The Washington union., 1857-05-08
NATIoNAL INsnLT.


liberty to decline participating in the pending war
with China Lord Palmerston's organ, the London
Post, says that his policy THAT of not going to
war with China to crafty England) q is totally
worthy Of great and enlightened nation" And
even the London Chronicle, which is opposed TO the
ministry, considers il AN INSULT THAT is the word)
that we do not cooperate with them. And a very
prominent paper in our own country talks about "the
beggarly expedent of tmid neutrality in refusing
all proffers of an armed coalition with England and
France" The latter journal also talks about "avast
career of progress (which underes the policy
of the four great nations" and hopes the admins
traton will rise equal to the occasion and adopt at
once purely American policy Let us have
treaties, this is the dea enangling alliances in
anything but in this great movement of civilization
to the East, must take part whether we will or
not. Not only is present trade there immense,
but it will increase so the argument runs) thousand
fold Let us, then, give hearty cooperation lis the
concusion) in the opening of it, and take to
cure to ourselves full share of its advantages &C.
The journal calls upon Mr.. Buchanan to ''show
himself equal to the OCCASION and, laying aside all
petty prejudices, give hearty cooperation to the
civilization of the East and to the pacification of
Mexico, Central America, and Panama, &c. Brave
words these and this civilization and pacication"
to be brought about by WAR, and taking posses
sion of distant regions through the mere act of the
Executive! Some people seem to regard war with
China and cooperation with England matters of
course though the paper last referred to tells that
England is seeking to plant her dominion in China
adopted by cabinet in reference to the affairs of
China and it adds ''We have seen from the
English newspaper press metropolitan and pro
vincial-that the British government and people
have expected much and have been sorely dis
appointed in this matter that from our war
like and progressive democratic party and power
they at least anticipated something in regard to
China than the subordinate position and policy of
mastery inactivity II then condemns the 'posi-
tive refusal of our government to participate with
England and France in the magnificent enterprise of
opening the whole China empire to the free trade and
free social intercourse with the civilized world, &C.
And so we are to go to war with China for the mag
nicent enterprise of "civilzation, and that "the
government and people Of England may not be ''sore
ly disappointed and chagrined in this matter of
planting the English dominion" in the Celestial en-
pre The first question with an honest govern
ment is what have to go to war with China
Has that country given us any just reason have
we any just objects that would warrant appeal to
arms? Mother one nor the other. We want honest
trade with China, not conquest. Least of all do we
adopt the absurd pretext of carrying our civilization
and religion into China, or anywhere else, by force
of arms. II is impossible but that the American pco
pie should, on sober reflection, condemn these prop
ostions to join European powers in their hostlities
against a remote empire with which we are at
peace. When the Chinese iniure and refuse to
make reparaton it will be quite time to assert our
own cause in our way, without being taught
what we ought to do by the people or press Of an
other country. In the mean time, we make no de-
nunciations Of the policy or movements Of either
England OF France. If they have been aggrieved,
and seek reparaon, they have perfect right to do
So and we have no disposition to gainsay it, or
interfere with its assertion Nay, we can under
stand very well how the patience Of every civil
lied nation may be sorely tried by the faults and
follies of the Chinese government We can sym
pathize, moreover, with any movement which looks
towards hberalzing the policy of that vast enl-
pirc, and opening wide its gates to the life and civil
zaton Of the outside world To accomplish such
results the United States have hesitated, and
never will hesitate to use all their legitimate nhu
ence and just cooperation. But this is not to make
war where there is no cause Of war, This is not to
turn our arms against empire with which we are
at peace, merely because other power has rela
ons with it Of less peaceful character 1t is easy
to use big phrases and magniloquent expressions
this subject; but they who do SO should remember,
first that the Executive of the United States is not
the war-making powers and second that although
Great Britain is at war with China, the United States
are in no such condition So far as the allies in the
East seek to make new and better treaties with the
nowery empire, and to break down its sembarbarous
barriers against commerce and society this govern
ment will doubtless lend them chceruly its peaceful
cooperation. This, II to us, is all that can be
expected of it, and with this, probably, both Great
Britain and France will have the good sense to be
contented.
ANOTHER POLITICAL PARSoN.
1t would seem (says the Detroit Free Press) that