The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-09

b prsviles for, bud aa ~ Ne wsn rsosgnixsd nt.
cessity 10 altar the policy which has been Con-
de-nned by the HOuee Of Commons Between Lord
Palperston snreservedly approving of The conduct
Lord Elgin with The charge of directing The a.
fairs of Canton, there u thorough conversion, and
rs we willingly admit, Q very clever one. The conf
depce at once accorded to the plenipstentary will
make IN that for which the minister win have 30
much pain TO retrace. Some days ago we saio-"If
Lord Palmerston, after the discontinue which he
Just suffered, remains in power, be will remain much
sltele and much changed, if not entirely convert
ed; il viii 20 more be the Lord PamerstOn OF some
years ago, nor even of some months ago." The
nomination of Lord Elgin goes far to support our
foIebodings.
What win be the instructions given to the new
know them. But, if we are allowed to express our
opinion, we believe them to be very simple and
general The cabinet did not disavow either Sir John
Bowripg or AR. Parkes, because 10 could not; be.
Parliament, Mr.. Parkes and Sir John Browning
did nothing but conform themselves 70 Palmerstcn's
policy, and, perhaps, even follow precise instruc-
lions which en- snated from Downing street. Their
conduct in Canton is throughout after the manner
OF Lord Pamerston. The treaties WITH CHINA were
about 70 expire. II had been talked OF to estsbise
with France and the United States to bring about
in con mon .heir being renewed. This regular and
Glow proceeding, well adapted TO tine dipiotaacy,
is in 10 manner to the taste of the noble lord 70
uApyoke . conflict without well knowing what will
CO.'S fIom II, TO embr0il for the moment matters,
were Il but for an opportunity to step forward and to
re duce more less his allies to the position OF safe
lites and at,endants-this is the Palmerstonim
idea, free from all drawbacks, and carried
out in its most complete form. Wherefore,
in fact, the recommendation addressed TO Sir
opportunity, the demand Of entering Canton, ae-
cordu to the treaty Of ls422 Wherefore the au-
lhority given him contrary to previous instructions,
of employing the armed force without even referring
to the government Was it not quite natural TO
wait, in order % obtain an entl nee to Canton for
TO negotiate the treaties renewal2 Evidently Lord
Palmerston wished to stsike blow in those regions,
to establish, as it were, the uperOrty and snDre.
macy If England, and at the same time he tattsred
himself that the counter efect in London would be
favorable to his policy. He must soon know that
in all probability he has been strangely mistaken.
1t is useless to recall the effect produced in Eng
meIcial houses of Liverpool and some merchants of
London who consider matters from point Of view
not very disneresed, there was but one feeling in
regard to the conduct OF the Governor OF Hong
Kong, the bombardment OF Canton, aud that apuse
of force, which was supported By lie. The House
OF Commons was but the interpreter OF this feeling,
and amongst the members who, for party considera-
tons, deemed 1t their duty to remain faithful TO The
ministry, !aere 10, perhaps, not single one who
embarrassed by his vote. But in China itself mat
tiers seem to have gone much farther than Lord Pal
merston wished it. He met in the population OF
Canton disposition to fight With a resolute forge
which he did not at all expect. What was originally
calculated TO remain local and trsnsitory conics,
ont Of which he hoped to gain an easy triumph,
threatens TO turn out general and serious war.
Already Admiral Seymour has been obliged 20 give
up part Of his positions he seems to think less OF
threatening Canton than Of covering Hong Kong,
ana the situation, such l. has been revealed by
the last news, docs not fsl TO cause in England
some uIeasiness.
Let us hope that the forces sent from tee Hsori-
thus, and those which left Portsmouth, will arrive in
time 70 prevent catastrophe. But even then, Will
all the skill. prudence, moderation and hrmDess Of
Lord Elgin be sufficient 20 terminate peaceably aud
to the honor OF 4Great Britain affair 20 univrcu
tunattly engaged? IL 10 clear that the Cabinet it.
sef is not at 81 tranq uil on this point. IL y seen
from the speech OF Lord Panmure, Minister o. War,
in the House of Lords, on Friday llst-and our rea-
ders will doubtless have remarked the phrase where
he defends himself against ever having desl Sred
that he did approve the b0moardmen. OF Canton
il results from this speech that the government was
unable TO give Lord Elgin any precise Instructions,
and that u almost limited itself TO recommending 20
him TO exercise al his efforts for putting an enc 20
the affair in peaceable manner; that ~ - say, %
draw England as fast as possible OUT OF the enohar
RAJ ment wherein Lord Palmelst9n put her. Evident
w. people dare MT IN London rely on the employment
of force and prefer 10 give up tor The present tae
the id.a o. striking greas blow ra.he- than to CT
gage in a new war with the Celestial Empire.
China - Do logger what IL was in the year 1880.
Or the one hand the haired 70 foreigners seems
rather IN have been Increasing t)an diminishing,
sbd on the other nsnd its military condition and
means OF defence have been considerably Improved.
Ihs palace revolution, so witt'ly called ID mind by
Mr.. Gladstone IN his speech on the motion OF Mr..
Coboen, which at TIE beginning of he present ne gn
threw down W Ju- rchang.a a inst minister, and NJ.
In. 'he negotis.or Of the treaty OF Nankn, was an
event more important than " generally belle red.
The diplomatst and minister have been sacrificed 10
the hatred ot strangers, and IN the popular wrath
excited by the concessions accorded 10 the barha-
Rams in 1872. This feeDng has not aoatet since
q II fhar. at,1t Anrs n
IL obliged To conform his policy 10 IT, The treaties
concluded with the Europeans were one OF the
grievances alleged against his dynasty by
the rebels who have been wsgiDg war on him
for these years, hnd whom he Is unable 90 con-
quer To acc yrd new concessions would DC the same
as 70 expose himself to lend forces 10 the usur
rection and to lose his crown. The war with the
barbaians may, on she contrary, bring back 70 him
portion OF those Who have taken part Win be
rebels.
AZ the same time time, the army and the people
have become accustomed 70 war whilst lighting
against the Shanghaes; and during their civil wars
their fire arms have been very much improved.
Kiln, one Of the statesmen who paid with disgTsoe
the honor of having taken pant the neGo .iarions
of lS<2, was the first author OF those reforms He
perfectly unders.ood-eays reliable writer on this
matt er- that the Chinese soldiers armed like the
heroes Of Homer, with bows and arrows, o. emosr.
raised with old fashioned arquebuses, were unable
20 fight against European troops; hs Undertook 70
change their gro.esque equiomenss.' Percusss@
. prince of the imperial family; AZ the ssme time,
the stock OF munitions In the arsoRas was incresscd
and caps provided in number.
We al know that the most varike and quarrel
some ministers are not always those who tb nix
most of the preparations which form the strength
and security Of empirca However, We believe ,rat
the SUCCESSORS OF the negotiator kfIn and OF the
pcaceable Mon TchangH a did not neglect % work
out the reforms introduced By hem in The military
system Of tAei, country.
Therefore II the English should have new war with
China they can longer expect 70 meet w sh those
badly armed soldiers they 10 easily yangushed some
fifteen years ago. At the chose 81 the last war they
became aware that the Chinese .roops grew more
and more Injured 20 battle, and that, either having
learned from their agrcseors themselves 70 defend
themselves better, OF some foreign element having
introduced amongst thern new habts Of d1cp.inc
and notion Of tactics, they opposed q stronger re
sinance 70 the Europeans None OF those
who were present in the campaign Of ls4s,
or who have perused The reports OF he newspapers
of that period, forget the savage energy with which
Chin Kiang. Fou was defended, or .he stain throWn
a a A. T~w4xs-