The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-24
The Cha Sc Question.

~ N"S'N up ~ " tohfSNNhs W youtudireS ~
well here as m Eogland, to take exception to
this or that ct Of Consul Paskes or Sir Michael
Seymour Nd 20 argue, in quibbling lawyer
like fashion that in this particular quarrel there
is something to be said on the Chinese side. But
when the question is examined practically the flu
tilty of all this cavilling becomes at once ap-
parent. Every man, cOnversant with the antece-
dents of the Chinese, is aware that the quarrel in
refer' nee to the seized lOrcha is only one OF a
series Of systematic outrages practised upon
fore igners by the Chinese authorities and people,
ever since the conclusion Of the opium war.
Every one knows that instead of relaxing their
rile OF exclusion, the Chinese are really making
it more stringent every year; and, that, instead
of growing more amenable to foreign Intercourse,
they are becoming more hostile to foreigners
every season. 1t is indeed matter of certainty
hat, without some revision Of our relations with
he Chinese empire, our trade with China will
soon have to cease, ana our people must be pre-
vented from risking their lives ON Chinese soil.
The question, therefore, for the states
man, the merchant and the philosopher
to consider at the present juncture, is
uOt Wddt le Tie eutCt VI DIlLln1 IcRSteT III tDe
Bay OF Hong Kong?-which is quite trivial mat.
ter, but can we afford to permit the Chinese to
turn us bodily out of their country, and to pro.
gress in their anti-foreign antipathes until they
come to cut the thrOats of our sailors wrecked on
their coast or ought We to use the opportunity
Providence presents and the strength we possess
to carry civilization and commerce into the
heart OF the most pOpulous country in the world?
The narrow minded cavller may decide, on
short sighted view Of moral principle, that we
are bound to let the Chinese expel us, that we
are bound to submit to their growing antipathy
that we have no business to introduce civiliza-
tion among them unless they ask for il. But the
state sman, looking ahead, must take the oppo.
site view, and overlook the petty paltry legal
bearings OF the squabble in hand to grasp large
considerations Of the future welfare OF China and
Of the world
We have no reason to believe that the intense
hatred Of foreigners which is felt by the people
OF Canton, and one or two other ports is shared
by The people of the interior. NJ. Hue, who
travelled throughout the length and breadth
OF the land, certifes that all classes in the
interior towns displayed hospitality rather
than rudeness to him. Where antipathy is felt
away from the seabOard-it arises
from the exploded notion that foreigners are all
missionaries who seek to convert the Chinese in |
order 10 make them subject to the European |
Powers This idea is relic of the Jesuts. In |
their time, as is known, China was open, and |
might have remained so still but for the folly |
which they displayed in meddling in politics, and
mixing themselves up with the affairs of the |
Court. The Emperor was obliged to expel them;
and ever since that time, the Chinese idea has
been that if foreigners were admitted into the
kingdom, they would do nothing but intrigue,
and prosey tise, and foment conspiracies. Now
1t ought to be a toerably easy matter to explode
this notion, and to convince the more sensible
among the Mandarins that We don't want to inter-
fere with their religious belief, but only to sell
them cottOns, hardware and machinery. And |
this point settled, there really seems to exist |
no reason why they should object to let us in.
AT any rate, China is in 50 decidedly revoln- |
tionary state that the mere instinct Of self-pre-
servation would seem to dictate a certain mea- |
sure of aggression So far as We can learn, three
fourtbs OF the empire have been overrun by the |
rebels and subjugated, If not retained by his |
officers. At the present moment civil war RACES |
all along the Yeang-tse-Keaug, and no one
can tell anything about the real state of affairs |
We came, find out whether the Emperor is alive |
yet; whether Tae-piDg-Wang is at the head of his
army or died three years ago; where he is, what
he is doing, what he has done, what he intends,
or indeed anything about him. All is profound,
inscrutable mystery. As necessary consequence,
the bonds Of society are loosed. Mandarins.
responsible only TO the central power at Pekin,
can WELD authority with but feeble hand when
it is doubtful whether that power exists or II
Loyal citizens cannot tell whom to obey, or ~
whom TO pay tribute. The whole empire, in fact,
is in STATE Of proximate dissolution.
II reminds the historical student forcby of the
condition Of lIndostan at the time OF the British
and French invasions. There too. an immensely
popuous empire or congeries of empires (, I
into hopeless decay, and was relieved by th,
British from the proximate prospect OF incessan,
wars. But we can do better with
China. There need be no East India Compan,
to wiring their wealth from the Chinese, and elioi
the execraiion Of the world. The country can b.
opened peaceably. quietly, by the three maritime
powers of the world; new treaty can be mad
securing to all men fair right 10 trade through
out the empire; the rights of the Chinese can be
amply protected, and they can BE- helped to re-
their broken down government: ia
Iced, the bulk Of the benefit of the operation
would be on their side II the measures we recon-.
mend were carried out with candor, discretion.
and large spirit of liberality indeed. as only
L should be.
AMERICAN DEBUTs AND DEWTANrEs.-Ncw
York Is a city Of emotions. and the latest of
HON ie a paaeion which bos Il