The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-06-13
The War between England and China.

The War between England and China.
The London Times, in q recent article, in
dulgcs in some speculations upon the ulti-
mate results of the war with China, and
makes the following incidental remarks upon
the worldwide interest which the contest
has excited:
"Last October, Mr.. Commissioner Yeh
thought fit to apprehend on board the Ar
row a wretched Chinaman, whose sen or
father was alleged to be pirate, and to re-
fuse the redress which this offence required.
1t is not improbable that next October may
witness, as the consequence of this trespass
on the deck of a lorcha, an assemblage of
the fleets of half Europe off the coasts Of
China. A British squadron is already there,
and a sesond on its way. An American
squadron is to be despatched forthwith, and
q French squadron is on the point of de-
parture for the same destination. All this,
perhaps, is natural, but this is not all. Spain
is about to re-vindicatc its interests in "the
Indies," and the ancient fac c. CASTLE and
Leon will again DC conspicuous in the Far
Eass. Austria is to send ships to China,
SARDINIA is to do the same, and it is not i'm
possible that other Italian ports may dis.
patch their quotas on this all attraction
Such a gathering of European keels will
hardly have been seen since the days when
the Galleys of Genoa and Venice carried the
chiyalry Of Christendom to the liberation Of
Palestine"
1t is, however, no holy war this time
whence then the universal attraction?
"Probably in the simple fact that an
&c oh m ho inf
to the world. Hitherto China has avoided
the INSTRUMENTATION of society-has re-
ceived nobody, and has visited nobody. The
barriers are now likely to be removed, and
one State would like admission to the mys-
terious region as we'll as another. Such an
event as this gives the only chance -now re-
naming of entirely new dealings, alliances
or connections. There are no fresh worlds
to be discovered; We have been round and
round the globe, and have even found the
northwest passage. If anything now is TO
be done it must be in some country known
but hitherto inaccessible, and such a country
is China. Japan is sealed land, certainly !;
but Japan is a mere speck on the map COM
pared with the mighty empire Of the Chinese.
Here we bllieve is the true secret Of the
gathering"
1t is to be noted that the mass Of the
Chinese people do not partase Of the jealous
and exclusive spirit Of their government
They are redy enough for the fulles. intro
duction to the world, and on this point the
7Gmes wellremarks:
1--WE have good grounds for believing that
their character is in phase Of transition.
Their enterprise, as shown in the gold fields
- - IL - ..,.,
as evnced al Sarawak, and the fermentation
Of the whole national mind, as exsmplitied
in the tenaeity and scope Of their rebellion,
are conclusive proofs against anything like
a cherished system of isolation and seclu-
sion. They have grown too big for their
own country, like young birds for their
nest; they are fsin to come out into the
world for their advancement, and they have
turned things upside down at home. Their
policy, in fact, is at an end. 1t la. endured
long while, but it has fsed at last. China
must come out Of it's shell for its own sake :;
and when 10 many millions OF human beings
throw their los in with the rest of mankind,
it is hard if the result should no. be for the
benefit Of all.
So much for the result that may be fairly
anticipated from the war between England
and China. 1t was well to say in advance
that it is not holy war. The great motive
Of England is the extension Of It's trade and
ultimately Of its territory. The present war
is certainly more respectable than the opium
crusade, though nothing can be said fox
England's share in il on the score of philan-
thropy or magnanimity. If the result
should be for the benefit of al, as the
Times predicts it viii be, to Providence
alone VIII be due the thanks foI tie blessing