The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-23


each of her asssilants swinging damages, say al
least twice as much as we were ever condemned
to pay Fry. Her case ia certainly great deal
stronger than that Of the er-enpressario.
The Naval Operations Against China Their
Probable Results.
We publish to-day, from the Americas mails,
full details Of the important operations now being
carried on against the Chinese by the British and
United States squadrons. Although there is a
coincidence in point of time in these move
ments, there are no grounds for supposiug that
they are the result Of any premeditated plan of
combination. Their simultaneity is accidental,
and is attributable simply to the fact that the
hatred of the Chinese to foreigners had reached
the climax Of insolence and necesstated decisive
measures on the part Of the nations holding inter
course with them.
The anticipations based on these demonstrar
tons on the part Of the European and American
governments are, we think, somewhat exagge-
rated. There is no doubt that they will have the
effect Of improving the relations of the Western
nations with this prejudiced and obstinate PEG.
pie, and possibly of amelioratng in degree
their own internal condition. But that they will
carry out either Of their objects to any great ex-
tent, OF that they will revelutionize China within
any proximae period, we do not regard as events to
be calculated upon. An anecdote which has lately
come to our knowledge in connection with these
movements will best illustrate the probabilities
of tie present position of affairs Immediately
previous to the breaking out of the first British
war against China Lord Palmerston, who was
then at the head Of the Department of Fore -.
Affairs in England, sent for gentem Al con-
nected with the Chinese trade and who happens
to be now in this city. He told him that his go
vernment had got into difficulties with the Chinese
and asked what course he would recommend to
pursue to bring about prompt settlement of
them. The advice Of this gentleman was that, in
addition to an effective blockade of the principal
trading ports, the British should attack and take
possession Of Nankin, the old capital of China.
The capture of this place, which was associated
with go much Of the religious and traditional
reverence Of the Chinese, would, he thought, have
more effect in bringing them to terms than any
other military or naval operation that might be
dSeeuptSu. Lulu COumuuCtscu
this recommendation to the Duke of yelling
ton, who at once opposed a decided negative to
it. The occupation Of large and populous
city by small army was, in the Dukes opinion,
a dangerous experiment, and he furthermore re-
garded any attempt to carry hostilties into the
interior Of such an empire as wild and impracti-
cable.
10Th snrv hac o., L. IA =.
racter OF these views The concurrence of several
Powers in enforcing civil treatment at the hands
OF the Chinese does not render military operations
against their interior cities more feasible now
than it was at the period 10 which we allude
All that they can do is to blockade the Chinese
ports and lay embargoes on Chinese commerce
This will not, however revolutionize the empire
or lead to any decisive change 10 their feelings
towards foreigners. The unity of character aud
feeling which is enormously ascribed to the Chi
nese by European writer's exists only on ,e
point, and that is in their contempt Of other
tons The present hostile operations will there
fore, only have the effect of suspending for the
moment the divisions that exist between them IN
other subjects and of combining all classes
against their invaders
In such state of things, then, the friends OF
human progress are not justified In expecting
much from the events now transpiring in China.
The truth is that all movements for the improve
ment of the moral and political condition Of its
people, to be effective, must come from them
change commonly attributed TO them, there are
grounds for the belief that they ore gradually
approaching hopeful crisis in their condition
crisis brought about by natural causes. and not
10 be altered or precipitated by any influences |
hat other nations can bripS TO bear against |
him. The real character antS condition of the |
Chinese are but little understood amongst us.
} people as we suppose them to be. In political |
md religious revolutions they have been just as
prolific as even the most tickle of the European /
nations. From the year APO down to the year /
I64i they passed through no less than ffsocn /
changes Of dynasty-all accompanied by bloody /
'ivil wars, and in nearly every instance by % |
otal determination Of the dethroned faalies |
marked by less tragic results or shown less |
During the lifetime of Confusius
Jhina was divided 10y two principal religious
ects and five or six systems of philosophy, all
cachng opposing doctrines. Since then Bhudd-
sm has been introduced, and has become the pre-
iailing creed Of the people, whilst the educated
lasses still profess to adhere to the principles Of
Copfucius. Although most of these sectarian
hanges have received their baptism of blood,
he religious condition Of the Chinese at the pre-
ent moment may be best described as that of
oial indifference. They are therefore in the
tate best fitted for the Introduction of those
peat truths which have reformed aud humanzed
be nations of the West.
And thus IL is also with their political status.