The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-05-19
ENGLAND AND CHINA,

The instructions of the British govern
meut to Lord Elgin, tho newly appointed
envoy to China, are represented in foreign
papers to be as follows: To provide for
the establishment of college at Pekin for
the instruction of British youth in the Ian
guage and policy of China; to secure the
opening Of eight ports, instead of five, for
consular residence and commerce; to OBJ
tain the right of hunting anywhere on the
cvast for the purpose of discovering, re-
pairing and refitting vessels; and the right
of establishing forts at Canton, at Shan
ghai, and at several other places. These
demands are much more moderate than was
expected, alrd fall very far short of what is
supposed to be the object of the war. 1t
is probable, therefore, that these demands
constitute merely the uLtimatum. to be pre-
sented Immediately, as the alternative to
war. China may secure peace by yielding
at once to these demands, which, by the
way, are made in behalf of France as well
as of England.
Will the Emperor Of China yield 1t is
impossible. The feeling of the people is SO
hostile to the English, that the Emperor
can make no concessions for the sake of
peace. In fact, as we have already seen,
the Emperor has issued a proclamation
which is tantamount to a declaration Of
war, and a war of determination. The
consequence is that, on the other side, it
ho m ,yo. Coz
The armament equipped for the China
seas will be the largest and best appointed
that has ever foated from the shores of
England. 1t will comprehend the effective
destruction of Cronstadt, and great num-
Der of the best disciplined troops in the
world. The moment the British uttimdtun,
as above given, shall be rejected, novel
ed; and one, perhaps, which is not to end
until England shall bring under her domin-
ion the southern provinces Of China, or
until the English shall be as completely
expelled from China as the Portuguese
were from japan.
John Chinaman is not idle, meanwhile,
nor at ali unaware Of the designs of the
foreign devils" With a remarkable de-
gree of sagacity and forecast, the Chinese
have anticipated the plan Of the British
operations as completely as if they had
been officially advised of it. The river Pei
no and the great canals were to have been
seized by the British forces, whereby COM
munication with the interior would have
been commanded by them, but the Chinese
have taken measures to block this game.
Cinnamon by thousands viii be sacrificed
in this war; but that, though it is sickening
to humanity, is of little moment in the view
of the Chinese. who do not. as nation,
cherish strong attachment to life, nor esii-
mate it as highly as is done in less crowded
nations. Suicides are very common among
them, and in war they can stand killing
as we'll as any people in the world. They
are gradually becoming more skilled in
artillery practice, and have great facilities
for casting cannon. and are diligently pre-
pairing for the conflict. They will not DO
frightened into a peace. and it will take
wears of war and desolation to bring China
into a state of sujection like the East
Indies. Itis into such war that England
invites the United States to enter--a war
for the extension of British dominion.