The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-27

TO THE kMPhROh--THkIk kEMON5rHANCH AGAINST
INTERRUPTIONS TO FOREIGN coMMERCE-FREE MA
VACATION OF The YANaT5zE-KEANG.
During the absence Of the British and American plsni-
potentares at the Peiho speculation will be active and
sults Of their present mission. The OF
this time peculiarly ayorable in many points, for
tenton OF the Imperial Court OF PeLnr For Ourselves
give expression to the hope that these opporune
yanages may not be lost nor msused and that foreign
diplomacy may bear more solid and lasting fruits OF
successful results than any we have secured from
former negotiations with this willy fathes govern
ment.
The of public policy open to foreign psnpo-
tenares at this time is nevertheless, exposed to
many dangers and 1t Is with no intention OF embar-
RAISING the two absent penipoentares (both Of whom
Of benevolent character and kindly feelings la
private ife) that point out to Of
mark the present crisis.
The Imperial government of China is now weakened BY
civil war; impoverished in exchequer, unable to fall
back upon any loyalty in the people, sustained only by
that class OF natives Tin every population the mino
ry1 who have sny ans 70 lose oy CONFUSION Of So
throne; and yet, amid all these internal dangers
humbled and unawakened to the full extent of their
perils and sraDg reluctant to abandon ota Of
their supercous bearing towards Foreigners We
fess that dp sed to place any trust in the
less rmed by such material guarantees as snail rem.
der breach Of their promises impractcable Such .
government might perhaps be willing in the present
cessty to concede TO Foreigners temporary facilities
of internal communication, which might afford hope
Of the European Powers being involved in hostile col
The free navigation OF the Yang keang through
out the whole length OF its waters and the throwing
open Of this noble stream TO the shipping Of Western ma
the wall of partition which now separates China from
the rest of the world, and place the ubects of Euro
pesn countries in new and position OF
advantage and power. We believe that this boon may
be ours, and that such q consumm alton will
long be within our reach without any of
principle or any rangresson Of the law of neutrality on
our part It is TO bs hoped that the two plenipoten
tiares Tin the doubtful event Of their being able to OBJ
fa.n DxUtth Aty.. nNa1l
voy,) will t.ke full advantage of the arrival of the
period for the stipulated revision of foreign treaties
1t is open to them to make known to the imperial
government the uselessness of past negotiations
the frequent breach OF treaty obligations in the
Consular ports the exclusion Of Foreigners from
the giving back by the British of Cnusan the
and the continued breach of every moral guarantee
which accompanied its cessou 1t might be urxe that
the time has when foreign governments an order
to protect and from the
the commercial privileges which they at present possess
by treaty. demand Tor their subjects right what
under the faithful discharge Of former spuatons would
have been advanced rather request to be treated
for conceded bought For the Chinese to grant such
boon would be lnroad upon all the Evolutionary po
Icy of this empire Bold will be that who will
Dare TO breathe such propose. OF foreign assumption
ency Chinese envoy might be disposed to grant or
nve at the entrance of foreign vessels upon the waters
of the great central artery of inland traffic. 10 the hope
that such event might prec,pitate collision with
and procure the aid Of armed foreign
intervention against the insurgents at Marking.
Tho two dangers against which we raise the note of
warning will readily suggest themselves. in the first
place. deem it right to insist the invoIability of
that eutralty which is understood to be the positive
instructions OF the respective home governments to be
observed bona fde not merely in the written articles
which the negotiations conducted. Let there be
gentle hiu tacit understanding implied promise
of price to be paid in the shape of hostile threats
against Tae ping wang and intentions Of
interference In the civil How far such under
standing may have oeen excited by indirect methods
either the presence Of high diplomatic parties them
and subordinate ndarins not for to tell Strict
neutrality may be easily broken by the turn Of
tence and the drift Of by the written
pledge and formal stpulat IN of treaty We wish
could say that the anmus already displayed by the British
Minister against the Marking insurgents could relieve
OF the apprehension lest in his hands British inu
ence should be employed not with the digned patience
M but .ts she
ship Of one who could preach democracy the hust
ings OF radical constituency ami yet live to stultify
piaceman, and penipotentiary all his past sn.ece-
dents and professions by becoming his advanced age
the upholder Of the most cruel and corrupt of eastern
that his exceeacy possesses too liberal mind too
benevolent heart to enter upon false position
ev to this and 70 e.. world g.
suppose the free NAVIGATION OF the Yang gain
ed from the de fdcto government OF Peking Or We w
imagine the probable alternative OF determ Ation
the part OF the three great treaty TO suspend
farther negotiation with the Chinese monarch when he
misfortune rs he was ,usolent in former times o pride
and They might proclaim, by joint man festo,
the self assumed right Tor their respective countries to
navigate tho interior OF the Yang tszeeauy and
threaten the consequ. Of upon either party,
whether imperalists insurgents who should employ
force against ls The issue of procama
ton 1t Is easy to foresee The mperialists warned
at the previous interviews aud more alive to
the dangers Of foreign sns%,, would Be
suspend their resentment and revenge. The i'm
perialist fotilla would doubtless allow our vessels
at Ching keaug would also b. likely to look WITH curl
osty, not with unconcern But arrived OF the city
OF Nankns the foreign vessel ncurs interr iption and
difficulties and delays The pueriities and pune
to of Chnest Court etiquette win revived must be
prudenty met and should be, under certain contngea
cies resisted It's not difacnt to picture tn, serious
risks which will thus be raised Matters of national
Of world ude Understanding all the qualities OF
calm discrimination and cool judgment win be liable to
be and by the reck
less nemperance Of spirit violence In action OF the
first merchant. who sails up the river Even
naval commander, acting under responsibility TO his
periors, but possessing bellcose temperament the
novel excitement Of adventure might seek to avenge
force hastily conceived insult TO his nations flag
One single hour rash appeal to armed violence for
redress OF imaginary grievance might aenate embitter
and exasperate for whole generation powerful party
OF Insurgents may he and las think 1t will probs-
bly, be- the authors Of finally successful revolution Of
the empire.
1t is at this point that we contemplate not without
deep alarm the possible cont ngences Of the coming
spring There 10 great danger in the fact that the lead
in the central insurrecon appear have been
remarkable ignorance OF the power Of foreign nations
Ever aimee their capture OF Nsnking and to the
visit Of the United States steamer
through the cold dstrust OF foreign nsters Pro-
tstant missionary been able to reach that city
thus the nsurgent chiefs remained isolated from
those various influences which might have guided their
counses aud corrected their mijudgment at the pre-
sent juncture Of events. We should lament
OF the most affective calamities TO the Eastern
world, any premature risk Of Misunderstanding any
preciptste wreaking OF revenge for acts which
short Of physical violence, or which may spring from
the present Ignorance Of the Marking party Christian
nations have great duty 10 falal not In craving
ard ntmidating but in nstrucng and this
body Of half converted pagsus We argue against the
forced precipitation Of ssne and rash appeal to
force We suggest that time be given that caution be
observed that missionaries speaking their dialect be al
lowed TO precede merchants, that full opportunity
be given Of correcting their foolish conces arousiog
them utt knowledge Of the power Of foreigners OF
explaining the true relations Of governors and the gov
erned and Of expoundng unto them perfectly the
the 0vat leness the puritv sf re0ion