measures adopted by Sir Michael Sey-
mour, having been disapproved by the House of
Commons, Lord Palmerston, who was then at
the head of affairs, appealed to the constituen-
cies, and a majority was returned in favour of
his policy. In 1860 again, England.and France
jointly had occasipn to chasten the celestials for
their treachery at the mouth of the Peiho river.
But such little inconveniences as these are quite
lost upon the Emperor of China, or as he calls
himself the Brother of the Sun. The Chinese
are as full of the idea of their own superiority
over all barbarians, as they call other nations,
as they were thousands of years ago when they
boasted of Confucions, Mencius, and other philo-
sophers, and built the Great Wall for the purpose
of keeping out the depredations of the Tartars.
Their contempt for Europeans especially is sim-
ply araaaing. Hence Mr. Wade, our represen-
Wive in the Chinese capital, has been met, in
his remonstrances, with an insolence of official
demeanour which it is impossible for an ac-
credited envoy to tolerate. He therefore deems
It necessary to suggest a reinforcement of Brit-
ish troops new stationed in our Chinese posses-

Skim -
This intelligence, aiming at the same time
sritls that •Ithe rising in sorat of the :provinces
of European Turkey, is of rather a serious char-
acter. The war-cloud, at first no bigger than a
man's hand, has gradually extended, and now
darkens the Eastern sky. No one doubts that
in any engagement which we might have with
the soldiers of the Celestial Empire we should
some out of the fray just as Nye did before, and
have the best of it. At the same time there is
no doubt that the Chinese have made consider-
able progress in the art of war during the past
few years. If they have resolved to force us in-
to a struggle, they will do their best to repay us
for what we have given them on former occasions
When we were engaged in a little war with the
Celestials in 1840, we found them armed with
bows and arrows ; in 1860 they had got to mus-
kets, and these have been succeeded in great
measure by breech-loading rifles. The Chinese
show a wonderful power of imitation, and rather
than have no forts at all, they have in former
conflicts constructed their fortifications of can-
vas, and made their artillery of wood. But they
know better now, and we should find them a
tougher set of antagonists to deal with than we
formerly experienced. • The Chinese soldiery are
no longer a disorganised rabble, ready to flee at
the first shot, for they have been drilled by
English and American officers. Nor is the
Chinese fleet now a heap of old-fashoned junks,
but there are ,several ugly-looking ironclads
amongst them. Therefore, although we do not
doubt whatithe result of a tussle with the Celes-
tials would be, it would involve a very consider-
able expenditure of our resources, especially if
at the same time we had a quarrel upon hand
with his Majesty of Burmah.
It is this contingency which makes the news
from China so much more serious than it would
be if it stood alone. Disguise it as we will, look
at the matter in the most favourable light in
which it can be regarded, there is no doubt that
the Russians are steadily marching towards our
Indian frontier. All kinds of reasons are given
for this continued progress. At one time they
have to bring a rebellious chief to his senses;
at another they have to inflict chastisement up.
en a contumacious Khan. Yet the vast territor-
ies of Central Asia are grub:11111Y being subjuga-
lied to Russian rule, and the big Polar bear is
gradually approaching the frontier guarded by
the British lion. Without suggesting that
Russia has auy intention of attacking our Indian
possessions it will be seen that the gradual ap-
proach of lAA colossal rower renders it 1186131.
sary for us to keep a much larger military force
in the east than we need otherwise do. Com-
bine with this suspicion the contingency that
Russia may find it necessary .to interfere in the
affairs of European Turkey, in which we are also
greatly interested, and add to it the possibility
of Qnr having to nog the Chinese and to admin-
ister a castigation to the King of 13urmah, audit
will be seen that diplomatists and ambassadors
may well be anxious, arid that important events
may not mprobably transpire, fraught with
events calculated to deeply affect the welfare
of the British Empire.

--
THE IRON TRADE.

THE DISAFFECTION AMONGST THE
MEN, AND THE BELGIAN QUESTION.
WOLVERHA3IPTON, Wednesday.
Business was hampered this afternoon by the
great uncertenty which overhangs the wages
question. There appeared much anxiety to
know what is likely to be done when, to-morrow,
the whole trade meets in Birniinghana, to "deli-
berate upon the course to be pursued now that
the operatives on the Conciliation Board have
resigned." While no one can tell what the
combined wisdom of the trade may point out as
the best course to be pursued, it looks at present
as though in the matter of wages, as it has
recently been in the matter of prices individual
firm§ will be allowed to •` do the best for them-
selves."
More orders are just now in the possession of
the makers of finished-iron generally than for
a few weeks past, and prices are prqortionately
strong. Nor is any less being. done in pigs—as
to which, likewise, prices, while they have not
advanced, still are very firm. both as to Staf-
fordshire and also imported pigs.
So far as tilid district is concerned, the
.gian comptition ought io be at an end. Fin-
ked iron made in the Wolverhampton district
111132 UOW be delivered into ij,f): &lAMB WiirlinOtls6ll,
bn %nal tO.VII St 164. under the quotations of the
Belgian molten. it does not. however, follow
that the Belgians are beaten out of the London
market inasmuch as it emits 17s. 6d- to scud
tree! Wolverhampton to London the same quality
of htatfordatare iron; and whilst the Stafford-
shire makers have to hear these heavy transit
burdens, the Belgium, can de!iver iron at a total
carriage onarg.e of £l. is. Bd. from tho Belgians
works to-the ,turf..liire warch3us".
Fht'Le are cowl taints of the ui.f •ir efforts
WI h 6111`' of Ili' 1--',.k',tan icon:us-torts are
put.in;.4 1"' hto get ,oict:uf busines hitherto
done, thke in th coil„try and in respect of Our
ort trade, In Hol:and in particular. Happily,
exv
their w su,: c,2s 11/1.4 lo', doubtful. The statement
.
of oue 1.14Ve for more tli tn half a
century enjoyed a large and regular trade in our
brand. in Holland, and although of late years the
glans have .Irivihi in every way to Belsupplant
us, e%ou to the pxtent of adopting our brand,
and in one iustance actually registering it, they
have still wholly failed in their attempt, and we
have never lost an order nor a customer from
their competition. We have seen a good deal of
Belgian iron, aud it has invariably been of infe-
rior quality."