The Washington union., 1857-09-26
For as uniou.
INDIA AND CHINA.


pressions made upon it short lived they sud-
den in growth Their existence Is wholly dependent
for they last long grave issues OF national
Importance sudden outburst Of political or religious
phrensy Burdell tragedy, Kalloch farce no racy
bonns 6ouhs of European scandal stupeng evidence
of diplomatic gaucere rises up to push them from their
stools" On the great throne of public curiosity there
can be no Lacedemonan rule of dominion. Two mon
archs cannot reign simultaneously One must be content
to withdraw from the imperial sway, and bend in sub
mission to the other The less recent is always the
weaker and whatever Importance it might have before
possessed becomes lost in the astounding character of the
nopenne Its duty is at end and there is longer
occasion for continuance in Office Ii must be observed
however that all such sensations have not necessarily
the same end. This varies with the relative value of
each There certain respect to be paid to the remains
of few superior sensations after the throne which they
once occupied has been usurped by conner.
special manifestation of recognizance is due their
oy They not thrown into the grave of the undis
tinguished many; but embamed In high state by
their friends who indulge in the pleasing hope of Micaw
Der that something will 'tum up to make them once
the centre of public attraction. Their import
for the time being has passed away but that does
not preclude the likelihood of their possessing prospec
tive utility Regarded in the light of last resort they
remain unnotced until their rivals haze ceased to at
tract there is nothing current to satisfy the vocious
maws of the news-devourers When this takes place,
such em again forth clothed in all its prm-
tive aractvcness Its reception by the tickle public is
the same as it was on its irst appearance The ex-
ctemen rises high the press flooded with the wise
productions usual such occasions and absolutely groans
with gloomy foebodngs to its probable effect upon the
'stocks the .money market - and all do their best
to forget that the startling is nothing else but
resurected corpse galvanized into existence by them
selves
There cannot be more apt illustration of the above
views than the contrast between the INTEREST," China shown
by our people and the press generally six months ago.
and the utter stlessness with which the movements of
the English at Canton received This difference
seems the astonishing when reflect that the
which then attracted the attention of the people OF
this country still exist and that matters
ming most critical aspect If we scrutinized then we
should watch with an eagle eye at present If we were
interested then, should be anxious The contest
still noble and important to the interests of this
country. England's course should commend itself to
every interested in the advancement of commerce,
unweakened by prejudice and unfettered by exclusive
ness The advantages that She is to be hoped, will
force from China will not be confined to her merchants
and people but they will be made available wherever
is king and necessity exists for full open
ing to be given to the principles of ''free trade"
Now however that the question has assumed decis-
i've aspect that British minister backed by British
force has been sent to China and that battles have acu
ally taken place between them and the Chinese which
display the skill and courage of the latter in much bet
ter light than have been led to expect why do
main stess and careless spectators of the result of the
struggle? Why is ths The question is surely inter
estng and important it was in April last The inter-
est has, if possible become intensified decided
stand has been assumed by Great Britain. Our govern
Al.
future protection of interests in the Chinese ports 1t
will be recoeced that when the question of holding the
of Pekn responsible for the aggcssons of its Off
GERS upon British subjects and American citizens at Can
ton was before this government and that of Great Britain
the greatest excitement prevailed in this country and
whatever related, however indirectly, to the Celestial
Kingdom became full of attraction Mr. Buchanan did
not consider the provocaton sufficient casube quasi
apology offered by the authorities which he deemed
sufficient He contented himself therefore, with sending
commissioner to China clothed with authority to make
inquiries into the true state of the facts and to cooperate
if necessary with Lord Elgn who invested by the
British with ample powers to declare war; in
the event of indemnifcation for the loss sustained by
British subjects being refused by the Emperor An actual
expression has been given to the declared wishes of the
people Of the United States What they desired has been
accomplished Their wishes have been carried OUT and
vet the compliance with them seems to have hitherto
passed unheeded.
What it may be asked has produced this complete
vulsion of popular sentiment Why does China no
longer occupy prominent place in the public eye!
There must be cause combination of causes which
have produced this apathy part not less strange
than it bameworthy 1t might be Justly thought that
these are of the most powerful character. No faith,
not jot" The unsteadness in popular feeling alone
underes this change in sentiment The capricous pub
lie is amusing itself with another toy and has little
leisure to look at that which it has careessy tossed
aside The idol of yesterday has become the castaway
bauble of to-day Our eyes still directed to ASIA
talk profoundly of the Maabara and have forgotten
what little we knew about the Ia Ting Luih-Si The
Osprng of the Sun is wholly eclpsed by the tradi-
tiona King of Delhi whose venerable beard and digned
countenance have been delineated doubt admirably
in certain well known weekly Buddhists and Man
darins are neglected, while Sepoys and followers of
Brahma form the staple of highlyphosophic inquisi-
tions.
1t is evident that we longer view with any mani
fesations of interest the progress of events in China
The glance the from that empire cursory one
while the smallest slip from India is read with the utmost
avidty. Though anxiety is natural and proceeds
mainly from sentiments of humanity il not the less
be censured if it blinds to what touches SO closely our
interests and those of the great world of commerce
watchfu guardianship interests does not imply
necessarily the exercise of scshness To protect care
fully from injury all that may to benefit us cannot
surely be characterized such 1t but the exercise of