The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-20

10 DC sent 10 instruct INC Japanese In CIVILIZATION
and free trade with 10-inch mortars and one 100
gun ship. The truth is, that the American cabi-
net is prepared to deal with the coal fields Of Japan
just rs it attempted to deal with the guano Of Lo
hos, and there is defence against such policy
but the possession Of superior strength.
Japan and Its Public Press.
From the Morning Chronicle Of Nov A.
the Continent is Mt present subjected, we cannot
hope for any free aud unbiased criticism Of English
politics The results Of Independent investigation
into our domestic affairs, are nov, alas, completely
lost to u.s. When a Veron, or q Granier de Cassag-
nacventures to aude to what takes place on this side
OF the channel We naturally suspect the inspiration
Of the Elysee, and we accordingly dis'rpst the
Ri u from s e inss
tions Of our foreign contemporaries is, doubt,
FERROUS loss for the free treatment Of English
questions by continental writer's, supplies most
valuable commentary on cur proceedings But
Notwithstanding the iron authority by which the
Partisan press is restrained, We are happy to find
that there still remains organ of opinion in which
foreigners can estimate dispassionately the move
ments Of English parties, and the claims and qualid
catione Of our public men. 1t has for many years
been the practice Of tho Dut,h government at Bata
via, publish annual review Of European politics,
the solitary ship makes its yearly voyage to that
remote region, it carries with It twenty Thousand
copies OF the gazette thus issued under the authority
up, with ayidty the leading journal Of the Eastern
Archipelago. This curious arrangement affords
apt complication Of the Western crusade against
the immobility of the East The japanese, hitherto
known TO our quarter Of the world only by their
hatred Of strangers and their ignorance Of perspec
tive, arc brought within the sphere of Western in
telligence and civilization. European journalism
has obtained a footing Mt Jeddo. Dangerous leading
articles are published without alarming the police
authorities The Dutch editor Of tho japanese
Times has received warning from the Minister OF
Police, rOr is his paper stopped at the Custom
and Mi iva Of
empires permits free and open discussion Of ques-
tons which are never treated with impunty on the
continent of Europe.
As regards the progress Of civilization in Japan,
the journalistic efforts Of the Dutch governals mt
deserve the highest praise IL is great thing 10
have taught barbsrous. people to study political
disqusition and foreign intelligence We envy the
Dutch their success in proragandisn. In this
country, which is professedy civilized there is the
greatest difficulty in 3rawng the attention Of GER
tain classes to those important questions Of social
poIitan press; but the squires OF japan appear /,
be an enlightened and knowledge loving race
Whilst, however, we cordially congratulate Dutch
philanthropy on the happy results Of its efforts 70
educate and improve the japanese landowner, we
are more imn ediately concerned with this very pc
euliar description Of journalism, as alordng an i'm
partial expression of opinion tho public events
of Europe 1t IL Of some importance to us to as.
certain the light in which unbiased foreigners
regard affairs. We are naturally anxious to
examine the criticisms pronounced upon us by
writers who are clearly uninfuenced by personal
predictions, and unfettered by party ties.
An opportunity has been recently afforded us Of
examining the journals thus printed and circulated
by the Dutch government for the information Of
the inhabitants of japan. There arc many things
In these singular publications with which we nigh.
be disposed to quarrel We cannot recognise the
claims of the great nation of Hollanders to rank
the leading European power-a doctrine which the
impressed upon the Japanese public. Nor are We
by any means satisfied with the insgni6cance which
the Dutch official journalists impute England and
the United States With some appearance Of Pl.usi,
bility, it is stated that Great Britain 10 an island
enveloped in perpetual fogs, necessarily vexed with
political disputes, and inhabited by race whose
s0uDdness OF intellect is worse than questionable
The United States do not fare much better, for they
are said to consist OF communities of very garrulous
men, perfectly destitute Of all regard for the rights
Of property. But 1t certainly is by means logi
cal inference, that the natives Of the countries thus
discourteously characterized are necessarily without
power or influence to extend their dominion in the
East. Still, mere generslities are never offensive
1t is impossible to feel indignant with the literary
Dutchmen Of Batavia for their somewhat sweeping
criticisms upon English character. One can easily
pardon such accusations. Yet when it is asserted
that this country is steadily going back ward. and
has fallen in the estimation of Europe, we are
tempted to examine the allegations made against
US, and to analJze the deductions drawn by eur
keen sighted critics.
1t has recently been announced, for the edfcation
Of the Japanese, that the administration Of Eng.
ms ny bOe caance, fallen into the
hands of persons utterly unable to conduct il. Ac
cordipg to the Dutch journalist, certain noblemau
has Of late become the head Of the English govern
mcnt purely by accident. The reading public OF
japan are Informed that Mynheer Derby . chol.
eric and loquacieus lord, who was ever held in the
lowest possible estimation, has suddenly becom the
chief Minister of Queen Victoria and the dip,ser Of
blue ibspds and official emoluments; and his chief
assistant is described obscure adventurer ofEas
tern extraction. The Batavan editor though for
the most part disposed to treat all English Affairs
with utter contempt. discusses at some length the
present phase of English politics He conceiyes Lord
Derby to be anoblemap ofvery peculiar abilities and
Mr. Disraeli to be insbircd with a remarkable and
patriotic audacity. But he ssgaciously argues that.
in spite Of the apparent abilities of these Ministers.
II s probable that the obscure island Of Great Bri
tain will undergo great msfortunes uuIes, its rulers
are changed. The prospects of other politicians are
duly examined, though at less length. Lord John
Bright and Mr. Cobdsn only just mentioned,
whilst poor Lord Grey and Sir Charles Wood M.
pear TO be altogether unknown at Jeddo When il
is reecllected that the Dutch have ever sought to
undermine English influence in the East, and to
deract from the splsndor Of English greatness we
can understand why the names of our most rising
politicians have been carefully withheld from Js-