, 1857-09-04
The Chinese and their Accnsers.

we nave from the beginning oil the pres
cnt dill ,ulties regarded the Chinese as
more snned against than SHINING" Ev
cry new Development confirms that opinion
The papers recently laid before Parliament
by Lord PALNERsToN bring to light some
things well worthy Of the consideration Of
the American people. Among them is a
correspondence between the American DR..
/ PARKER and the Governor or Commissioner
| YEK Of Canton.
1t appears that the Doctor wrote TO YEK,
complaining Of the bread-poisoning at
Hong Kong YEK, in his reply, expresses
his surprise at receiving such a communi
cation, stating that the Chinese and Amer
leans have been usually on good terms
heretofore; but that the English had, for
several months, in most unprovoked man
ner, brought forward their troops and en-
gagged in hostilities YEK further says that
this had increased the hatred of the Chi
nese against the English; but to poison
people in that underhand manner, was wor-
thy oil detestationy But as the act oc.
CURED at Hong Kong, it was impossible
for him to examine into oil the facts.
Commissioner YEK, without justifying the
poisoning, insists that it was owing to the
unnumbered evils inflicted upon the Chinese
by the English. The Americans having
never injured the Chinese, there was, ol
course, nothing to mar the good feeling ex.
istng between them. YEK thinks DR.
PARKER might, with propriety, Issue admon
tory eXhortaiions for the Americans quiet
ly to attend to their own business and ther
there could be no question, but that thC
Chinese would treat them 10 a proper man
ner Nothing could induce them to think
of poisoning Americans.
This advice Of YEK is well timed, and
would be to our advantage, il needed by
our countrymen in the East who seem Sc
much inclined to mix in the quarrel which
the English have picked. htr
DIR. PARKER addressed letter to YEK.
asserting that the foundation of all the diff,
iculties between China and foreign nations,
was the unwillingness Of China to acknowl
edge England, France and America and
other great nations of the West as her
equal aud true friends, and treat them &c
cordingly The Doctor goes on to soy
that so far as respects this grave matter
the American Government is sensible thai
the English are in the right, and chooses
to co operate with them. tc bsar
We have not the reply of YEK TO this
Communication bat it is easy to conjecture
what his retort might have been. He
would doubtless remind the Doctor of what
he knows as well as any body else, that
the trne cause Of the present and former
difficulties between the Chinese and the En-
glish is not 'tbe unwillingness Of China to
acknowledge England, France, America
and other great nations of the West as her
equals" but the unwilIingness Of the Chi
nese authorities to allow their subjects to
be poisoned with opium for the pecuniary
benefit Of the British East India Company,
and few unprincipied British, American
aud French traders How is It possible
for the Chinese to regard these great na
tions of the West ''as their true friends and
treat them accordingly when they find
that the principal business of these great
nations in China has been and is to sell and
spread opium, poisonous drug introduced
by these foreigners within century past--
the use OF which increases with frightful
rapidity fatal to the morals, the pecuniary
welfare aud the health and lives Of tie
people in the Aowery Empire. .''.