The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-18
THE UBLIC.

THE REP UBLIC.
China-The Mission OF Rob. j. walker.
Though MIR. Walker is going to take the place
Of Mr. Marshall, our regular Minister in China,
mas mission, in some respects, must be regarded
az special. Under ordinary circumstances it
would not be such position as the President
would offer the ex-Secretary, nor such as he
would accept. And, considering the extraordi-
nary state of affairs in China, our movements
with regard to Japan, and the impossbilty Of
communicating in time with Washington in pro-
babe emergencies which may require Immediate
decision he is invested, doubtless, with great dis
cretionary powers.
his appointment is one of the best the. Pre-
sident has made. We say this Independent of
political party considerations, and without exa-
mining how far we may agree or disagree with
Mr. Walker on matters of internal policy. Tho
mission has little Of character to be influenced
by party views. Even the questions of free
trade and protection which enter into our do
nestle politics, and which influence the choice
OF ministers, according to the opinions of the
party in power, for England and some other
countries, do not prevail in the present case.
There is not much difference of opinion on
the subject of our commercial relations with
China. The Chinese do not compete with us in
manufactures, and therefore there is no question
OF protection. Nor has the mission of Mr.. Walk
or, like that of Mr.. Soule, a significance from
any particular opinions he may hold. As our
relations with China are entirely commercial
and MIR. Walker being well acquainted with the
subject of commerce, and having, as Secretary
of the Treasury, acquired extensive information
OF a nature to qualify him for this mission, men
OF all parties commend the appointment. Be-
sides, looking at the convulsed state of the Chi
nese empire, and at Mr.. Walkers ability as a
statesman, and at the character of his mind,
stamped with the faith and vigor of our pro-
gressive age, there appears to be a fitness in the
man to the circumstances.
While, however, we estimate highly the capa-
city of the new minister, are not Vi ithout some
apprehension that he may fall into the error of
placing himself too much in advance of circum-
stances and of acting too precipitately. He has
expressed himself decidedly in favor of the revo-
lutionsts. "Young China" or the Liberal
party, us we hear it called, has his sympathies.
Perhaps he does not speak in the language of the
minister, or express the sentiments of the Govern
ment, but only his own feelings; possibly his in
teryiows with Mr.. Gushing, who should be, and
who, it is believed, is we'll informed about China,
have enlightened and inspired him. He knows,
perhaps that the rebels are the reform party, and
wishes to favor, if not to assist, them. MIR. Cush-
ing and Mr.. Walker may have information that
we have not If the revolutionists be the liberal
party, we, like Mr. Walker, sympathze with
them, and shall sympathize with them. whether
they succeed or not. But we do not know that;
and, though we have a high opinion of Mr.. Cush-
ing s attainments, his literary tastes, his know
ledge of languages, and his brilliant powers of
conversation, we think it possible that, in the
generous hopes inspired by warm poetic imagi-
nation, he may lose sight of facts and the pract-
cal common sense view of the case. We speak
Of Mr. Gushing and not of the Secretary of State,
because, having been to China, he has boon more
consulted. Too much progress and poetry to-
gether might be dangerous.
Nations are not governed in their intercourse
with each other by feeling; they act from policy.
Our policy under the circumstances already
evolved, and in all probable contingencies in the
affairs of China, is that of strict neutrality. And
if the news of Mr.. Marshal's course be true, if he
has assisted or attempted to assist the Emperor,
he has committed capital blunder, and gives us
another proof of the necessity of elevating the
standard Of diplomatic qualifications. However,
Mr.. Marshall is a superior gentleman gilmore than
ordinary talents, and we hope that the next arri-
walls will bring reliable information that he has
not made mistake. Suppose we assist the EN-
peror, and he should be dethroned, should we not
exile the hatred ofthe new dynasty' And five aid
the revolutionists and they should fail, we should
have the ill-will of the existing government But
suppose we help the successful party, what do we
expect to gain more from their gratitude than we
should from their respect for our non-intervention
No people believe so firmly in the doctrine ofnon
Intervention as the Chinese, That homely pro-
verb, ssmind yeur own affairs, obtains great re-
spect from Cinnamon of all parties, rebels or 10y
asts, and particularly as applied by one nation
to another Their whole system is bassd upon it.
It has become, so to speak, part of their nature.
And though either party in the hour of distress
might obtain aid, from the Inherent jealousy of
tho people and government, it would not after
wards be disposed to accord more privileges or a
more free intercourse to intervening foreigners
than to mountaineering. Nor do we suppose that
snch bargain could be made, that either the En-
peror or rebel chiefs would guarantee more privi-
leges in consideration Of receiving assistance, ex-
cept, perhaps, in desperate circumstances, when
it would be the height of mpolicy to interfere.
We are not acquainted with facts enough to judge
of the relative strength and prospects of the con-
tending parties to determine in which scale to
throw our weight, supposing it would be our in
tercst to interfere while the very nature Of the
people. without knowing anything more, teaches
us that non-interference is our proper porcy.
The present instruction in China, like the an
Giant history nf that country, is cnveloped in