The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-16


the Europa that, after brief contest, not cost
ing the ASSISTANTS fifty casualties the British ex-
petition seized the port of Bushire in the Per-
sian Cult, and occupied it. 1t was proclaimed
British territory, and was declared free port
There has been in one or two quarters SORT Of
denial on the part Of the English that they ia
tended to retain Bushire as part of the Queen 3
dOminions. We can only say that, if they do
not, it will be startling departure from the set
tied rule Of British policy. England has never
been known to relinquish, willingly, her grasp
Of, any territory that was or ever might be worth
keeping, when the fortune of war had placed it
within her reach. Nor is Bushire by any means
wind fall to be despised Though it has fallen
far from the high estate which belonged to it in
the days Of Chaldean and BabylOnish msgnid-
oence it is still quite large seaport for the pat
of the world in which it stands, and the outlet Of
fair agricultural and industrial region. The
population may number 10000. The town is
poor; but not more 80 than all Persian towns, in
cluding tho capital: and its Notifications are by
no means as dilapidated as those of the larger
Persian cities. 1t exports, mostly to British In
dia, the usual Persian products silk, WOOL shaw!s,
carpets, dried fruits, precious stones, drugs,
and horses and it consumes large quantity Of
British cottons and hardware, besides sugar and
rice from Madras and Calcutta. 1t is moreover
the eaatrept for large share of the Mokha coffee
trade. Were the harbor deepened, 80 that large
merchant vessels could sail to the whNves, and a
stable government and fair tariff established
no doubt Bushre would become place Of great
trade. 1t is not unhealthy, though the water is
Of poor quality.
We repeat If the English having laid their
hands on this place, hoisted the Union Jack on
the WALL and declared it free port, freely and
pleasantly make it a present to its own master,
the SHAH and retire with bag and baggage, they
viii open new page in the history of John Bull
For oar part, we see no reason why We should
concern ourselves about the matter. As for the
Shah of Persia, we have no motive either to fight
his battles or sympathse in his distress he is an
odious tyrant at the head of one Of the most des
pOtic, corrupt, imbecile, and miserable govern
ments in the world. PROFESSIONALLY, so far as
Bushire is concerned the paternal tyranny Of the
IsaSt iHtsd SViupohy siiu VIC ohVSuOu hCslCs-
ism of British officials would be vast improve
ment on the efete, mongrel, semi-Persian, semi
Arab institutions under which it has vegetated
hitherto. And as no part of the world can thrive
except on the japanese system without beneGting
the whole, We ought perhaps to feel glad that
our British cousins have pocketed their cou-
science, and gone to work to flibuster Bushre
into civilization and commercial prosperity.
Their ways are not our ways. We should
object to entrust Mr. Pierce with the right Of
tilibustering We could not suffer our go7ern-
ment to go to and seize Panama, Aspiowall or
Greytown. Perhaps it is the old Puritanical
conscientiousness that is left in us. Perhaps we
are behind the age. At any rate, we have no
right to force our notions down other nations
throats: The English will be flbusters, every
where and always, and the only thing We can do
is to prevent their flibustering away any of our
territory.